Ndaa

Floor Speech

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Mr. BUDD. Madam President, I thank my colleague and the ranking member for his comments and his leadership on Armed Services.

We meet at a time of increasing peril for our country. The threats we face are demanding attention in a way that we haven't seen in decades. From the Middle East to Europe, to the Indo-Pacific, weakness and moral bankruptcy from the Biden-Harris administration have allowed chaos to spread around the globe.

In the Middle East, Israel is in a fight for survival against genocidal Hamas terrorists and other terrorist proxies from Iran. These forces of evil are bent not only on the complete annihilation of the Jewish State but on the destruction of the United States as well.

In Ukraine, Russia continues its vicious war of aggression by continuing to commit war crimes against innocent civilians and threatening the very stability of Europe.

In the Indo-Pacific, China is saber-rattling and taking provocative action toward Taiwan and the Philippines.

The aim of the Chinese Communist Party is clear: They are determined to displace the United States as the dominant world superpower. If this were to occur, the consequences would be staggering for America and, I say, yes, the world's security and economic well-being.

We know that the answer to all these crises is the one thing that has been missing for the last 3\1/2\ years, and that is American strength, particularly America's military superiority.

This year's National Defense Strategy Commission report has made clear that the dire threats we face can only be confronted if America's military might is strengthened. Our enemies won't relent if America takes a step backward. Our diplomatic efforts will never be successful if they are not backed up by the real threat of overwhelming military force. Simply put, in order to be a strong nation, our military must also be strong.

I am proud to say that my home State of North Carolina plays a leading role in our national defense. The Old North State is blessed to be home to eight active military bases, and it has thousands of Active- Duty servicemembers, veterans, and their families as well.

As a member of the Armed Services Committee, I see it as my responsibility to do everything that I can to support our military and to keep it strong. I am particularly proud of the work the committee did this year on the National Defense Authorization Act to combat the growing threats posed by China, Russia, Iran, and the dangerous individuals coming across our own southern border.

In this dangerous world, the U.S. Senate should prioritize the passage of the NDAA. We shouldn't procrastinate, and we shouldn't play politics with it. We should put it on the floor, have a full amendment process, and let everyone debate the issues. It is pretty simple.

But don't be fooled by the political calendar. The Democrat majority--they can make the time if they really wanted to do it, but instead they are prioritizing politics. They are holding show votes on messaging bills designed to fundraise for their political base. This does a massive disservice not only to the men and women serving overseas who depend on us, but it also sends yet another message of weakness and division to the world at a time when our enemies see the United States as weaker than we have ever been.

So my message to the majority is this: If you care about keeping America a strong nation, if you care about American leadership in the world, if you care about U.S. troops stationed here and abroad, put the NDAA on the floor so that we can do our job.

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