[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 25, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4520-S4522]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I rise today to speak on the fiscal year 
2020 Defense authorization bill. I want to begin by thanking the 
chairman and the ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee 
for their leadership and for their hard work in crafting this bill and 
managing it on the floor.
  The bill before us today is the worthy successor to last year's John 
S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act. Like its immediate 
predecessor, this bill's overarching objective is to reorient the 
Department of Defense toward the great power competition that our 
Nation faces today.
  Overall, the bill supports a total of $750 billion in defense 
spending, which includes $642 billion for the Department of Defense's 
base budget, $23 billion for the Department of Energy's defense 
activities, and another $76 billion for overseas contingency 
operations. This meets the level of spending requested by the President 
and provides the Department of Defense with real growth above the rate 
of the inflation in recognition of increasing threats our Nation faces.
  The bill also supports the All-Volunteer Force, providing a 3.1-
percent pay raise for our men and women in uniform. It meets the 
President's request with respect to end strength for an Active-Duty 
force of 1,339,500 soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines.
  I serve as chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, which 
has jurisdiction over nuclear forces, missile defense, and national 
security space programs, and the U.S. Strategic Command, to which 
Nebraska is home.
  I am fond of quoting the statement of former President Obama's 
Secretary of Defense, Ash Carter, that ``Nuclear deterrence is the 
bedrock of our security and the highest priority mission of the 
Department of Defense.''
  That was true in 2016 when he said it, and it is even truer today as 
Russia and China continue to expand their nuclear arsenals and 
deterring great power conflict becomes the central focus of our 
military.
  With this changing security environment in mind, this bill fully 
funds the nuclear mission of the men and women of USSTRATCOM, including 
the sustainment of our nuclear forces, as well as the modernization of 
our triad, our nuclear command and control systems, and the Department 
of Energy's nuclear complex.
  This legislation builds upon last year's support for the supplemental 
systems announced in the President's Nuclear Posture Review by 
authorizing funds for the deployment of low-yield ballistic missile 
warhead. Numerous senior military leaders have testified that this is 
what is necessary to address gaps in our current deterrence posture.
  The fiscal year 2020 Senate NDAA also supports the Navy's ongoing 
study of restoring a sea-launched cruise missile capability in order to 
further enhance deterrence and also to reassure allies.
  Moreover, the legislation includes a requirement for the 
administration to submit a report assessing four major categories of 
nuclear arms that are currently not captured by the New START Treaty. 
As many of my colleagues are aware, the administration

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has announced its intent to pursue a more comprehensive approach to 
arms control beyond the traditional bilateral limitations of land-based 
ICBMs, submarine-launched ballistic missiles, and our heavy bombers.
  The administration's logic is simple: Threats are shifting. As Russia 
invests in new and novel nuclear systems that are not captured by the 
New START Treaty and China's arsenal expands, a new approach is needed 
that accounts for these new dynamics. In support of this effort, this 
provision would require that the administration provide a comprehensive 
assessment of these factors.

