Shelby Presses Colleagues to Fund America's Military
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) today delivered remarks on the Senate floor ahead of yet another procedural vote on whether to consider H.R. 2740, a package of Fiscal Year 2020 (FY2020) spending bills passed by the House of Representatives including measures for the Appropriations Subcommittees on Defense; Energy and Water Development; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs. Chairman Shelby pressed his colleagues to put partisan politics aside and support funding for our troops on the ground – providing our men and women in uniform with the resources needed to protect our nation.
“Our men and women in uniform should never find themselves on the battlefield wondering if they will be able to support their families back home. They should never wonder if their training needs, support requirements, or mission objectives will be held hostage by partisan bickering. They should never wonder why America’s adversaries are doubling down on their military investments while America is sitting idle,” said Chairman Shelby.
“Unfortunately, my Democratic colleagues seem more focused on scoring political points than ensuring our military has the certainty and funding it needs to counter our adversaries. … Funding America’s military should be our priority – it should come first. Our men and women in uniform don’t get to hit the pause button. They don’t get to shirk their duty. And neither should Congress. We cannot afford additional delay. Our service men and women – those troops whom we have entrusted to keep us safe and protect our democracy – cannot afford additional delay. We must not kick the can down the road when it comes to America’s military. Let’s come together – Republicans and Democrats – and provide the resources necessary to maintain the greatest fighting force the world has ever known. Let’s show our troops that we actually can get our work done.”
Chairman Shelby’s full remarks, as prepared, are as follows:
“I rise today to fight for America’s military here on the floor of the United States Senate.
“This past week, our Special Forces eliminated the leader of ISIS and his likely successor.
“Their accomplishments should remind all of us that our brave troops always – always – carry out their duties, no matter the circumstances.
“They shouldn’t expect any different from Congress. Yet they do.
“Mr. President, they have come to expect that their elected leaders will fail to execute the most fundamental of their duties – funding the government.
“They don’t deserve failure, and they certainly shouldn’t expect it.
“They deserve our gratitude. They deserve our unwavering commitment.
“And the best way to demonstrate that gratitude and commitment, in my judgment, is by passing an appropriations bill that gives our military what it needs.
“Our men and women in uniform should never find themselves on the battlefield wondering if they will be able to support their families back home.
“They should never wonder if their training needs, support requirements, or mission objectives will be held hostage by partisan bickering.
“They should never wonder why America’s adversaries are doubling down on their military investments while America is sitting idle.
“The United States must maintain its edge over our adversaries.
“China is escalating its defense spending.
“Yet America’s military is operating under a continuing resolution.
“That means our military is having to face tomorrow’s threats with yesterday’s funding levels.
“That means our military’s planning and operations are weighed down with uncertainty.
“That should be unacceptable to all of us.
“We have an opportunity to change that today by voting to proceed to the FY20 defense appropriations bill.
“What are we talking about here? $695 billion dollars in total defense spending.
“That is an increase of more than $20 billion over last year’s level.
“This increased funding would provide a 3.1 percent pay increase for our men and women uniform – the largest in a decade.
“It would continue development of the world’s most advanced weapons systems.
“It would increase our investments in hypersonics, 5G technology, artificial intelligence, missile defense, and cybersecurity.
“All of this is absolutely essential to maintaining America’s strategic advantage over our main adversaries: China and Russia.
“We better not lose sight of that.
“Unfortunately, my Democratic colleagues seem more focused on scoring political points than ensuring our military has the certainty and funding it needs to counter our adversaries.
“They have said they will not allow us to fund our military here in the Senate until funding levels for all twelve appropriations are agreed to with the House.
“If that defies most Americans’ sense of how our government works and what is most important, it should.
“My Democratic colleagues want to press the pause button here in the Senate, Mr. President. I don’t agree with that.
“I believe that we must complete our work here in the Senate, and we most certainly should complete our work on the Defense bill.
“Funding America’s military should be our priority – it should come first.
“Our men and women in uniform don’t get to hit the pause button. They don’t get to shirk their duty. And neither should Congress.
“We cannot afford additional delay.
“Our service men and women – those troops whom we have entrusted to keep us safe and protect our democracy – cannot afford additional delay.
“We must not kick the can down the road when it comes to America’s military.
“Let’s come together – Republicans and Democrats – and provide the resources necessary to maintain the greatest fighting force the world has ever known.
“Let’s show our troops that we actually can get our work done.”
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