Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Senate Passage Of The National Defense Authorization Act
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the passage the National Defense Authorization Act. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:
First, let me commend Jack Reed for his great leadership as head of the Armed Services Committee. He's an amazing leader. He knows the military like no one else from his service there. He’s a West Point graduate – a great New York institution. Sorry they lost, I was on their side.
But he has just done an amazing job. And he's steadfast and intrepid and on the merits and everyone respects him. This is a difficult year to get this bill done. Some thought we wouldn't be able to with the polarization, late hour, and everything else, but because of this man we did, and he deserves all of our thanks. I want to thank Senator Wicker as well. He's a big, strong fighter for the military. And did a great job as well. So, I thank both of you. This is the kind of bipartisan way we should do this.
Now today, for the 64th consecutive year, the Senate passes a bipartisan National Defense Authorization Act to protect the American people and strengthen our national security. 64th year – pretty good, pretty good.
The NDAA is not perfect, but it still makes several important advances Democrats fought for to secure America’s national defense and take a strong stand against the Chinese Communist Party.
I’m particularly glad that the NDAA expands the Tech Hubs Programs I created in the bipartisan CHIPS and Science Act along with Senators Young, Cantwell, and others. And I thank our leaders for understanding the importance of that issue. It will help make tech innovation more achievable in the Midwest, across the country, and near and dear to me in Upstate New York.
The NDAA will also strengthen America’s leadership on AI, by expanding our AI infrastructure within the Department of Defense, something that our bipartisan AI forums from last year stressed was critical and now we’re getting it passed into law.
The NDAA gives our troops a raise, authorizes funding for military families pay for child care, extends programs for military spouses to find good-paying jobs, expands mental health services for new parents.
I thank the staffs as well. They're great and professional and excellent. I thank Senator Reed. I thank Ranking Member Wicker and the members of the Armed Services Committee. This is a good day for the strength of America.
###
