[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 197 (Tuesday, December 10, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S6912]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Appropriations

  Madam President, I am very pleased to hear that a deal has been 
reached to finally advance the 2020 fiscal year National Defense 
Authorization Act.
  Every year, Congress takes up the National Defense Authorization Act 
to authorize funding for our military and our national defense. Like 
last year's NDAA, this year's bill focuses on rebuilding our military 
and ensuring that we are prepared to meet 21st century threats.
  While many take it for granted that we have the strongest military in 
the world, in recent years, our military advantage over near-peer 
adversaries has eroded. Budgetary impasses, combined with increased 
operational demands, left our military undermanned, underequipped, and 
ill-prepared for the conflicts of the 21st century.
  In November of 2018, the bipartisan National Defense Strategy 
Commission released a report warning that our readiness had eroded to 
the point where we might struggle to win a war against a major power 
like Russia or China, and the Commission noted that we would be 
especially vulnerable if we were ever called on to fight a war on two 
fronts. That is not a good position to be in. Restoring our readiness 
has been and must continue to be our top priority.
  This year's National Defense Authorization Act continues our efforts 
to rebuild our military. It invests in the planes, the combat vehicles, 
and the ships of the future, including the Joint Strike Fighter and the 
future B-21 bomber, which will be based at Ellsworth Air Force Base in 
my home State of South Dakota. It authorizes funding for research and 
development and advanced technology. It also focuses on ensuring that 
we are equipped to meet new threats on new fronts, including in the 
space and cyber domains. Of course, this bill invests in our most 
valuable resource--our men and women in uniform.
  The National Defense Authorization Act authorizes a 3.1-percent pay 
increase for our troops, which is the largest increase in a decade. 
This is not only something our troops have earned, it is also an 
important way to increase retention in an All-Volunteer Force.
  This year's National Defense Authorization Act also focuses on 
addressing the recent significant health and safety issues with private 
on-base housing. It contains measures to support military spouses 
seeking employment and increased access to childcare on military 
installations.
  I am glad we are finally on track to get this important legislation 
done. The final bill, of course, like most legislation, is not perfect, 
but it will help ensure that our military receives the resources it 
needs to meet current threats and to prepare for the threats of the 
future.
  I am also encouraged by the fact that it looks like Democrats have 
decided to work with us to get fiscal year 2020 Defense appropriations 
passed before Christmas.
  Needless to say, the 2020 Defense appropriations bill, like the 
authorization bill which I just referenced, is critical legislation 
that authorizes the funding for current and future military priorities. 
It provides funding to support that pay increase for the men and women 
who keep us safe. It provides the funding for the weapons and equipment 
our troops need right now to carry out their missions, and it provides 
funding for the equipment and technology our military would need to 
defeat the threats of the future.
  It provides funding for missile defense, for research and 
development, for ships, for planes, and for combat vehicles to update 
our aging fleets. It also provides funding for our allies, including 
$250 million in military assistance for Ukraine. This is a critical 
national security bill, and it needs to be enacted as soon as possible.
  It is unfortunate that we couldn't get this legislation done sooner, 
before the start of the new fiscal year in October. Delaying defense 
funding has left our military short of the resources it needs and 
unable to start important new projects. So I am glad that, at long 
last, the Democrats are finally willing to work with us on this 
important legislation. It is time to get this bill done so we can get 
our men and women in uniform the resources they need without further 
delay, as well as uphold our national security commitments to our 
friends and to our allies.
  I hope negotiations will continue to move forward and that we can get 
this legislation to the President's desk within the next 2 weeks, 
before the Christmas holiday.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Scott of Florida). Without objection, it 
is so ordered.