  Additionally, the Strategic Forces Subcommittee authorized resources 
for a number of key unfunded priorities for our warfighters. This 
includes an additional $113 million for the development of the next 
generation of GPS receivers to ensure the U.S. military continues to 
have access to resilient position, navigation, and timing capabilities, 
and an additional $108 million for the Missile Defense Agency to 
continue the development of space-based sensors to track advanced 
threats, including hypersonic weapons. Finally, it fully authorized 
critical bilateral US-Israel cooperative missile defense programs.
  The critical resources this bill provides will be appreciated by our 
strategic partners and our men and women in uniform around the globe, 
as well as those in each and every State here at home.
  I am honored to represent the men and women of Offutt Air Force Base, 
the 55th Wing, and the Nebraska National Guard, and I am proud to say 
that this legislation authorizes several critical investments that not 
only support our uniformed men and women in Nebraska; it better enables 
them to fulfill their roles in defending this Nation.
  By passing the fiscal year 2020 NDAA, we keep the ``fighting 55th'' 
Wing flying. The bill authorizes full funding for the Air Force budget 
request to support the C-135 family of aircraft. It supports 
significant upgrades to the capabilities of the RC-135 Rivet Joint, the 
continued conversion of KC-135 tankers to WC-135R nuclear detection 
aircraft, and enables the ongoing OC-135 Open Skies recapitalization.
  Just as critically, the bill helps the Air Force to evolve its ISR 
capability and move toward a more survivable, networked environment, 
with manned, unmanned, and sensors all acting as key components to give 
battlefield commanders the best information possible. To achieve this, 
the bill includes two amendments I authored that will direct the Air 
Force to examine the integration and dissemination of data from 
surveillance platforms like the RC-135 to the warfighter.
  While the bill authorizes these important new investments, it also 
provides funding to address ongoing disaster recovery efforts, which 
are essential to restoring military installations that were affected by 
the recent flooding in Nebraska. Rebuilding Offutt Air Force Base and 
the Nebraska National Guard's Camp Ashland are top priorities, and I am 
happy to report that the bill authorizes millions of dollars in funding 
to aid in the continued process of cleanup, design, and construction 
for the facilities that were destroyed.
  Because I believe Nebraska's bases are a core component of the 
Nation's defense, I was also proud to offer two amendments that further 
support the process of rebuilding. These measures increase the cap on 
minor military construction for recovery at bases impacted by recent 
disasters and encourage the military services to work quickly to 
rebuild Offutt Air Force Base and Camp Ashland.
  I strongly urge all of my colleagues to work together to support this 
disaster recovery effort. Many key military installations have been 
affected across several States, and the work to rebuild these bases 
must be a collaborative effort. We owe it to our men and women in 
uniform to do this together.
  For 58 years, the NDAA has been the subject of a bipartisan consensus 
in Congress. Despite other disagreements that may arise and the 
significant debates we face, this bill has long been a unifying subject 
of agreement on Capitol Hill. There is good reason for that, and a 
record that spans a half century does not happen by accident. The fact 
is that no matter what other issues arise, an area where we must forge 
agreement is in supporting our servicemembers and enabling the defense 
of the Nation.
  This year, we had a productive markup, with substantive debate on the 
issues in this bill. The process worked the way it was intended, and we 
emerged with a strong bipartisan consensus on the bill before us. I 
encourage all of my colleagues to support this legislation so that we 
can continue our tradition of authorizing full funding for the military 
and ensure that this legislation is signed into law on time.
  In that same spirit, it is essential that we take the next step and 
work to secure a budget agreement that not only supports a robust top 
line for national defense, but that we do so swiftly to give the 
Department of Defense the predictable funding they need to plan and 
budget for the coming year.
  Passing NDAA is only half of the job. Yes, we must authorize full 
funding for our military, but if we are truly committed to our military 
men and women, we must also vote on the defense appropriations bill to 
fund what we do here this week on NDAA. As we continue to debate the 
fiscal year 2020 NDAA, we should all remember the reason we have this 
debate every year. One of the primary responsibilities of Congress is 
to provide for the common defense. That responsibility is written in 
the Constitution, and it is an oath each of us swore to uphold. I am 
reminded of that oath frequently when I am back home in Nebraska. Each 
time I shake hands with a Nebraskan in uniform or meet a family member 
with a loved one overseas, I think about the responsibility we have and 
the debt we owe the ones who serve.
  Over the years, countless sons and daughters of the heartland have 
answered that call to service. They are regular men and women from 
every background and every walk of life, united by their desire to 
safeguard their homeland and protect the cause of freedom. Yes, they 
are regular men and women, but they are also exceptional Americans, and 
their spirit and their sacrifice are examples that we should remember 
every day.
  I hope we can come together in the spirit of service and work 
together to swiftly pass the fiscal year 2020 National Defense 
Authorization Act.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms. McSally). The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. RISCH. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. RISCH. Madam President, I rise today to discuss the proposed 
Udall amendment to the National Defense Authorization Act. It is not 
pending, but it has been filed, and thus I do want to talk about it for 
a few minutes.
  First, let me be clear: The United States is not responsible for 
Iran's reckless activity and its violent ways. It is time once again to 
thrust Iran's long, shameful record of malign behavior back into the 
spotlight.
  For the past 40 years, Iran has refused to behave as a responsible 
member of the international community. Indeed, the magnitude of the 
Iranian regime's caustic behavior both at home and abroad is 
overwhelming. Responsible nations do not threaten the sovereignty of 
their neighbors by funding terrorists. Responsible nations do not 
catalyze sectarian identities and provoke violence in the region. 
Responsible nations do not prop up the murderous regime of Bashar al-
Assad in Syria. Responsible nations do not carelessly spread dangerous 
missile technology to violent extremist groups that threaten the lives 
of civilians. Responsible nations do not attack embassies and hold 
hostages. Yet the Iranian regime has done all of these things and 
persists.
  Make no mistake. The Iranian regime has American blood on its hands. 
We all recall the dark days in Iraq and the Iranian roadside bombs that 
took the lives and maimed our servicemen and women.
  Today, America's sons and daughters deployed abroad are again at 
risk. The amendment in front of this body will tie the hands of our 
commanders and prevent our troops from even acting in self-defense. 
Additionally, this amendment unnecessarily takes options off

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the table, telegraphs our foreign policy to our adversaries, and 
emboldens those who wish us harm.
  No one seeks a conflict with Iran--not the President of the United 
States, not this body, and not the American people. The U.S. Government 
has made clear our willingness to negotiate with Iran.
  The Iranian people are a proud people. They have a proud history. 
They are the descendants of the Persian culture, one of the greatest 
cultures on the face of the earth. The Iranian people deserve better 
than what they are getting from the regime in power now in Iran.
  The fact remains that the Iranian regime is faced with a sharp 
choice. The regime must choose between continued terrorist activity and 
behaving as a responsible member of the international community. The 
Iranian regime should sit down and think about the road that they are 
pursuing.
  Like all countries, they want national security for their people. Is 
the road to national security trying to develop a nuclear weapon that 
the world has told them they can't develop? Is it continuing funding 
terrorists? Is it continuing the malign activities that it continues 
within Syria? None of these things gives them the national security 
they want.
  They should take a lesson from North Korea. North Korea pursued this 
for generations. But in the last 18 months, North Korea sat down and 
said: Do you know what? Our national security is better served by 
picking door No. 2 instead of door No. 1. As a result of that, the 
threat that North Korea has been under has been greatly lifted.
  This particular amendment is an amendment that has a place in the 
debate, but it has no place in this particular bill. First of all, it 
is not within the jurisdiction of the committee that has this bill in 
front of them. It is within the jurisdiction of our committee, the 
Foreign Relations Committee. These issues on war powers and the 
President's ability to use military force deserve thoughtful and 
reasoned debate. It is not a cavalier amendment like this that takes 
away the ability of our men and women to actually defend themselves.
  I urge my colleagues to cast a ``no'' vote on this amendment and get 
on with the serious business and the important business of passing the 
National Defense Authorization Act.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Ohio.

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