[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 114 (Tuesday, July 14, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Page S3914]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, like many of us, I represent a State with a 
rich heritage of military service, and South Dakota continues to punch 
above its weight in our Armed Forces.
  Our National Guard is frequently called up for critical deployments 
at home and around the world, and Ellsworth Air Force Base is a key 
asset to our national defense. In fact, today Ellsworth is the largest 
construction site in the Air Force as it prepares to host the first B-
21 bombers next year.
  During the recent State work period, I was glad to welcome Air Force 
Secretary Troy Meink--a South Dakota native--to Ellsworth. We met with 
the base leadership and some of the airmen stationed there, and we saw 
the progress the base is making as it prepares for its important new 
mission.
  Whether responding to a natural disaster at home or fighting our 
enemies abroad, the men and women in America's Armed Forces stand ready 
to answer the call.
  They are our most important national security asset, and we have an 
obligation here in Congress to ensure that they have everything they 
need for whatever the mission may be. I know Senators on both sides of 
the aisle take that obligation seriously, and we must.
  As I have said so often before, if you don't get national security 
right, the rest is just conversation.
  If we don't make national security a priority here, we run the risk 
that Americans serving in uniform won't have what they need when they 
need it.
  That is why the National Defense Authorization Act is one of the most 
important bills that we do each year. It is the bill that helps ensure 
our military is ready today and prepared for tomorrow, and I am proud 
that our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee--with the 
leadership of Chairman Wicker and Ranking Member Reed--have reported 
out a strong National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal year 2027.
  For the 66th year in a row, the Armed Services Committee has produced 
a bipartisan NDAA. And later today, we are going to have a vote to 
proceed to this important bill.
  We have had regular reminders over the last few years that we live in 
a dangerous world, that America still has enemies--enemies that want to 
attack us, our allies, and our interests. We have seen too how quickly 
warfare evolves in this day and age.
  This year's NDAA will not only help ensure that America can keep pace 
with those challenges but also that we can outpace our adversaries.
  It puts a heavy emphasis on unmanned systems, especially drones and 
counterdrone measures. It also continues shipbuilding efforts to 
strengthen our naval fleet.
  As for our airpower, this year's bill will help ensure we maintain a 
force of at least 1,800 fighters and supports the new B-21 long-range 
strategic bomber.
  There is a lot I could talk about in this bill--from investing in our 
nuclear deterrent to supporting munitions production--but I will 
mention just two more important aspects of this year's bill.
  First, it builds on efforts in last year's NDAA to reform defense 
acquisition. That includes allowing multiyear procurement contracts 
that allow the Pentagon to do business more efficiently with greater 
predictability and savings for taxpayers.
  I need to mention what this bill does for the men and women serving 
our country and their families who serve alongside them. This year's 
NDAA supports a 3.6 percent pay raise for our troops, and it invests in 
a number of quality-of-life improvements for them and their families: 
investments in education, housing, healthcare, and childcare.
  Our colleagues on the Armed Services Committee have put forward a 
strong bill--a strong bill for our national security and for the men 
and women who defend our Nation. It is my hope that we will be able to 
pass this bill out of the Senate soon and begin the process of working 
with our counterparts in the House and with the White House on a final 
bill.
  Republicans are ready to go. The question is: How will Democrats vote 
today? Are there enough Democrat Senators who support moving forward 
with a bipartisan--bipartisan--defense bill?
  I see no reason that there shouldn't be. But then again, Democrats 
have allowed the politics of obstruction to determine so many of their 
actions for the last year and a half.
  I certainly hope that Democrats won't now put politics ahead of 
support for our men and women in uniform, but that is up to them.
  I yield the floor.
  Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant executive 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.

                          ____________________