National Pulse Memorial

Floor Speech

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.

I rise in strong support of the Fiscal Year 2022 National Defense Authorization Act. And I want to start off by saying Chairman Smith has been a real leader on this effort. He has had obstacle after obstacle thrown in his way for months and has continued to be a real advocate for the legislation, but also trying to make sure we get in a good place. And I couldn't ask for a better partner to lead this committee with.

The bill before us has strong bipartisan, bicameral support.

Over the last year, we have seen the best of our soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen, and guardians. They have performed in the toughest environments with the greatest level of skill and professionalism. Many gave their lives so others would have a chance at a better life.

Without a doubt, our military is the greatest force for good the world has ever seen. Providing the authorities and resources our servicemembers need to defend our Nation and defeat adversaries is the greatest responsibility we have here in Congress.

We accomplish that responsibility with the bill before us today. It provides an additional $25 billion over the President's request, reversing irresponsible cuts to procurement and readiness.

This bill ensures our warfighters are the best equipped and trained in the world. It puts our servicemembers first, providing a 2.7 percent pay raise and expanding benefits to their families.

It puts American workers first with historic investments in our industrial base.

It also begins divesting in legacy systems that will not help us deter future threats. Instead, it invests in new technologies like artificial intelligence, hypersonics, and quantum computing that will help us stay ahead of our adversaries. That is important because Russia and China are rapidly modernizing their militaries.

China is outpacing us with advancements in emerging technologies and weapons systems. In recent years, we have seen China use its military to push out its borders, threaten our allies, and gain footholds on new continents.

This bill is laser focused on preparing our military to prevail in a conflict with China. It makes critical investments in new systems capable of surviving in contested environments. It includes provisions that will remove China from our defense supply chain. And it reaffirms our support to allies in the region, especially Taiwan.

In Eastern Europe, Russia is on the march again. Putin is threatening NATO allies and amassing an invasion force on the Ukrainian border.

This bill makes historic investments in the European Defense Initiative and provides $300 million for Ukraine, $75 million of which is lethal aid.

Threats from near-peer rivals like China and Russia are not the only ones we face. Terrorists continue to plot to destroy our way of life, so we must continue to take the fight to them. With strong investments in new capabilities and readiness, this bill enables our warfighters to do just that.

Finally, I think we were all horrified by the disastrous withdrawal from Afghanistan. This bill includes important provisions to provide accountability and ensure that we honor the 2,500 Americans who gave their lives in Afghanistan to keep our Nation safe.

Again, Madam Speaker, this is a carefully drafted bipartisan, bicameral agreement. I urge all Members to support our servicemembers and their families by voting in favor of this bill. I reserve the balance of my time.

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner), who is not only the ranking member on Strategic Forces Subcommittee, but has spent years leading the effort for us to get to meaningful ways to deal with sexual assault in the military, which this bill does.

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman).

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Jackson), an outstanding freshman member of our committee.

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Arkansas (Mr. Crawford).

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Gallagher), the ranking member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee.

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from California (Mr. Garcia).

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Fallon).

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Cammack).

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Colorado (Mr. Lamborn).

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Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time.

Madam Speaker, I want to again thank Chairman Smith, Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Inhofe, and all the members of HASC and SASC for their tremendous work this year. I also want to thank our committee staff on both sides of the aisle, as well as staff from leadership, legislative counsel, and CBO, for their hard work and dedication. Enormous numbers of hours were put into this endeavor over the course of this year, and I can't overstate how much I appreciate the staff work.

Finally, Madam Speaker, today is the day we honor the brave 3,500 American servicemembers killed or wounded in Pearl Harbor. On that day and again on September 11, our Nation came together and vowed to defend our homeland and protect our freedom from all enemies. Each year, Congress comes together in an effort to fulfill that vow by passing the National Defense Authorization Act.

Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to do that again this year and pass the NDAA, and I yield back the balance of my time.

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