[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 129 (Wednesday, July 26, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S3562]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




        NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, today, the Senate will continue making 
progress on the NDAA, one of the most important bills of the year and 
something that for more than six decades has passed with bipartisan 
support.
  Yesterday, we adopted two important amendments to the NDAA, adding to 
the Senate's work on outcompeting the Chinese Government. Both 
amendments--one by Senators Cornyn and Casey and one by Senators Rounds 
and Tester--passed overwhelmingly, with 91 ``yes'' votes each. It is 
not often that 91 Senators can unite on a single measure, let alone two 
measures. So to see us unite on outcompeting the Chinese Government was 
an important demonstration that this issue remains broadly bipartisan 
and something we will continue working on throughout the year.
  This morning, we will hold another vote on an amendment by Senators 
Warnock and Budd halting the harassment of our servicemembers by debt 
collectors. I hope this will also enjoy broad support.
  Last night, we sent out a hotline with a number of additional 
amendments. I am hopeful we can lock in an agreement soon to begin 
voting on some of them.
  Since last Wednesday, the Senate has voted on eight amendments here 
on the floor and adopted seven more by voice vote. This is how the 
process should work.
  Finally, I will also keep working with the Republican leader, Chair 
Reed, and Ranking Member Wicker on a second managers' package that will 
have more accomplishments both sides can embrace, and I appreciate the 
cooperation and good faith of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle.
  I have said repeatedly that the NDAA is an opportunity for the Senate 
to show we can work on the biggest issues facing our country through 
bipartisanship, cooperation, and honest debate. That is what we have 
seen play out so far this year on the floor--bipartisanship. The NDAA 
process in this Chamber is a welcome departure from the contentious, 
chaotic, and partisan race to the bottom we saw in the House.
  As I have also said, if we continue embracing bipartisanship, we will 
finish our work on the NDAA before the start of the August State work 
period. We wish to finish the NDAA as soon as we can. There is no 
reason for delay. We aren't quite there yet--there is still some more 
work to be done--but we are close.
  I thank my colleagues for their cooperation, and the Senate will 
continue working on the NDAA until the job is done.
  (Mr. BENNET assumed the Chair.)

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