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Floor Speech
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Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise today to point out that we are only 12 days from the end of the fiscal year and to call upon the majority leader to bring the appropriations bills to the Senate floor. We have wasted the last 2 weeks. We have spent time voting on issues that were not nearly as time-sensitive.
By the end of July, the Senate Appropriations Committee had held hearings on, thoroughly considered at full committee markups, and reported for consideration by the full Senate 11 of the 12 appropriations bills, roughly 96 percent of the discretionary funding permitted by the caps. All of the bills--all of them--received strong bipartisan support. We advanced six of the bills unanimously. Unanimous support for any bill in today's Senate is no small feat and a testament to the hard work and seriousness of our committee members on both sides of the aisle, led by our chair, the senior Senator from Washington.
But what has happened after the committee reported its bills? Nothing. They have languished on the Senate calendar. Instead of taking up the Senate committee-passed bills--including bills that passed unanimously--that we passed earlier in the summer, the Senate has spent this month processing nominations and taking show votes aimed at scoring political points.
Show votes: We had another of those yesterday. We voted for the second time on the exact same bill on IVF. What was that? That is not what the Senate should be doing at this critical time. That was simply an attempt by the majority leader to score political points, and I think that is highly unfortunate. We need to get back to legislating, and surely funding our government is an imperative. The Founders envisioned the Senate as a deliberative institution.
As I indicated, by July, the Senate Appropriations Committee had advanced the fiscal year 2025 Defense appropriations bill by a vote of 28 to 0. It was unanimous. The bill would provide our military with the resources it needs to confront the global threats facing the United States, which combatant commanders have described to me as being the worst and most dangerous in 50 years.
Our bill rejects the administration's budget that would have led to the smallest Air Force in history and would have yielded the seas to the growing Chinese navy. The committee, instead, called for a 3.3 percent increase in defense funding levels compared to last year.
Our bill strengthens our military across all domains: air, land, sea, space, and cyberspace.
Our bill would also provide our brave men and women in uniform the pay and benefits that they deserve. It would fund a 4.5-percent pay increase for most of our service men and women and a 5.5-percent pay increase for the most junior enlisted personnel.
These are just some of the highlights of the bill.
Our bill includes $37 million for Navy shipbuilding, the largest shipbuilding budget ever. It begins to reverse the dangerous decline in the number of Navy ships.
For the Air Force, the bill provides additional funding to make nearly 500 more aircraft available than the President's budget request would allow.
The bill addresses the changing face of warfare with $1 billion for counterdrone capabilities to address this evolving threat. The growing use of drones by Iran and its proxies as well as Russia in its attacks in Ukraine have demonstrated that warfare has changed and so must our strategies and budgets.
These are just some of the highlights of this critically important appropriations bill that we should have been debating, amending, and passing on the Senate floor.
Mr. President, don't take just my word for it. I would ask unanimous consent to submit for the Record letters on why we need a full-year defense appropriations bill and describing the harm of long continuing resolutions.
One of the letters is from the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. One is from the Secretary of Defense. One is from the Chief of Naval Operations. One is from the Commandant of the Marine Corps. One is from the Secretary of the Navy. One is a letter from The Military Coalition, representing more than 5.5 million current and former servicemembers, their families, and caregivers. One is from the Aerospace Industries Association. I could go on and on.
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Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, here is my point. It does not have to be this way. If the Senate majority leader had prioritized bringing appropriations bills to the floor, we could be in conference now with our Senate colleagues on some of the most important funding bills and send them to the President's desk prior to the October 1 start of the fiscal year.
The Senate is not doing its job. We should be considering these bills, not engaging in show votes.
Hon. Patty Murray, Chair, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Madam Chair: We thank Congress for passing Fiscal Year 2024 Defense Appropriations, including multiyear procurement funds, and National Security Supplemental Funding for critical investments into our Nation's defense industrial base.
However, I am concerned the Joint Force has been constrained by Continuing Resolutions for 14 of the past 15 years, totaling 5 years' worth of lost time we cannot get back. Continuing Resolutions (CR) of any length have lasting impacts on the Joint Force. The National Defense Strategy identifies the key challenges that threaten U.S. national interests. All are currently active and, in some cases, working together. This convergence puts us in in the most dynamic and challenging global security environment in my nearly 40 years in uniform.
