William M. (Mac) Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2021

Floor Speech

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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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