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[Pages S5027-S5028]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BUDGET AGREEMENT
Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, earlier this week the Trump
administration and Speaker Pelosi reached an agreement to avoid a
government funding crisis and provide for our Armed Forces. In the
tough circumstances of divided government, they achieved the kind of
deal that our national defense actually needs. The 2-year funding
agreement will secure the resources we need to continue restoring the
readiness of our Armed Forces and modernizing them to meet the 21st-
century challenges that face our country.
As I mentioned yesterday, I always find it curious when our
Democratic colleagues take the negotiating position that funding
critical Pentagon missions and providing for the common defense are
partisan Republican priorities. They act like only Republicans want a
modern, ready military, such that our spending on national defense
needs to be matched up with other spending in order to make it
palatable to Democrats.
In one sense, my Republican colleagues and I will probably say,
``guilty as charged.'' Yes, we absolutely prioritize the national
defense and the U.S. military. Yes, we prioritize keeping Americans
safe. This is the fundamental obligation of the U.S. government.
Over the past 2\1/2\ years, it has been a Republican President who
has sought to reverse the previous 8 years of decline in defense. It
has been Republicans in Congress who prioritized rebuilding our
national defense after the Obama administration's neglect and atrophy.
Thanks to the Trump administration's tough negotiating, this deal will
secure a larger increase in defense funding than in nondefense programs
relative to current law. Better than parity for defense.
I doubt Members need any reminding about why these investments are so
critical, but if they do, every day's newspapers make the case loud and
clear. For years, our adversaries have methodically stepped up their
incursions and their aggressions. They want to chip away at the
peaceful, rules-based international order that American leadership has
helped to establish and preserve.
Between 2009 and 2018, the Chinese Communist Party increased its
military spending--listen to this--by 83
[[Page S5028]]
percent--83 percent. Talk about a buildup. The Chinese nearly doubled
their military spending in less than a decade. This is just the PRC's
publicly acknowledged funding.
These numbers have very real implications. When China gets a leg up
in terms of readiness or technology, they are able to hold a greater
number of U.S. and allied forces at risk. They are able to push their
air and maritime control further into the Indo-Pacific region,
increasing hegemonic control and effectively pushing the United States
and our allies back.
So the importance of this funding agreement is not simply our ability
to provide for the upkeep and regular maintenance on our military as it
currently exists. We are also talking about building the U.S. military
of the future--research, development, and modernization--so that our
Nation and our servicemembers are equipped to keep Americans safe and
project power as necessary for years and decades to come.
In my view, this grave responsibility should be a top, top priority
on both sides of the aisle, and this funding agreement will allow us to
get it done. I am proud that it will meet the pressing needs of
servicemembers stationed at installations around the country, like Ft.
Campbell, Ft. Knox, and the Blue Grass Army Depot in Kentucky. The deal
will secure sorely needed investment in the national defense, and it
contains none of the far-left poison pills that House Democrats had
sought, like going backward on the issue of life or stripping away
rightful Presidential authorities. In divided government, that is what
we call a good deal. The Senate will vote on it before the end of next
week.
____________________