Our Joint Force is the most capable and lethal fighting force in the world. Maintaining our strategic advantage depends upon on-time funding to have a modernized and ready force. In the race against time, each CR is the equivalent of taking a knee on advancing our defense capabilities as security challenges increase their momentum to challenge our credible combat power. CRs significantly impact and degrade acquisition of the warfighting capability and capacity required to defend the United States and our interests. They slow progress and damage our relationships with the defense industrial base, eroding trust driving up costs, and increasing delivery times, as industry hedges against funding inconsistencies.
Should Congress move forward with a six-month CR, we anticipate detrimental impacts to readiness and modernization across the Joint Force. Pay and entitlements, nuclear enterprise modernization, shipbuilding and maintenance, aircraft procurement, weapons system sustainment, munitions production, and multiple new starts are just a few examples that will feel the brunt of the lost time and lost buying power caused by a CR.
Our Joint Force depends on long-term, stable. predictable, and timely funding. We are living in a consequential time. There is no time to waste. Thank you for your continued support and service to our Nation. Sincerely, Charles Q. Brown, Jr., General, U.S. Air Force. ____ Secretary of Defense, Washington, DC, September 7, 2024. Hon. Susan Collins, Vice Chairman, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Senator Collins: I am providing a detailed list of the impacts of a six-month continuing resolution (CR) for the Department of Defense. The Department appreciates the opportunity to share its view on a six-month CR and the litany of difficulties it would impose--not only on accomplishing our mission and maintaining national security, but also on the quality of life of our Service members and their families.
If passed, a six-month CR would represent the second year in a row, and the seventh time in the past 15 years, where the Department is delayed in moving forward with critical priorities until mid-way through the budget year. These actions subject Service members and their families to unnecessary stress, empower our adversaries, misalign billions of dollars, damage our readiness, and impede our ability to react to emergent events.
As you have heard me say, our budget is aligned to our strategy. A six-month CR would set us significantly behind in meeting our pacing challenge highlighted in our National Defense Strategy--the People's Republic of China (PRC). The PRC is the only global competitor with both the intent and capability to change the international order. The PRC does not operate under CRs. Our ability to execute our strategy is contingent upon our ability to innovate and modernize to meet this challenge, which cannot happen under a CR. Asking the Department to compete with the PRC, let alone manage conflicts in Europe and the Middle East, while under a lengthy CR, ties our hands behind our back while expecting us to be agile and to accelerate progress. We have already lost valuable time, having operated under 48 CRs for a total of almost five years since 2011. We cannot buy back this time, but we can stop digging the hole.
Moreover, under the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA), the consequences of such a CR in fiscal year (FY) 2025 could be even more dire for the U.S. and its allies and partners. Failure to pass any one of the 12 full appropriations acts by January 1, 2025, will start a process to reduce discretionary spending limits (caps) for the security category by one percent below the enacted FY 2023 level. This will be enforced through sequestration, potentially resulting in a total reduction of $42 billion from the Department's FY 2025 request. A six-month CR takes us far too close to the April 30, 2025 deadline for a permanent sequestration order, as required by the FRA and related legislation.
A long-term CR in FY 2025 would impede thousands of DoD programs and projects. Military recruiting would be damaged, just as we are post-COVID, returning to meeting our goals. We would be forced to forego vital investments in our defense industrial base, including the submarine and ship building bases. We would lose time and money the Nation cannot risk on modernization of our nuclear triad, rapid fielding of Uncrewed Aerial Systems through the Replicator initiative, execution of hundreds of military construction projects, and deterrence initiatives in the Indo-Pacific and Europe. Additionally, because there would be no funds for legally required military and civilian pay raises during a CR, the Department would be forced to offset the cost of these well- deserved pay raises, and in fact all inflation impacts across the Department, by cutting into other programs and accounts at potentially damaging levels.
Enclosed with this letter is information that highlights the impacts on each of the Military Departments and certain Defense-Wide activities should Congress fail to act. As you will see, the repercussions of Congress failing to pass regular appropriations legislation for the first half of FY 2025 would be devastating to our readiness and ability to execute the National Defense Strategy.
The single most important thing that Congress can do to ensure U.S. national security is to pass timely legislation for all 12 appropriations bills for FY 2025. I am fully aware of the political pressures that will challenge the Congress from fulfilling its duty before our national elections conclude. No matter who wins this election, there will be a Presidential transition. I urge you and your colleagues to take up action immediately after the election to limit damage to our national security during this vulnerable period around transitions and uphold the bipartisan tradition of funding our nation's defense prior to the inauguration of a new President.
