[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 215 (Tuesday, December 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S9129]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   National Defense Authorization Act

  Mr. President, now, on one final matter, for months, while our 
colleagues have been writing their reckless taxing-and-spending spree 
behind closed doors, the Democratic majority let the National Defense 
Authorization Act sit in limbo. This week, 4\1/2\ months after it was 
cleared by the Armed Services Committee, the Senate should finally--
finally--finish this legislation.
  Unfortunately, those who mean America harm haven't been waiting 
around for us to act. Threats to our national security are grave and 
getting graver. Since the Biden administration's disastrous retreat 
from Afghanistan, according to our top commander in the region, the 
U.S. military has but a small fraction of the actionable intelligence 
they had before the coalition withdrew.
  But the predictable, avoidable resurgence of terrorist networks, of 
course, has continued apace. We also know that more American citizens 
and permanent residents remain stranded under Taliban rule than the 
Biden administration is willing to admit.
  Meanwhile, the threat of further Russian aggression toward Ukraine is 
testing whether this White House and our allies in Europe will avoid 
misguided half measures to deter and defend against grave and growing 
threats.
  So at the risk of stating the obvious, the United States needs to 
follow through with promises of urgent, substantive assistance to 
Ukraine and encourage other NATO allies to do the same thing. This 
should not be controversial. Only in the warped world of Kremlin 
propaganda is giving Ukraine the means to defend itself considered 
provocative.
  These real threats to national security and others too numerous to 
name should serve as a reminder of the need for America to lead by 
example and commit to modernizing our own military capabilities, which 
in turn means taking the National Defense Authorization Act seriously.
  So I am glad the Senate is finally set to vote on this crucial 
legislation. While the process has been imperfect, I am glad that 
bipartisan work has produced a bill that authorizes an increase in top-
line funding for our national defense.
  After months of delays, our colleagues have an opportunity to begin 
showing that America is serious about keeping pace with adversaries 
like Russia that have spent literally decades modernizing their 
militaries with a singular focus on countering our military advantage.
  We have an opportunity to pay more than just lip service to 
competition with China. We have an opportunity to lay a foundation that 
we ought to follow through with robust and full-year Defense 
appropriations.
  I would encourage all Senators to advance this legislation today.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority whip.