[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 218 (Monday, December 21, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S7930]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, for the information of all Senators, 
here is where we are on the status of the Defense authorization bill.
  The Senate has passed this annual bill to support our servicemembers 
and our national security every year for the last 59 years. As I 
indicated when I filed cloture on the NDAA conference report after 
Thanksgiving, my intention was and is to ensure the Senate continues 
fulfilling our obligation to the men and women of our Armed Forces.
  I hope the President will not veto this bill, which redoubles our 
commitment to modernization, advances cutting-edge capabilities, and 
equips our military with the tools and resources they need to compete 
with our great power adversaries on land, on sea, in the air, and in 
cyberspace. These are the steps we need to take to continue to compete 
with Russia and China.
  In the event that President Trump does elect to veto this bipartisan 
bill, it appears the House may choose to return after the holidays to 
set up a vote to consider the veto. The Democratic leader and I have 
agreed to a unanimous consent request as follows: The Senate will meet 
for pro forma sessions only until December 29, when we will return to 
session.
  In the event that the President has vetoed the bill and the House has 
voted to override the veto, the Senate would have the opportunity to 
process the veto override at that time.

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