Modern tonight kobs phil casaus and Chris Ramirez and tessa mentus group for those of you watching on kob 4 tv the santa fe new new mexico. Com k. Or wgn las cruces or if youre listening from her network of Radio Partners across the not welcome. O we welcome editorinchief of the Santa Fe New Mexican for tonights modern team and we are delighted to haveo a candidate who will appear on your ballot running for the open u. S. Senate seat joining us tonight. Tonight the candidates are appearing from three locations. Mark ronchetti is with us in her studio and bob walsh is at his home in santa fe. Because of covid19 risk we gave candidates the option to appear from wherever they feel the safest. Smithers at crew from kob what thieves remote candidate to enforce rules and provide the Live Technology to broadcast out of their locations and the timekeeper has been provided to mr. Ronchetti her studio. Candidates will have one minute broque putting remarks or they will then have 90 seconds to an
The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Barry black, will open the senate with prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Eternal god, give our lawmakers the wisdom to remember and be grateful for all the things you have already done. Lord, you have sustained our nation during seasons of war and peace. You have helped us to find creative ways to strive for a more perfect union. You have provided us with solutions to difficult problems, just when we needed you most. Let this day be a time when senators find time to thank you for your bountiful blessings and faithfulness. As our lawmakers strive to live one day at a time, may they keep their focus on your power and love. We pray in your merciful name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in the pledge of allegiance. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The presiding
Much. Things a lot. You can watch live coverage of the u. S. House on cspan. The senate is about to gavel back in for more debate on defense programs and policy this afternoon. Shortly we take live to the floor of the u. S. Senate for more debate. The presiding officer the senate will come to order. The presiding officer the senator from texas. Mr. Cornyn madam president , are we in a quorum call . The presiding officer we are not. Mr. Cornyn madam president , yesterday the Senate Overwhelmingly voted to proceed to the National Defense authorization act by a vote of 868. Excuse me, 866. Thats about as overwhelming a bipartisan vote as weve had lately, and its for good reason. Because this bill represents one of our most fundamental duties as a United States congress, which is to authorize military expenditures and to provide our men and women in uniform with the resources they need in order to protect the American People. The Defense Authorization bill would authorize funding for the d
Like its immediate predecessor, this bills overarching objective is to reorient the department of defense toward the great power of competition that our nation faces today. Overall, the bill supports a total of 750 billion in defense spending which includes 642 billion for the department of defense based budget, 23 billion for the department of energies defense activity and another 76 billion for overseas contingency operation. This means the level of spending requested by the president and provides the department of defense with real growth. Above the rate of inflation and recognition of increasing threats our nation faces. The bill also supports the all volunteer force, providing a 3. 1 pay raise for our men and women in uniform. It means the president s wreath crest for an active duty force of 1,339,500 soldiers sailors, airmen and marines. I serve as chairman of the subcommittee on Strategic Forces which has jurisdiction for nuclear forces, missiledefense, and National Security Spa
Atlantic council for a Panel Discussion on u. S. Nuclear strategy and the challenges posed by china and russia. Good afternoon and welcome to the Atlantic Council for todays event. Introducing the strategic investment Posture Commission report. Im Vice President at the Atlantic Council and senior president of the center for strategy and security. This event comes at a time of significant deterioration in the International Security environment. For decades, russia was the only nuclear peer competitor to the United States, but in recent years, china has launched a rapid and farreaching Nuclear Buildup and aims to have 1500 Nuclear Weapons by 2035. This means for the first time in its history, the United States will need to contend with two nuclear peer competitors at the same time. To address this unprecedented challenge, congress established the strategic Posture Commission in the 2022 National Defense authorization act. Congress charged the commission to conduct a review of the strateg