Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. COURTNEY. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong support of the Indo- Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act.

This bill makes critical investments to integrated deterrence in the Indo-Pacific, fulfills the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command's unfunded priorities, and uplifts the U.S. submarine industrial base in support of the trilateral AUKUS security agreement.

Its $3.3 billion investment in submarines will both expand the production capacity of the Virginia and Columbia class programs and provide the Navy with resources to get more attack submarines out of maintenance delays and into the fleet. This supplemental was crafted last fall in tandem with House and Senate passage of AUKUS authorities.

It will turbocharge AUKUS with real capital and match the Australian Government's commitment to invest $3 billion into the U.S. industrial base.

The supplemental, along with continued procurement of two Virginia subs per year, will ensure that our Navy has sufficient inventory to sell three subs to Australia in the early 2030s, as the agreement calls for.

I salute Mr. Cole and Ms. DeLauro for their steadfast leadership in bringing this measure to the floor so that our Nation will renew its role that Franklin Roosevelt described as the arsenal of democracy. I urge passage.

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Source