[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 88 (Thursday, May 20, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S3174]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                 CHINA

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, we know that competition with China 
will shape America's security and prosperity for decades to come. That 
is a fact. The legislation on the floor purports to deal with this 
issue. It covers a huge range of topics, from economics to education, 
to foreign and defense policy. Earlier this week, I voted with the 
majority of Senators to proceed to this important debate, but as 
Members have noted, this bill did not come out of committee quite ready 
for prime time. It needs thorough floor consideration, with a robust, 
bipartisan amendment process.

  Today, we will vote on a very important amendment that I will be 
proud to support. Ranking Member Inhofe and Vice Chairman Shelby have 
legislation that will return the pivotal issue of the funding of our 
national defense to the center of the conversation about competing with 
China, and this is right where it belongs.
  All the soft power in the world will only benefit us as long as we 
have the hard power to back it up. We must maintain our military edge 
against China and Russia. Yet, for all of this talk about competing 
with China, the Biden administration's budget proposal seeks to cut 
defense spending after inflation.
  China's long-term military investments are paying dividends that 
really should alarm us, but Democrats want to pump the brakes on our 
own? Fewer resources for our own men and women in uniform? Less defense 
innovation? What sense does that make?
  If there is truly broad bipartisan support for taking our competition 
with China more seriously, there ought to be big bipartisan support for 
the Inhofe-Shelby amendment later today.
  (Mr. HICKENLOOPER assumed the Chair.)

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