The Department stands ready to assist Congress in any way possible to ensure it has the information and resources to pass this essential legislation. As I have said several times in the past, it's not only the right thing to do, but also the best thing to do for our Nation's defense.
A copy of this letter is being sent to the other Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. Sincerely, Lloyd J. Austin. ____ Department of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations, Washington, DC, September 17, 2024. Hon. Jon Tester, Chairman, Subcommittee on Defense, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman: I write to express my deep concern regarding Congress' intention to pass a six-month continuing resolution (CR) and echo the Secretary of Defense and the Secretary of the Navy's calls to enact a Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 appropriation bill. A six-month CR would cause profound, damaging impact to the United States Navy while imposing unnecessary hardship on our Sailors, civilians, and their families.
I am grateful for your support of the provision to add $1.95B to fully fund the two FY 2024 appropriated Virginia class submarines. This supplemental funding supports my efforts to maximize players on the field, deliver decisive combat power, invest in the submarine industrial base, and maintain trust in the AUKUS partnership.
Our Navy continues to support our Nation's security interests operating around the globe and, most notably this year, in harm's way. The Navy requires stable, predictable funding while engaged in combat in the Middle East, in a race with the People's Republic of China, and challenged by an aggressive Russia. A six-month CR would delay platforms and weapons to our warfighters and undermine the foundation that supports them. Additionally, a six-month CR in FY 2025 drives us towards the draconian consequences of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 imposing additional spending caps.
Our FY 2025 budget request is strategy driven and invests in priorities that will deter our potential adversaries and enable your Navy to respond in crisis and if necessary, win decisively in war. It is laser-focused on warfighting, warfighters, and the foundation that supports them. Highlighted below is a partial list of priorities that would be undermined by a six-month CR:
Columbia Class Submarine: risks further delaying delivery of Columbia class submarine due to construction delays and would result in future cost increases.
CVN 75 Refueling (RCOH): risks slippage of new contract award resulting in maintenance delays and potential cost increases.
Quality of Service: risks to fleet and family services, child development centers, and supporting shore infrastructure.
Operations and Maintenance: risks to air and port operations, facilities management and environmental compliance. Risks potential descoping or delaying some of the 58 ship depot maintenance availabilities scheduled for FY 2025.
Military Personnel: more gaps at sea, reduction to end strength, elimination of most new bonus awards. Upon passage of the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act, pay raise that takes effect January 1, 2025 will induce impacts on other mission areas such as curtailment of permanent change of station moves and other personnel requirements.
Munitions: delays AIM-9X Sidewinder and Rolling Airframe Missile contract awards reducing missiles for fleet load outs.
Military Construction: Trident Refit Facility Expansion will be delayed, interrupting current operations and resulting in a failure to meet the refit mission of the Columbia Class submarine. Delays to Family Housing on Guam due to reduction in Navy Family Housing Construction. Delays to Conventional Prompt Strike Test Facility that will slow schedule, increase cost, and reduce rounds available to the warfighter.
Passing legislation on time for all 12 FY 2025 appropriations bills is the single most effective action Congress can take to ensure U.S. national security. The compounding effect from years of repeated CRs continues to undermine our ability to support the warfighter and maintain our position as the world's preeminent naval force. In the end, it is our people that suffer effects of a CR and the unpredictability it brings. I would ask you to think of the Sailors and their families from each of your state's districts. We must continue to build on the momentum of our efforts to ensure our quality of service meets the highest standards and look after our families who enable us to accomplish our warfighting mission.
The United States Navy stands ready to assist Congress in any way possible to ensure it has the information and resources to pass this essential legislation.
A similar letter has been sent to Chairman Calvert, Chair Murray, and Chairman Cole. Sincerely, L.M. Franchetti. ____ Department of the Navy, Headquarters United States Marine Corps, Washington, DC, September 17, 2024. Hon. Jon Tester, Chairman, Subcommittee on Defense, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Chairman; I am writing to express my deep concerns regarding the impact of Continuing Resolutions (CRs) and budget uncertainty on the readiness and mission of the Marine Corps.
