WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021; Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 128
(Extensions of Remarks - July 21, 2020)
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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E658-E659]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR
FISCAL YEAR 2021
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speech of
HON. GWEN MOORE
of wisconsin
in the house of representatives
Monday, July 20, 2020
Ms. MOORE. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the FY 2021 National
Defense Authorization Act.
Our country is going through turbulent times.
People are taking to the streets to cry out for real justice and an
end to racism that pervades so many institutions in our country, not
just the police or criminal justice system.
They are crying out for investments in society; in education, social
services, housing, and healthcare.
Over the weekend, we lost one of our true champions for justice and
equality, and a true leader a remarkable human being, Congressman John
Lewis, who I was privileged to call a friend.
A deadly pandemic has killed over 140,000 Americans in nearly four
months, and cases are still surging, setting new records almost daily
in the last few weeks. Yet, the President continues to dissemble,
disengage, and diminish the threat of this pandemic, despite the advice
of our nation's public health experts and the obvious and immediate
need for a credible and strong federal response and leadership.
That's what this moment is calling for . . . Leadership. Not more of
the same.
But what we have here before us today folks is legislation that won't
invest in a single meal for a hungry child, a vaccine for the pandemic,
or help for the homeless or those about to lose their homes.
Furthermore, the bill, in my opinion, is a retreat by Congress from its
power to protect the power of the purse and our war powers.
I recognize and appreciate the work of Chairman Smith and his
committee on this legislation. I know that countless hours of hearings,
testimony, and a long markup went into putting together this bill.
However, anyway you slice it, the Pentagon's budget has increased
dramatically since September 11, 2001. The war in Afghanistan is the
longest conflict in our nation's history and it shows little sign of
ending, even with a supposed peace deal in hand.
I support the amendment put forward by Mr. Pocan that would cut the
defense budget while still providing for our national defense. The
amendment would exempt the Defense Health Programs and Military
Personnel Accounts from any cuts.
We cannot continue to mindlessly push forward defense budgets that
are out of line with the threats that face our nation or the needs of
our country. The U.S. spends more money than any other country on our
military, but can any American look around and say with a clear
conscious that all that spending has produced more peace, more world
stability, or better overall outcomes for Americans, or our global
brothers and sisters?
All this treasure we throw at defense is not even helping the
military itself, as a series of incidents over the past year has raised
concerns about readiness.
In fact, we appear to be spending more and more money on defense, yet
our forces are less and less prepared, and it is taking longer and more
money to deploy weapons systems.
As noted by a bipartisan group of House members nearly a decade ago,
``We know the United States can maintain the best fighting force in the
world while also pursuing sensible defense savings. How we spend our
resources is just as important as how much we spend.''
Former Defense Secretary Robert Gates, who served under both
Republicans and Democrats, put it succinctly: ``We must come to realize
that not every defense program is necessary, not every defense dollar
is scared and well-spent, and that more of nearly everything is simply
not sustainable'' especially at a time when ``the gap between the U.S.
military and the rest of the world . . . will continue to be vast.''
I would also have liked to support the Schakowsky amendment on Iran;
unfortunately, it was not made in order. Last year, the House voted at
least three times, including on the FY 2020 NDAA, about the need to
prevent a needless war with Iran and to reclaim our war powers to
ensure that any such decision properly remains the provenance of
Congress.
I am grateful that the House Appropriations Committee recently
adopted an amendment to its FY 2021 Defense Appropriations bill to stop
a needless war with Iran absent formal congressional authority. But we
need to take every opportunity to make clear how dangerous any ill-
advised war with Iran would be. Given a President who's decision-making
is as reckless as it is illinformed, this Congress must consistently
push for an end to escalation and saber rattling and instead to work
towards immediate diplomatic solutions. This bill is a missed
opportunity, one I hope that we do not come back to regret.
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