[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 102 (Wednesday, June 17, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2868-S2869]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
National Defense Authorization Act of 2027
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, last week, a U.S. Army Apache helicopter
went down off the coast of Iran. Within 2 hours, a rescue boat located
the pilots. This was not an ordinary rescue boat. For the first time
ever, an unmanned sea drone was sent to pick up the pilots and bring
them to safety.
From the battlefields of Ukraine to the conflict with Iran, drones
and other unmanned systems have become the weapon of choice. Yet the
U.S. military has been dangerously behind in drone and counter-drone
capabilities.
We have made considerable progress in just the last year, as
evidenced by the rescue last week, but we still have more work to do.
That is where the National Defense Authorization Act comes in. I
often say that if we don't get national security right, the rest is
just conversation. And this annual defense bill is one of the most
important bills we consider each year because it is where we make the
policies that help ensure we do get national security right.
We pass this bill every year so that these policies are up to date--
so that we are giving our men and women in uniform the very best
equipment capabilities to do the job we ask them to do.
Last week, the Armed Services Committee reported out the National
Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027, and I am proud to say
that this bill authorizes important investments to improve readiness
and to provide the capabilities that we need to keep America safe today
and into the future. That includes a heavy focus on unmanned systems.
This bill would create a new combatant command overseeing these
technologies. It authorizes $1 billion in unmanned maritime systems,
supports drone and counter-drone capabilities at military bases and at
America's borders, and will ensure that we are able to produce and
procure enough munitions for all of these systems as well.
Drones are just the beginning. There is a lot more in this year's
NDAA to strengthen America's military, improve readiness, and keep our
armed services on the cutting edge.
One of things is shipbuilding. The bill reported out of committee
authorizes investment in a number of new ships, including accelerating
procurement of amphibious warfare ships and supporting domestic
shipbuilding and repair capabilities.
As for our airpower, this year's bill will help ensure we maintain a
force of at least 1,800 fighters. It supports the new B-21 long-range
strategic bomber, which is expected to land at Ellsworth Air Force
Base, in my home State, sometime next year. And it allows for multiyear
procurement for fighter planes, which will allow the Pentagon to do
business more efficiently, with greater predictability, and save
taxpayer money.
This year's bill builds on the significant reforms to defense
acquisition we enacted in last year's NDAA in a number of ways. As I
mentioned, it allows for multiyear procurement contracts for fighter
aircraft, as well as for munitions and vehicles. And it accelerates the
process for new software to come online, removing unnecessary redtape
that delays getting new technology into the hands of the American
soldiers.
And speaking of our men and women in uniform, I am pleased to be able
to say that this bill authorizes a 3.6-percent pay raise for our
military members. It also supports a number of quality-of-life
improvements, including investments in education, healthcare, and
childcare for servicemembers and their families.
As I have already said, this is an important bill, and drafting a
bill of this size is not a simple task. I appreciate the hard work by
our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee.
Thanks to the leadership of Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Reed,
we have, for the 66th year now in a row, a bipartisan National Defense
Authorization Act. That, too, is no small feat.
When it comes to military capabilities, we just can't play catchup.
We need to be the leader in the capabilities that will define the
future--capabilities that will keep Americans safe by making our
enemies think twice before crossing us. That is peace through strength,
but you can't get there with a strong budget one year and a weak budget
the next.
We ask members of the Armed Forces to be ready whenever we need them,
wherever we need them, and for whatever we need them to do.
[[Page S2869]]
And we here have an obligation to make sure that when that call
comes, they have what they need to answer it.
We need to make every concerted effort--every--to strengthen our
military. There is never a time when we can afford to put this on the
back burner. Try as we might, we simply don't know what is coming over
the horizon, and we will eventually pay the price for failing to invest
in a strong national defense today.
Mr. President, 251 years ago this week the Continental Congress
created the Continental Army and appointed George Washington its
Commander in Chief. For 251 years, Americans have bravely gone to fight
our Nation's battles, and for 251 years, it has been Congress' job to
stand behind them and provide what they need to execute the mission.
The face of the battle has changed, but the fundamental duty--theirs
and ours--has not. As Washington himself said:
If we desire to avoid insult, we must be able to repel it;
if we desire to secure peace . . . it must be known that we
are at all times ready for war.
We have to get national security right. I am glad this year's
National Defense Authorization Act is up to the task, and I look
forward to bringing it to the floor very soon.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.