My recent Commandant's Planning Guidance outlines the Marine Corps' strategic priorities and objectives, continuing the momentum of our Force Design initiatives, including maturing kill webs, maturing the force, and Quality of Life efforts that together generate a ready Fleet Marine Force and enable Joint operations. The FY25 President's Budget reflects these priorities and requests the necessary funding to achieve them. However, CRs and budget uncertainty have a detrimental effect on our ability to continue to build the Joint Force's Stand-in Force while sustaining the Nation's crisis response capabilities.
When we operate under a CR, the misalignment and reduced levels of funding prevent the planned execution of our FY25 strategy-driven budget. This leads to inefficiencies and a deceleration in warfighting investment, disruption to recruiting and retention, and reductions to operation and maintenance accounts, potentially compromising our ability to respond to emerging threats. Furthermore, budget uncertainty creates instability and unpredictability in our planning and operations, leading to delays in procurement, maintenance, and training, which impact our warfighting readiness, modernization efforts, and meeting our commitments to our allies and partners.
I urge you to consider the importance of providing timely appropriations for the Marine Corps. Budget certainty-- adequate, stable, predictable funding--is the single most effective way to maintain critical strategic momentum in our Force Design transformation efforts to stay in front of our pacing threat, to support our Marines and Sailors, and to fulfill our mission as the Nation's Naval Expeditionary Force in Readiness.
A similar letter has been sent to Chair Murray, Chairman Cole, and Chairman Calvert. Thank you for your attention to this matter. I look forward to working with you to ensure the continued success of the Marine Corps and the defense of our Nation. Very Respectfully, Eric M. Smith, General, U.S. Marine Corps, Commandant of the Marine Corps. ____ The Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC, September 12, 2024. Hon. Susan Collins, Vice Chair, Committee on Appropriations, U.S. Senate.
Dear Vice Chair Collins: I write today to express my concern about the six-month continuing resolution (CR) and its impact on the Navy and Marine Corps. This lengthy delay in new funding would force the Department of the Navy (DON) to operate at last year's funding levels with the negative consequences lasting far beyond the time frame of the CR, impeding our ability to field the force needed to defend our nation while imposing unnecessary stress on our Sailors, Marines, Civilians, and their families.
Our FY 2025 budget request included significant investments in recruiting, quality of life, and the ships, submarines, and aircraft the DON requires to enhance maritime dominance. Enclosed with this letter is a detailed list articulating the impacts of a six-month and year-long CR on the DON, but here are some of the most consequential:
Delays in the Virginia Class submarine will impact submarine deliveries and future force structure availabilities, which are already running over cost and behind schedule. A CR risks setting back the program even further.
Further delaying delivery of Columbia Class submarine due to postponed construction, and result in future cost increases.
A six-month CR risks delaying critical investments in the submarine industrial base and the Australia, United Kingdom, and United States (AUKUS) partnership.
Restriction of Cost-to-Complete funding for prior year shipbuilding programs including CVN-74 refueling resulting in maintenance delays and potential cost increases.
Profound negative impacts on the Marine Corps Force Design efforts, slowing key acquisition programs.
Uncertainty in recruiting budget would lead to challenges in attracting new talent to the force.
Negative impacts to Quality of Service efforts including the Marine Corps Barracks 2030 initiative.
Other limitations include delays to ongoing and planned Nuclear Command, Control and Communications engineering activities supporting STRATCOM, construction projects, continued development of conventional munitions, and delays in procurement of munitions.
Delay key investments in making critical infrastructure like roadways, ranges, and utility systems resilient to extreme weather and climate change. It will also cause serious delays in developing and fielding the Hybrid Medium Tactical Truck program.
Additionally, a long-term CR would impact a multitude of programs within the Department, having a lasting impact on industry stabilization efforts for both shipbuilding and munitions. These include twenty construction projects, five research and development projects, up to fifty-eight ship maintenance availabilities, procurement of five ships, aircraft programs and munitions critical for our warfighters. Finally, due to the pay raises for both military and civilian not being funded under a year-long CR, additional programs would be negatively impacted to accommodate the increases in payroll along with other inflationary impacts.
The Department of the Navy stands ready to assist Congress in any way possible to ensure it has the information and resources to pass this essential legislation. This is the best thing to do to support our Nation's defense.
A copy of this letter is being sent to the other Chairs and Ranking Members of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. Sincerely, Carlos Del Toro. ____ The Military Coalition, September 9, 2024. Hon. Chuck Schumer, Majority Leader, U.S. Senate. Hon. Mike Johnson, Speaker, House of Representatives. Hon. Mitch McConnell, Republican Leader, U.S. Senate. Hon. Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Leader, House of Representatives.
