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I hope you saw my latest weekly column.

 

ROGER WICKER: Funding Delay Sends Message of Weakness to the World
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Our two greatest adversaries, China and Russia, are getting more aggressive by
the week. In recent days, Russia has tested our resolve by placing 90,000
battle-ready troops along its border with Ukraine. Moscow is also close to
completing a major pipeline into Europe in the hopes of making our allies more
dependent on Russia for energy. Meanwhile, China is achieving new military
strength. Beijing recently surprised the world with a missile test
demonstrating how far their weapons technology has progressed. In addition,
Chinese planes continue to harass our ally Taiwan as China’s leadership openly
talks of invasion.

Standing up to these threats will require decisive action from our President
and a fully funded U.S. military. Unfortunately, Senate Majority Leader Chuck
Schumer has been dragging his feet on this year’s annual defense authorization
bill, which is essential to keeping our military running. Even some Democrats
have grown frustrated with this delay, including Adam Smith, chairman of the
House Armed Services Committee. Failure to pass this all-important bill is
adding to the perception that America is growing weaker under President Biden.

Schumer Stalls Key Military Priorities 

For 60 years in a row, Congress has passed the National Defense Authorization
Act to provide for the needs of our military. I have helped negotiate this
legislation each year since joining the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Passing this bill has almost always been an open process with ample opportunity
for debate. Yet this year, Senate Democrats have refused to give this bill it's
time on the Senate floor. Even though it passed out of committee by an
overwhelming vote of 23-3 in July, Mr. Schumer has not made the bill a priority.

This legislation contains a number of must-pass priorities. It would provide
the military with $770 billion – an increase of $25 billion over the amount
President Biden asked for in his weak budget request. It would fund 10 new Navy
ships and extend the life of existing Navy vessels, helping our fleet to
maintain a strong forward presence to counter China. It would provide a major
boost to missile research to prevent China from surging ahead of us. And it
would give our troops a much-needed three percent pay raise – an essential
increase given soaring inflation.

Mississippi would also benefit from this legislation. The bill includes $15.5
million for a training facility at Camp Shelby, $1.6 billion for a new
destroyer to be built in Mississippi, and a provision that would maintain our
Mississippi Air National Guard refueling tankers based at Key Field in
Meridian. Mississippi universities would also receive research grants to
continue developing new defense technologies.

Republicans Push for Needed Amendments

As it stands, the legislation is a major victory, but there is still room for
improvement. Senators from both parties have introduced amendments that would
send a clear message of strength to China and Russia. I am cosponsoring one
amendment designed to prevent completion and operation of the Nord Stream 2
pipeline, which threatens to undermine our alliance with key European allies. I
am also supporting an amendment to boost support for Ukrainian security forces,
as well as a ban on goods produced in Chinese forced labor camps. There is
strong bipartisan support for these measures, and I hope Senator Schumer will
allow an open amendment process so that this must-pass legislation can finally
move forward.

 

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Thank you for your support,

Senator Roger Wicker

 

 

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