[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 112 (Monday, July 8, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4216-S4217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                   National Defense Authorization Act

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, this week, the Senate convenes with 
important business to address. America's closest allies are in town. 
The eyes of the world are on the most successful military alliance in 
human history. Friends and foes are watching to see whether the 
superpower that forged the NATO alliance and guided its success across 
seven decades has the will to continue to lead.
  This week, with the leaders of dozens of allied nations here in 
Washington, the Senate could do its part to answer that question. We 
could show America's most trusted friends and partners

[[Page S4217]]

that we are still willing to stand with them.
  We could pass the National Defense Authorization Act, which our 
colleagues on the Armed Services Committee reported overwhelmingly 
nearly a month ago. We could, but we won't because the Democratic 
leader has other plans. As important allies visit the Halls of the 
Senate, the clearest sign of our resolve to lead will instead continue 
to collect dust.
  Rather than taking up the NDAA, the Senate Democrats have decided to 
spend precious floor time on performative stunt votes and more of 
President Biden's unfit judicial nominees, beginning with Judge Nancy 
Maldonado. There is a particular irony in our colleague's decision to 
put off urgent work like the annual Defense authorization in favor of 
giving lifetime tenure to a judge with a staggering backlog of her own.
  With the eyes of the world on Washington, this week offers the Senate 
an opportunity to demonstrate the credibility of America's commitments. 
It is an opportunity we can ill afford to miss.