Dear Majority Leader Schumer, Republican Leader McConnell, Speaker Johnson, and Democratic Leader Jeffries: The Military Coalition (TMC), representing more than 5.5 million current and former uniformed service members, veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors urges you to pass all of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2025 appropriations bills supporting our uniformed services--in particular the Defense Appropriations and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies' Appropriations (MilCon-VA)--as soon as possible and at no less than the Senate Armed Services Committee-passed levels.
Our nation faces many threats, and our uniformed services operate in a very challenging environment. From responding to Russia's unprovoked invasion of Ukraine and the current crisis in the Middle East, China's aggression in the Indo- Pacific, as well as countering the malign activities of North Korea--the uniformed services continue to answer our nation's call around the globe. Domestically, without fail or delay, the uniformed services have executed essential support to civilian authorities during natural disasters of historical scales.
If a continuing resolution (CR) is required to avert a harmful and counterproductive government shutdown, it should be a short one. Funding the government at last year's rate diminishes national security and the capabilities of the uniformed services (both Regular and Reserve Components) by hurting readiness, modernization, and quality-of-life programs. Uniformed service members who have concerns regarding quality-of-life issues cannot dedicate their full attention to the mission. The negative impact to quality of life will do nothing but harm those who are currently serving and will paint a negative picture for any recruiting efforts from an already scant pool of eligible candidates. CRs also do not permit new starts or increase the level of investment in modernization priorities. Further, new family housing and barracks projects cannot be started. Delaying funding damages our defense posture nationally and globally. CRs also hurt the defense industrial base, including small businesses, by adding uncertainty to the procurement and manufacturing processes. CRs damage the joint force's ability to prepare to fight and win in the future and impedes readiness to counter threats today.
Further, our nation's service members, veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors deserve the best possible health care including mental health care as well as timely claims and rating decisions. Shutdowns and CRs hinder new investments to enhance care for beneficiaries, the ability to hire additional health and mental health professionals, and improve facilities.
We believe that a strong national defense begins at home. The uniformed services, their families, our veterans and survivors benefit from on-time appropriate domestic spending which contributes to national security.
As such, TMC, as represented by the organizations listed below, urge you to swiftly pass all twelve FY 2025 appropriations bills as soon as possible. This would provide the predictability and resources commensurate with the demonstrated need and the urgency that our national security challenges require, and our service members, veterans, their families, caregivers, and survivors have earned.
Thank you for your continued service to our nation in Congress. Sincerely, Jack Du Tiel, President, The Military Coalition. The Military Coalition
Air and Space Force Association (AFA),Air Force Sergeants Association (AFSA), Army Aviation Association of America (AAAA), (Association of the United States Army (AUSA), Association of the United States Navy (AUSN), Blinded Veterans Association (BVA), Blue Star Families, Commissioned Officers Association of the US Public Health Service (COA), Fleet Reserve Association (FRA), Gold Star Wives of America, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America (IAVA), Jewish War Veterans of the US (JWV), Marine Corps League, Military Chaplains Association, Military Officers Association of America (MOAA), Military Order of the World Wars (MOWW), National Military Family Association, Naval Enlisted Reserve Association (NERA), Non-Commissioned Officers Association of the USA (NCOA), Reserve Organization of America (ROA), Service Women's Action Network (SWAN), The Retired Enlisted Association (TREA), Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS), US Army Warrant Officers Association (USAWOA), U.S. Coast Guard Chief Petty Officers Association & Enlisted Association (USCGCPOA), Vietnam Veterans of America (VVA). ____ Aerospace Industries Association, September 4, 2024. Hon. Chuck Schumer, Majority Leader, U.S. Senate. Hon. Mitch McConnell, Republican Leader, U.S. Senate. Hon. Mike Johnson, Speaker, House of Representatives. Hon. Hakeem Jeffries, Democratic Leader, House of Representatives.
Dear Speaker Johnson, Majority Leader Schumer, Republican Leader McConnell, and Democratic Leader Jeffries: On behalf of the American aerospace and defense industry, which employs millions of Americans and contributes billions to the American economy, the Aerospace Industries Association (AIA) encourages you to act urgently and jointly to address key priorities when Congress returns from its August district work period. This includes FY25 appropriations bills, the FY25 National Defense Authorization Act, and tax legislation that reverses current policies discouraging business research and development. Enacting these critical bills will not only protect the health of our industry, which is essential to the economic and national security of the United States but will also reinforce our country's resilience and well-being.
