OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

National Defense Authorization Bill

Floor Speech

Date: June 16, 2016
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Technology and Communication Defense

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I wish to enter into a colloquy with my colleague from Arizona.

The National Defense Authorization Act which the Senate passed this week is the most critical piece of legislation for our national security that we debate each year, and I thank my colleague from Arizona, the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, for his hard work on this legislation.

One important provision that should be in the final NDAA is the elevation of Cyber Command. Cyber warfare is taking place every day. It is a domain of war that our Nation must dominate just as we do on land, at sea, and in the air. At the rate electronic warfare is growing, I believe elevating Cyber Command to a combatant command is vital to ensuring that the United States is fully prepared for cyber warfare and has unparalleled capabilities in that domain.

Does my colleague from Arizona feel the same?

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I do share my colleague from Arizona's commitment to elevate Cyber Command to a combatant command in conference. The House NDAA includes a provision to elevate Cyber Command, and I stand with eight bipartisan Members of the Senate, including my colleague from Arizona, who support this effort. It is paramount that the final fiscal year 2017 NDAA that goes to the President's desk includes this provision.

Can my colleague from Arizona further describe the value that elevating Cyber Command would bring?

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT

Mr. DAINES. My colleague from Arizona is correct. My provisions in the Defense appropriations legislation states that the Department of Defense has the funding needed to elevate Cyber Command to a combatant command this year. We cannot wait for our enemies to outmaneuver us on this new battlefield. Elevating Cyber Command to a combatant command is one of the best ways we can ensure our troops have the authority they need to succeed.

I want to thank my colleague from Arizona for his commitment to a continued effort on the elevation of Cyber Command and thank him for his continued hard work on behalf of the men and women of our Armed Forces.

(At the request of Mr. Durbin, the following statement was ordered to be printed in the Record.)

BREAK IN TRANSCRIPT


Source
arrow_upward