Column: Defending our Nation

Statement

On June 6, we marked the anniversary of D-Day. Over seventy years later, the brave men and women who serve in our armed forces continue to protect our nation and defend us from harm. Because of their selflessness, we are able to enjoy many freedoms here at home. At the same time, it is important to remember that these liberties are not free. The sacrifices made by our service members are extraordinary, and it is our duty to ensure that they have the resources needed to defend our nation.

For each of the last 53 years, Congress has passed the National Defense Authorization Act, also known as the NDAA. I was proud to support this tradition by working with my colleagues on the Senate Armed Services Committee to pass the fiscal year 2016 NDAA out of committee a few weeks ago. This bill is the result of a bipartisan compromise to perform the most important function of the federal government: providing for the national defense.

Included in the NDAA are several common-sense proposals to cut inefficiencies and use the savings generated to better meet the needs of our warfighters. For example, the Air Force's next-generation bomber and new tanker programs have both suffered delays. Because of this, they could not spend all of the funding that had originally been requested for those programs. This bill would adjust funding accordingly, and move nearly $660 million in savings to meet the unfunded requirements of our military.

Throughout this budget, unjustified spending increases were reduced and troubled programs were cut. The differences were used to meet the high priority requirements of our men and women in uniform. The bill also combats the continued growth in headquarters staff at the Pentagon and major commands. It takes action by reducing funding for headquarters and management staff by 7.5 percent. This will result in $1.7 billion in savings.

In all, the NDAA moves nearly $10 billion from unnecessary spending to increase the capabilities of our warfighters. One such area is the development of advanced technologies. The technological superiority of our armed forces has come under increasing threat in recent years. This is an issue that the Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee, which I chair, has followed closely. The new funding devoted to this initiative is targeted toward the development of the next generation of technology, such as lasers and railguns, and will enable our military's continued advantage on the battlefield of the future.

During a recent trip I led to Eastern Europe, the importance of cybersecurity and security assistance programs was strongly reinforced. This bill addresses these threats and codifies the Department of Defense's role in defending the nation in cyberspace. It requires the Department to regularly conduct training exercises with other government agencies to perform this mission. Our allies have expressed their growing concern regarding Russia's increasing aggression in this region, as well as the ongoing turmoil in Ukraine. They are all calling for more cooperation with the United States, and I believe our nation has a responsibility to respond.

In a world where ISIL continues to expand its reach, Russia has seized Crimea and pours fighters into eastern Ukraine, and China is intimidating its neighbors and building islands in the South China Sea, the threats to our security are increasing and evolving. We must be prepared by funding our national defense. Anything less would be unacceptable.

The Senate Armed Services Committee has again produced a product that supports our national defense and the needs of our men and women in uniform. I am inspired by their service, and I look forward to continuing to work with my colleagues to protect our great nation as the full Senate considers the NDAA. It is our responsibility to get this done.

Thank you for participating in the democratic process. I look forward to visiting with you again next week.

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