AIA represents our nation's leading aerospace and defense companies. These businesses are responsible for countless innovations, research and development that provides cutting- edge technology to our warfighters, improves aviation safety, and demonstrates our global leadership in space. We look forward to working with you to advance key legislation that is critical to maintaining our national security and our global economic leadership.
We know that passing all 12 regular appropriations bills is among your top priorities, and it is a priority that AIA and our members share. U.S. companies like ours that do business with the Department of Defense, the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA), the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and other federal agencies rely on timely and predictable funding to stay on schedule and guide their own investments in staff, facilities, and equipment. Long-term continuing resolutions (CRs), such as those experienced this year, delay and disrupt these investments. We strongly urge you not to support any CR extending beyond this calendar year, because it would repeat and exacerbate the disruption caused by almost six months of CRs this year. Our customers, including our troops, our workers, and their families deserve better.
Secondly, we urge the House to follow the Senate's lead in providing additional funds for both defense and non-defense programs in the final appropriations bills. This is the last year of budget caps imposed by the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023, and funding under those caps is insufficient to meet critical needs or even cover inflation. With bipartisan support, the Senate bills provide modest increases of approximately 3 percent for both defense and non-defense programs. We believe these increases are essential because costs for manufacturing inputs remain persistently high. Without adequate resources, federal contracts, quantities, and delivery schedules must be renegotiated, to the detriment of federal customers and American workers like those in our industry.
For the FAA, FY25 appropriations bills include strong increases to improve aviation safety and increase hiring for air traffic controllers. In both cases, these are needed to address documented challenges and implement important new requirements from the recently enacted FAA Reauthorization Act of 2024. Long-term CRs only push those safety improvements into the future.
The FY25 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) is critical legislation that will provide efficiencies to an often-burdensome acquisition process and reduce barriers for small and mid-sized businesses that seek to enter or remain part of the defense industrial base. American servicemembers, and the defense industrial base that supports them, depend on the authorities authorized in the NDAA each year--just as they have for the last 64 years. We urge you to complete this bill well before these critical authorities expire at the end of the calendar year.
Lastly but no less important, restoring the single-year deductibility of research and development expenses is very important to our industry. This is especially true for our small businesses, which are often forced to choose between paying salaries or continuing research into the next generation of potentially life-saving technologies. Our members serving the Defense Department rely on these expenses to generate cutting-edge technology that protects the warfighter and gives our military a competitive advantage over our adversaries. We are not the only U.S. industry harmed by this 2022 change in the tax code, but the effect on our industry is felt more fully in U.S. national security and safety programs. With China doubling down on its R&D tax incentives, we should not be one of the only nations in the industrialized world following this archaic practice.
AIA remains Congress' partner in these efforts, and we appreciate all you are doing to get these vital bills enacted on time. Please let us know how we can support you with this critical agenda. Respectfully, Eric Fanning, President and CEO, Aerospace Industries Association.
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Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I just want to thank the distinguished ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee for his extraordinary leadership. He has charted a future for defense spending that recognizes the extraordinary threats that we face, and it has been a real honor to work with him.
I yield to the Senator from Alabama, Mrs. Britt.
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Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I just want to thank the Senator from Alabama for her eloquent words, her passion, and her leadership. She is absolutely correct that there is no reason for us to be in the situation that we find ourselves in just 12 days before the start of the new fiscal year.
There is no reason why the Defense appropriations bill, the military construction VA bill, the Labor HHS bill, the CJS bill--I could go on and on. There is no reason why the Senate appropriations approved bills could not have been brought to the Senate floor.
They are important. Funding the government is critical. And as the distinguished Senator from Alabama points out, when we go on to continuing resolutions, we cause enormous harm, which is why I entered into the record all of those letters from the Department of Defense and to other organizations.
And here is the other point: As the Senator from Alabama has pointed out, we end up spending more money. It costs us more money because contracts are put on hold, new starts are delayed, and programs that should be trimmed back or eliminated continue to be funded.
This just is not how the Senate should operate. And I implored the majority leader more than once to bring the appropriations bills to the Senate floor, and it is harmful to our Nation and particularly to our national defense that these bills were not brought to the floor.
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