National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

Floor Speech

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Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for his efforts to promote peace through strength.

Mr. Chairman, I am grateful to support H.R. 4909, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017, which I believe faithfully sets forth a path to recover and strengthen our military readiness.

As chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities of the House Armed Services Committee, I am particularly appreciative to oversee some of the most innovative aspects of the Department of Defense.

A few key areas of the subcommittee's contributions to this legislation are providing robust and resilient cyber capabilities and authorities to improve our cyber readiness and ensure resiliency for Department of Defense networks and weapons systems. We support innovative science and technology programs and authorities to meet future challenges. We fully resource and support our Special Operations Forces, who remain at war and globally postured, supporting our national security in the global war on terrorism. We extend vital counterterrorism authorities while improving congressional oversight in this very important area.

Again, I would like to thank Chairman Mac Thornberry for his steadfast leadership as well as the subcommittee ranking member, Mr. Jim Langevin of Rhode Island, who has been an energetic partner on these issues with an extraordinary subcommittee staff.

Mr. Chairman, I urge my colleagues to support this bill and vote ``yes'' on H.R. 4909.

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