Quorum call mr. Cornyn madam president . The presiding officer the sphror texas. Mr. Cornyn madam president , i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cornyn madam president , i understand there is a bill at the desk due for its second reading. The presiding officer the clerk will read the bill for the second time. The clerk s. 3011, a bill to improve the accountability, efficiency, transparency, and overall effectiveness of the federal government. Mr. Cornyn madam president , in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule 14, i object to further proceedings. The presiding officer objection being heard, the bill will be placed on the calendar. Mr. Cornyn madam president , anybody whos been watching the national news, and particularly the weather, knows that weve been having some serious flooding back home in texas and, tragically, we lost nine soldiers at fort hood in a very unfortunate drowning incident as part of that. These soldiers were in the midst of a Training Mission when their vehicle got snuck a flooded creek stuck in a flooded creek. I know i speak for a a lot of people when i say that my prayers and condolences are with the families of the soldiers. I knew the Fort Hood Community is a resilient one and has seen more than its fair share of tragedy in recent years. I also known that the community in coline along with the entire nation will continue to offer support for our men and women in iewj form and particular in uniform and particularly for those who have lost loved ones. Amidst the sad nurks i have been continually thankful for the hard work and dedication of First Responders who have devoted their lives to saving others. It is at times like these when they rise to the occasion that i am particularly grateful for their service. As you might expect, my staff and i are in close contact with local officials across the state of texas and the more than 30 counties where Governor Abbott has declared a disaster, and well be working with the governor as they prepare to assess the damage on the ground and determine what sort of federal resources are necessary to help the people rebuild. Should Governor Abbott request a formal federal declaration of disaster for the affected counties, i intend to do everything i can to help get such a request granted to make sure that these texans have what they need to recover as quickly as possible. I would say, on a happier note, during this last week, we also had the occasion to celebrate memorial day, a day of remembrance. And you know many of us had a chance to spend time with true american heroes, the veterans, the active duty military members and their families, to remember the fallen on memorial day. I had a particularly delightfuls memorial day to spend time with 115 High School Graduates from across texas as part of a sendoff ceremony as they prepared to head to our nations military academies. Weve been doing this every year for ten years, and as i always tell people, if youre a little down in your if youre in a bad mood or feeling a little bit depressed, all you need to do is be around these wonderful young men and women who are really mature beyond their years and who aspire not only to attend our Nations Service academies but to be the next generation of military leaders. They truly are the best and the brightest. And its also great to provide an occasion for these young people, for their families to be there and to hear from inspirational leaders like colonel bruce crandall, a medal of honor winner from the vietnam war. So it is remembering this last week and the service of so many people in the defense of our nation and these young people that i just mentioned on memorial day and our academy sendoff, its appropriate that we return here to the senate this week to finish the National Defense authorization bill, legislation take will provide our military men and women with the resources they need in order to protect and defend our country. This is an absolutely critical piece of legislation and one that congress has passed each year for some 50 years plus. If you doubt that, all you need to do is ask chairman mccain because he will remind you every chance he gets that this is must pass every year legislation and something that has become a tradition, a good tradition for the senate. This bill was passed out of the Armed Services committee with overwhelming bipartisan support. Not a single democrat voted against the legislation. And before memorial day, the senate voted unanimously to move this legislation forward, 98 yes and no no votes but despite the clear this being a clear bipartisan priority, weve been stuck and mired down frankly because of objections from the other side of the aisle for no real reason. The minority leader has chosen to use every tactic, every tool available to him to slow this down. Frankly, this is not acceptable. The Defense Authorization bill provides, as i said, Critical Resources to our military. It will give our men and women in uniform a modest pay raise and support critical training and equipment modernization efforts and it ensures that future generations of military leaders have the support they need. Now, i dont know what happened at fort hood when these nine soldiers drowned but i hope it doesnt have anything to do with their lack of adequate training under these sorts of circumstances. But what we need to do as part of our duty here in the United States senate is to get our work done, to pass a Defense Authorization bill so there is no, not even a suspicion or hint of a lack of adequate training and preparation by our military members that leads to tragedy. And at a