[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 122 (Thursday, July 2, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4173-S4174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   National Defense Authorization Act

  Mr. President, now to the issue today on the floor of the U.S. 
Senate. We are considering critical national security legislation.
  The National Defense Authorization Act, NDAA, lays out America's 
defense priorities for the coming years. The NDAA supports our brave 
service men and women, and it sets policies to defend our Nation.
  The investments made through this bill safeguard our country from 
foreign threats, and there are many. This is why the NDAA has, over the 
years, become must-pass legislation.
  In fact, the Defense policy bill has passed every year for decades. 
The Senate continues this proud tradition in taking up this, the 60th 
annual, National Defense Authorization Act.
  This legislation is bipartisan to its core. It reflects equal input 
from Republicans and Democrats. The Senate Armed Services Committee 
adopted 229 bipartisan amendments before approving the legislation this 
month by a vote in committee of 25 to 2.
  The NDAA will ensure a smart, strong, strategic defense for our 
Nation, and it will maintain America's dominance in a dangerous world.
  The bill supports $741 billion in fiscal year 2021 defense funding, 
and that is in line with the bipartisan Budget Act of 2019. It 
implements the national defense strategy to promote a strong military 
deterrent and to strive for a lasting peace.
  You have seen it, Mr. President, and you have discussed it--with the 
world distracted, China has become emboldened. The Chinese military has 
stepped up its aggression against its neighbors and in the South China 
Sea.

[[Page S4174]]

  Russia also poses a growing threat. China and Russia will not put 
their ambitions on hold for coronavirus or anything else. They will not 
wait for us or for them to recover from the coronavirus crisis and 
resolve our domestic disputes.
  America must keep China and Russia both in check. The NDAA promotes a 
winning strategy. It modernizes our nuclear defenses. It maintains our 
high-tech edge over China and Russia. The NDAA honors our commitment to 
our dedicated men and women in uniform.
  It delivers a well-earned pay raise for our troops, as well as high-
quality housing, healthcare, childcare services for military families 
at home as well as abroad. The NDAA ensures our force is ready to fight 
and to win. That means to fight and to win today's wars, as well as the 
wars in the future.
  It provides state-of-the-art equipment and tools our troops need to 
defend America all around the world. The NDAA will help spur 
innovation. It invests in new technologies: artificial intelligence, 
hypersonic weapons, biotechnology, cyber security.
  The bill modernizes our Pentagon's financial management system. It 
provides for greater accountability and transparency at the Defense 
Department. This works to protect taxpayer money.
  The NDAA also includes innovative legislation that promotes a cleaner 
environment. Now, in saying that, I mean that my bipartisan bill with 
Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, Shelley Moore Capito, and Tom 
Carper of Delaware--we have included as part of the NDAA the 
Environment and Public Works Committee-approved legislation 
unanimously. It is called the USE IT Act. It is included in the NDAA. 
``USE IT'' is short for utilizing significant emissions with innovative 
technologies. That is why I am saying we are doing more to clean the 
environment.
  The USE IT Act will help researchers find commercial uses for 
captured carbon dioxide emissions. It supports the use of carbon 
capture technology, including direct air capture. This groundbreaking 
research is already happening in my home State of Wyoming. It is taking 
place at the Integrated Test Center outside of Gillette. The USE IT Act 
will further this important work.
  It will apply our Nation's brightest minds to take carbon from the 
air, trap it, and transform it into valuable commercial products. 
Captured carbon can be used to extract oil from wells--wells that would 
not otherwise be profitable. It is also used to make building materials 
and carbon fibers. It can also be used for medical purposes.
  The goal of the legislation is to innovate our way to a cleaner 
environment without onerous overregulation.
  So I want to thank the Armed Services Committee chairman, Jim Inhofe, 
for bringing the USE IT Act one step closer to becoming law.
  For the past 4 years, Congress has been able to pass the NDAA with 
strong, top-line defense funding. The bipartisan Budget Act sets 
overall defense funding levels for fiscal year 2021. Longer term 
funding is necessary, but it is uncertain.
  Democrats have opposed stronger defense funding in the past, 
especially during the Obama-Biden administration. This history suggests 
that if Democrats win the election, they will slow our Nation's 
critical defense investments.
  The NDAA strengthens America's hand to stand up to foreign 
aggressors, to stand up against those people who are against American 
values.
  Our NDAA will protect American leadership in the world. It will 
enhance our standing with adversaries and allies alike. Above all, it 
sends a clear message to our enemies: You cannot defeat the United 
States so don't even try.
  Every Senator should support this smart, strong, strategic approach 
to America's defense.
  Let's honor this proud tradition; let's support our troops; and let 
us once again pass the NDAA, this, for the 60th time.
  Mr. President, I yield the floor
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from California.

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