[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 204 (Tuesday, December 12, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5903]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   National Defense Authorization Act

  Mr. President, now, on the NDAA, the Senate will move forward on the 
annual Defense Authorization Act, moving us closer to passing this bill 
for the 62nd year in a row.
  Both sides have done terrific work these past few months getting the 
NDAA over the finish line. The Senate passed our version of the NDAA 
with a strong 86-to-11 vote back in July. That is a good bipartisan 
vote, majorities of both parties supporting it. And over the past few 
weeks, conferees have done commendable work reconciling the Senate and 
House version. And I am pleased that the conference has reported a 
strong defense bill that contains many of the policies the Senate 
passed back in July.
  We are making major strides to outcompete the Chinese Government by 
approving President Biden's trilateral U.S., U.K., and Australia 
nuclear submarine agreement. This historic agreement will create a new 
fleet of nuclear-powered submarines to counter the Chinese Communist 
Party's influence in the Pacific. And AUKUS, in general, will be a 
critical part of ensuring stability in that region. We have worked all 
year long to get it passed through Congress, and I applaud my 
colleagues on both sides for their efforts.
  As I have said repeatedly, we began the month of December with three 
major goals here in the Senate before the end of the year: First, we 
had to end the unprecedented monthslong and destructive blockade of 
hundreds of military nominees. We have done that. Second, we needed to 
pass the NDAA as we have for decades on a bipartisan basis. We are on 
track to do that this week. And, finally, most difficult of all, we 
must reach an agreement with Republicans on the national security 
supplemental.
  Democrats' attitude on the supplemental can be boiled down two words: 
We are ``still trying.'' We want to get something done. We hope our 
Republican colleagues are serious--serious--about getting something 
done too.