time when we faced instability at every turn and our military is confronting evolving and constant threat, political posturing is just not appropriate. In fact, its dangerous. Unfortunately, this is a product of misguided Foreign Policy choices made by this administration over the last eight years. Its put our country and our military at greater risk. Our enemies have been have become emboddenned and our allies confidence has been shaken. Nptd of recognizing the growing threats our military instead of recognizing the growing threats our military men and women face every day, the president tries to diminish them or call in things like the isis he called the j. V. Team. This is a terrorist group that continues its reign of violence across iraq and syria and continuings to grow in continues to grow in strength across africa. Words matter. When president obama and former secretary of state clinton refuse it sends a message. When the Obama Administration and its allies ignore the reality of the enemy were facing. Our men and women are at greater risk for not having the full resources they need in order to defend u. S. Interests at home and abroad. A few weeks ago i had the chance to visit with u. S. Soldiers in the middle east and to get a good glimpse of the reality on the ground that the administration seems to be lacking. I heard firsthand about the threats they face every day from isis affiliated groups and that danger is growing, not receding. And theres no doubt in my mind that this growing isis presence correlates with gaps in our Foreign Policy under the Obama Administration. This is particularly clear in libya where the Obama Administration failed in 20011 2011 that its failure left a gaping hole of power, another failed state in the middle east which is, weve seen before, weve seen this before, become as power vacuum which attracts foreign fighters and other people who want to use that to leap into europe and to commit acts of terror, either there or in the United States. After secretary clinton pushed to remove omar qaddafi, this he prematurely heralded this as hur signature achievement as secretary of state. This is something president obama now admits was a mistake he calls it her signature achievement as secretary of state. Yet the vacuum created by retreating United States in the region has only led to more chaos and the isis fighters and recruiters have quickly filled the space as i said a moment ago. The Financial Times even called it quote a mess no one should think will be resolved by the current u. N. Backed peace process. It provides a strategic launch point as i said directly across the mediterranean and europe. In 2011 when the Obama Administration decided to lead from behind in labia lacking any coherent longterm strategy, i strongly opposed that decision. And while i cant say the same for others i have served with in the senate, ive been proud to vote against this pre against premature troop withdrawals in the volatile region like iraq which following the surge which the chairman of the Armed Services committee and so many others said this was our one last chance at iraq, to see us now fighting even as trainers and advisors in places fallujah and ramadi and other places where weve lost young lives to liberate, to see those now squandered by a premature exit from iraq due to the failure of the administration to get a status force its disheartening. We opposed a surge but the fact is it paid off and now we see all too dearly the consequences of precipitous withdrawal and squandering the hard earned progress achieved by the surge. Of course, secretary clinton defended president obamas decision to remove u. S. Troops before the region could be stabilized. In fact, when asked about the potential threat of civil war in iraq by exiting too early, secretary clinton simply said quote well, lets find out. Well, we found out after all. Foreign policy isnt something we just find out about or make up as we go along. It requires thoughtful planning and purposeful intentional action. Syria of course is another case study of what can happen when the white house refuses to act decisively and proactively against our adversaries. And unfortunately when red lines are crossed with no consequences and when groups like isis arent treated as the serious threat they are, terrorism can make its way on to u. S. Soil. Just consider the attacks at San Bernardino or the multiple attacks on our allies in europe. And unfortunately as groups like isis are getting stronger, our friends around the world are increasingly getting concerned that the United States doesnt have their back. The white house prioritized its courtship with iran, the number one state sponsor of global terrorism while choosing to ignore our friends and allies in the region. Madam president , by turning its back on israel to give iran billion, of dollars in sanctions relief, this was a hallmark of president obamas tenure in the oval office and secretary clinton said that she was proud to play a part in crafting that terrible nuclear deal. This simply is not good Foreign Policy. Why should we choose to reward those who have harmed us or threatened us while ignoring our oldest and strongest relationships. The result is what you would pretty much expect, an iran that is growing in beledge rans with a Nuclear Program largely intact. Our actions do speak louder than words and right now our friends in the middle east and around the world are losing faith in their rtle sthp with relationship with the United States. This is simply a product of failed Foreign Policy under the obamaclinton leadership. I think its tell whg former president