[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 120 (Wednesday, July 20, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S3506-S3507]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   National Defense Authorization Act

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, one of the most important bills that we 
take up every year is the National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA, 
legislation authorizing funding for our military men and women and the 
defense of our country.
  The Senate Armed Services Committee passed this year's bipartisan 
bill a month ago, and we have less than 2 months of floor time left in 
the fiscal year.
  The Senate Democrats' focus this month is on a last-ditch effort to 
pass some version of their Build Back Better tax-and-spending spree in 
hopes, I have to assume, of eking out a few more votes in November. 
Apparently, the National Defense Authorization Act will just have to 
wait.
  As it does every year, this year's NDAA authorizes funding for 
critical military priorities. The fiscal year 2023 NDAA continues the 
modernization efforts begun several years ago in the wake of the 2018 
National Defense Strategy Commission report, which warned that our 
Nation's readiness had eroded to the point where we might struggle to 
win a war against a major power like Russia or China.
  It authorizes funding to improve quality of life for our military 
members and their families, which is not only something we owe these 
men and women who sacrifice so much for us but is also essential for 
recruiting and retaining members of our all-volunteer force. It 
authorizes funding to enhance our nuclear deterrence, a key priority 
with continued nuclear threats from traditional powers like Russia and 
rogue states like Iran and North Korea.
  And it continues our strong support for Ukraine. Ukraine no longer 
dominates every front page, but for 5 months now, Ukraine has been 
fighting a heroic war against Russian aggression. Thanks to support 
from allies in Europe and from our own country, Ukraine is still 
holding out. In a war that many experts thought could see Kyiv fall 
within a matter of days, Ukraine is approaching day 150 of resisting 
Vladimir Putin's Soviet-style aggression. In fact, Ukraine continues to 
strike painful blows against the Russian military, which has now turned 
to Iran for military support.
  Later today, Olena Zelenska, wife of Ukrainian President Zelenskyy, 
will be addressing Congress. She and her husband have been a beacon for 
Ukrainians during this brutal war; and President Zelenskyy's iron 
determination, his tireless leadership, and his unflagging commitment 
to his people inspire all those who love freedom.
  Ukraine is, in many ways, standing up for the whole free world right 
now, sending the message that Russia's unprovoked aggression will not 
be allowed to stand. And the least we and other free nations can do is 
ensure they have the resources they need to carry out their fight. 
Russia's war against Ukraine reminds us that nations that value freedom 
and security must stand together.
  Finland and Sweden are looking to stand with other free nations by 
joining the NATO alliance. Vladimir Putin has turned the historic 
positions of neutrality in Finland and Sweden into robust public 
support to join the alliance, and both of these countries will 
strengthen the capabilities and geostrategic position of NATO.
  Yesterday, the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations reported the 
treaty concerning their accession to NATO, and I hope the Senate and 
administration will soon complete their respective roles and approve 
Finland and Sweden's membership.
  One priority for me in every National Defense Authorization Act is 
ensuring that the men and women of Ellsworth Air Force Base in South 
Dakota have everything they need to successfully carry out their 
mission. Right now, my priority is ensuring Ellsworth remains a 
responsive and lethal component of global strike command, with the B-1 
bomber leveraging the Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile and its 
Long Range Anti-Ship Missile derivative.
  As we look to the future, I am working to ensure the base continues 
to receive full funding for the many equipment and support facilities 
that will be needed for the B-21 Raider mission at Ellsworth. I worked 
to ensure full funding for the first of these facilities in last year's 
NDAA, including a low-observable coating restoration facility, a wash 
rack and maintenance hangar, an expanded flight simulator facility, and 
more.
  This year's NDAA continues that work with additional funding for the 
low-observable coating restoration facility, as well as funding for two 
additional construction projects--a weapons generation facility and a 
radio frequency facility--that will be needed to ensure Ellsworth is 
fully able to conduct the nuclear and stealth B-21 missions.
  I have had the privilege of visiting the B-21 production site in 
Palmdale, CA. And while the program remains heavily classified, I can 
say the six planes under production are impressive feats of American 
engineering and that we are honored that South Dakota will be the first 
State to host the mission.
  But it is not just about the hardware and cutting-edge systems. Our 
greatest asset is our people, including the pilots, the maintainers, 
and all of the men and women who have answered the call to serve. That 
is why I am focused on ensuring our men and women in uniform have not 
just the military support they need but the support they need for their 
families.
  More military families will be moving into the Ellsworth area with 
the arrival of the B-21 mission--as many as 250 people per year, 
including 100 dependents. I am committed to ensuring that the 
infrastructure is in place to provide ample facilities for these 
families.
  To that end, I worked to include in this year's NDAA an extension of 
an authority for the Secretary of Defense to adjust basic allowance for 
housing rates if an installation is experiencing a sudden increase in 
the number of servicemembers assigned there. This will ensure that 
families at Ellsworth

[[Page S3507]]

and elsewhere will have the resources they need to secure appropriate 
accommodations.
  I am also working to ensure that the Douglas School District is able 
to integrate and support Air Force members' children and provide 
sufficient classroom space. This NDAA would provide $15 million in 
impact aid for schools experiencing force structure changes like the 
anticipated growth at Ellsworth with the arrival of the B-21 mission.
  I am grateful to Senator Rounds for his assistance getting this 
through the committee's markup and to our State's at-large 
Representative, Congressman Johnson, for his work to get it included in 
the House-passed bill. This expanded program should be a good first 
step to help ensure that Douglas School District is able to expand to 
meet the needs of new Ellsworth families.
  The House of Representatives, to its credit, voted on its version of 
the National Defense Authorization Act the other day. But, 
unfortunately, the House legislation's total funding authorization is 
lower than the Senate bill's number. That is a concern, not only 
because we have a lot of priorities to fund but because inflation is 
currently cutting into the military's spending power.
  Inflation affects American families and businesses, but it also has a 
serious effect on our Nation's security. As prices soar across the 
economy, the military is able to do less with the dollars that it has 
and that can affect troop readiness and the military's ability to keep 
up with needed programs and purchases, from weapons to vehicles to 
aircraft and ships.
  It is essential that the final House and Senate bill include the 
Senate's top-line funding number.
  In his 1793 annual message to Congress, George Washington said:

       There is a rank due to the United States among nations 
     which will be withheld, if not absolutely lost, by the 
     reputation of weakness. If we desire to avoid insult, we must 
     be able to repel it; if we desire to secure peace, one of the 
     most powerful instruments of our rising prosperity, it must 
     be known that we are at all times ready for war.

  In other words, ``Peace through strength.''
  These words hold true in every age. The surest method of securing 
peace is ensuring we are prepared for war. As Russia's unprovoked 
attack on Ukraine reminds us, there will always be nations who threaten 
peace and freedom. And the surest way to prevent these powers from 
destroying freedom is to ensure that we present a powerful threat of 
our own, a credible deterrent that stops these nations and other bad 
actors from wanting to tangle with us. There is no more a certain way 
to invite war than to be unprepared to meet the bullies and the 
dictators of the world.
  The National Defense Authorization Act is one of the most essential 
pieces of legislation we take up each year because it helps ensure that 
our Nation is equipped to defend itself and to deter aggression.
  I hope that the Democratic leadership will consider deferring its 
tax-and-spending plans to take up this important national security 
legislation in the near future.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from New Hampshire.
  Mrs. SHAHEEN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that in addition 
to myself, both Senators Grassley and Carper be permitted to speak for 
up to 10 minutes each before the scheduled vote.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore.
  Without objection, it is so ordered.