[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 128 (Tuesday, July 21, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E658-E659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR 
                            FISCAL YEAR 2021

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                            HON. GWEN MOORE

                              of wisconsin

                    in the house of representatives

                         Monday, July 20, 2020

  Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the FY 2021 National 
Defense Authorization Act.
  Our country is going through turbulent times.
  People are taking to the streets to cry out for real justice and an 
end to racism that pervades so many institutions in our country, not 
just the police or criminal justice system.
  They are crying out for investments in society; in education, social 
services, housing, and healthcare.
  Over the weekend, we lost one of our true champions for justice and 
equality, and a true leader a remarkable human being, Congressman John 
Lewis, who I was privileged to call a friend.
  A deadly pandemic has killed over 140,000 Americans in nearly four 
months, and cases are still surging, setting new records almost daily 
in the last few weeks. Yet, the President continues to dissemble, 
disengage, and diminish the threat of this pandemic, despite the advice 
of our nation's public health experts and the obvious and immediate 
need for a credible and strong federal response and leadership.
  That's what this moment is calling for . . . Leadership. Not more of 
the same.
  But what we have here before us today folks is legislation that won't 
invest in a single meal for a hungry child, a vaccine for the pandemic, 
or help for the homeless or those about to lose their homes. 
Furthermore, the bill, in my opinion, is a retreat by Congress from its 
power to protect the power of the purse and our war powers.
  I recognize and appreciate the work of Chairman Smith and his 
committee on this legislation. I know that countless hours of hearings, 
testimony, and a long markup went into putting together this bill.
  However, anyway you slice it, the Pentagon's budget has increased 
dramatically since September 11, 2001. The war in Afghanistan is the 
longest conflict in our nation's history and it shows little sign of 
ending, even with a supposed peace deal in hand.
  I support the amendment put forward by Mr. Pocan that would cut the 
defense budget while still providing for our national defense. The 
amendment would exempt the Defense Health Programs and Military 
Personnel Accounts from any cuts.
  We cannot continue to mindlessly push forward defense budgets that 
are out of line with the threats that face our nation or the needs of 
our country. The U.S. spends more money than any other country on our 
military, but can any American look around and say with a clear 
conscious that all that spending has produced more peace, more world 
stability, or better overall outcomes for Americans, or our global 
brothers and sisters?
  All this treasure we throw at defense is not even helping the 
military itself, as a series of incidents over the past year has raised 
concerns about readiness.
  In fact, we appear to be spending more and more money on defense, yet 
our forces are less and less prepared, and it is taking longer and more 
money to deploy weapons systems.
  As noted by a bipartisan group of House members nearly a decade ago, 
``We know the United States can maintain the best fighting force in the 
world while also pursuing sensible defense savings. How we spend our 
resources is just as important as how much we spend.''
  Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who served under both 
Republicans and Democrats, put it succinctly: ``We must come to realize 
that not every defense program is necessary, not every defense dollar 
is scared and well-spent, and that more of nearly everything is simply 
not sustainable'' especially at a time when ``the gap between the U.S. 
military and the rest of the world . . . will continue to be vast.''
  I would also have liked to support the Schakowsky amendment on Iran; 
unfortunately, it was not made in order. Last year, the House voted at 
least three times, including on the FY 2020 NDAA, about the need to 
prevent a needless war with Iran and to reclaim our war powers to 
ensure that any such decision properly remains the provenance of 
Congress.
  I am grateful that the House Appropriations Committee recently 
adopted an amendment to its FY 2021 Defense Appropriations bill to stop 
a needless war with Iran absent formal congressional authority. But we 
need to take every opportunity to make clear how dangerous any ill-
advised war with Iran would be. Given a President who's decision-making 
is as reckless as it is illinformed, this Congress must consistently 
push for an end to escalation and saber rattling and instead to work 
towards immediate diplomatic solutions. This bill is a missed 
opportunity, one I hope that we do not come back to regret.

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