[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 119 (Wednesday, July 12, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2331-S2332]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                                UKRAINE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, earlier this year, I had the 
opportunity to deliver an important message directed to our European 
allies in Munich. I told our friends that leading Republicans are as 
committed as ever to American leadership and a robust transatlantic 
alliance.
  I emphasized our resolve for helping Ukraine to defeat Russian 
aggression, not because of some vague moral obligation but because of 
what it means for America's own core national interests.
  Letting Putin's brutality succeed would mean putting some of 
America's closest trading partners one border closer to a violent and 
revanchist authoritarian regime. It would mean emboldening Putin's 
``friend without limits'' President Xi in Beijing to assert even more 
aggressive influence over on the other side of the world.
  I spoke yesterday about how our allies recognized what is at stake in 
Ukraine and about how Europe's biggest economies have woken up from 
holidays from history and made serious commitments to helping Ukraine 
actually win.
  For some perspective on this important progress, more than half of 
the Javelin anti-tank weapons Ukraine has received have come from 
countries other than the United States. In fact, we now rank 13th in 
terms of assistance as a percentage of GDP.
  Even as America continues to provide critical assistance to Ukraine, 
some nations are digging even deeper into their own arsenals and making 
a much greater relative investment of support. Russian aggression has 
spurred our European allies to heightened vigilance and greater 
resolve. Here at home, the American people overwhelmingly share that 
resolve.
  According to a recent survey, three in four Americans--three in four 
Americans--including big majorities in each party, think it is 
important to us, to the United States, that Ukraine win the war. A 
clear majority also supports sending U.S. military aid to Ukraine. And 
more generally, 85 percent of Americans say a strong U.S. military is 
essential to maintain peace and prosperity.
  So the American people's view of our national security is really 
quite clear, but here in Washington, providing for the common defense 
remains our biggest and most pressing piece of unfinished business. 
President Biden's defense budget request is woefully inadequate, 
especially as we look at the growing military requirements to deter or 
defend against Chinese aggression.
  Folks in Washington are using the threat of China to justify all 
sorts of other policies and initiatives, but the reality is, the 
primary area of geopolitical competition is part power.

[[Page S2332]]

  This growing threat makes our work on funding America's Armed Forces 
especially important, but the process of setting the Senate's national 
security priorities begins with a long-overdue annual Defense 
authorization.
  I am hopeful that the Democratic leader is taking the necessary steps 
to bringing the NDAA to the Senate floor next week. I am hopeful this 
legislation will receive the thorough amendment process that it 
deserves.
  The sooner we deliver on the NDAA, the sooner we can deliver the 
robust hard-power investments our Armed Forces need to replenish 
stocks, support our allies and partners, and deter growing threats to 
American security all around the world.

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