jimmy carter, a democrat was asked about president obamas policy in the world stage, he said that quote i cant think of many nations in the word where we have a better relationship now than we did when he took over. This is president carter on president obamas foreign relations. He went on to go through a list of countries as examples of where in his words the United States influence and prestige and respect in the world is probably lower now than it was six or seven years ago. On that point, i agree with president carter. The Foreign Policy of this administration is nothing to be proud of. So, madam president , our job now in the senate is to reassure our allies that the military might of the United States is not fallen by the wayside. One way we could do that is by ensuring our military has the resources and funding necessary to remain strong and a strong emblem of american strength for the rest of the watching world. After delays and obstruction from our friends on the other sired of the aisle, i hope we can finally complete our work this week on the Defense Authorization bill under the able leadership of chairman mccain. Madam president , i yield the floor. Mr. Mccain madam president . The presiding officer the senator from arizona. Mr. Mccain i would like to thank the senator from texas for his very compelling statement and just one example of what the senator from texas has referred to as the whole issue of qadda qaddafi. I would remind my colleague from texas that we got rid of qaddafi without losing a single american and then walked away. We walked away from it and now we see isis now establishing a strong beach head, a direct fail lir of leadership of the Obama Administration and then secretary osecretary of state. There were many of us including the senator from texas who said, look, weve got to do a the low of things with now that youve gotten rid of qaddafi. This country has known no democracy. It has no institutions. We could have taken care of their wounded. We could have helped secure the borders. Instead we kill qaddafi his own People Killed him but we set up a scenario and walked away, just as we walked away from iraq, just as were sort of walking away from afghanistan while tal taliban is starting to show success throughout the country. This administration is very good at walking away and unfortunately the consequences are attacks on the United States of america and europe. So i thank the senator from texas for his very important statement. Madam president , its my pleasure to rise with my friend and colleague from rhode island to speak about the National Defense authorization act for fiscal year 2017. For 54 consecutive years, congress has passed this vital piece of legislation which provides our military Service Members with the resources, equipment and training that they need to defend the nation. Its one of the few bills in congress that continues to enjoy bipartisan support year after year. Thats a testament to this legislations critical importance to our National Security and the high regard with which it is held by the congress. Last month the senate Armed Services committee voted 233, 233 to approve the ndaa, an overwhelming vote that reflects the committees proud tradition of bipartisan support for the brave men and women of our Armed Services. I want to thank the committees Ranking Member, the senator from rhode island, for his months of hard work on the ndaa. Its been a great pleasure to work with him on this legislation and i remain appreciative of the thoughtfulness and bipartisan spirit with which he approaches our National Security. Hes a great partner and a great realeader. I also want to thank the majority leader, the senator from kentucky for his commitment for bringing the ndaa to the senate floor on time and without delay. Its a testimony to his leadership that the senate will once again consider this bill in regular order with an open amendment process. I am tremendously proud of the senate Armed Services committees work on this legislation. This years ndaa is the most significant piece of defense reform legislation in 30 years. It includes major reforms to the department of defense that can help our military to rise to the challenge of a more dangerous world. The ndaa contains updates to the pentagons organization to prioritize innovation and improve the development and execution of defense strategy. The ndaa the legislation continues sweeping reforms of the defense acquisition system to harness American Innovation and preserve our militarys technological edge. The ndaa modernizes the military Health System to provide military Service Members, retirees and their families with Higher Quality care, better access to care and better experience of care. The ndaa authorizes a pay raise for our troops. It invests in the modern equipment and advanced training they need to meet current and future threats. It helps to restore military readiness for the 2 billion for additional training, depot maintenance and weapon sustainment. And it gives our allies and partners the support they need to deter aggression and fight terrorism. This is a farreaching piece of legislation. There is one challenge it could not address. The dangerous mismatch between growing worldwide threats and arbitrary limits on defense spending thats in current law. And this mismatch has very real consequences for the thousands of americans who serve in uniform and sacrifice on our behalf all around the nation and the world. Our troops are doing everything we ask of them, but we must ask ourselves are we doing everything we can for them . The answer, i say, with profound sadness, is we