[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 119 (Monday, June 29, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S3628]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, on a completely different matter, on 
Thursday I noted that in recent weeks the Air Force has scrambled jets 
to intercept intrusions by Russian military aircraft near U.S. airspace 
in Alaska.
  Well, on Saturday it happened again. According to the Defense 
Department, Russian reconnaissance planes entered the Alaska Air 
Defense Identification Zone and lingered for 8 hours. Obviously, this 
is just the latest in a series of escalations from Putin's regime.
  Meanwhile, China has resumed its submarine intrusions into Japanese 
contiguous zones and picked deadly fights with India at high altitude.
  North Korea State media has stepped up its unhinged, anti-American 
rhetoric, reportedly declaring over the weekend that nuclear war was 
``the only option left.''
  And Iran has issued a warrant for the arrest of the President of the 
United States because we took the mullahs' top terrorist off the 
battlefield back in January.
  Our adversaries are as intent as ever on undermining peace; 
disrupting commerce; and threatening American citizens, our interests, 
and our allies wherever and whenever possible.
  So this year's National Defense Authorization Act is as urgent and 
important as it has been for 60 consecutive years. Thanks to Chairman 
Inhofe and Ranking Member Reed, the legislation we will consider is 
already the product of exhaustive bipartisan effort.
  It includes 229 bipartisan amendments adopted by our colleagues on 
the Armed Services Committee. It may include more amendments before we 
finish with it here on the floor.
  But the primary missions of the legislation are already clear. On the 
homefront, it will increase pay for servicemembers; reform the military 
housing and healthcare systems; and increase transparency in Pentagon 
budgeting, hiring, and acquisition.
  Around the world, it will make clear our commitments to our allies in 
Europe and the Pacific, invest in key technologies from biotechnology 
to hypersonics, and make sure that our men and women in uniform have 
the tools to remain the greatest fighting force in world history.
  I am grateful to our committee colleagues for giving the Senate the 
opportunity to set strong priorities for our national defense. Our job 
now is to follow their example, work together in a bipartisan way, and 
pass the NDAA on behalf of our men and women in uniform and the Nation 
they protect.

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