National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019

Floor Speech

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Mr. PETERS. Madam President, the Constitution charges Congress with the authority and the responsibility to raise and support armies and provide and maintain a navy. It is a responsibility this body takes very seriously. That is why for over 50 years the National Defense Authorization Act has been signed into law each and every year. It is the only piece of legislation with this long history of consistently being passed by Congress and signed into law by the President. This history is a reflection of the importance of the policies and funding authorizations within the bill.

I am particularly proud of what this bill includes to support Michigan's important contributions to our national defense. For example, the 127th Wing at Selfridge Air National Guard Base flies the A-10 and in 2015 deployed in the fight against ISIS. As a result of their outstanding performance, the 127th Wing won the Spaatz Trophy as the top flying unit in the Air National Guard, as well as the Meritorious Unit Award following their deployment.

The A-10 is without question a great airplane, but it is also getting old. The A-10 fleet will require wing replacements in order to continue to fly those important missions. That is why I worked to include an authorization for an additional $65 million for A-10 wing replacement, bringing the bill's total investment in new A-10 wings to over $144 million. These funds will help pay for new wings for a full squadron's worth of A-10 aircraft, which are vital for close air support and combat search and rescue missions. Our troops on the ground know that when they hear the iconic roar of an A-10, help is on the way. A-10 pilots and maintainers are proud of their mission, as they should be. This bill works to ensure that these aircraft will keep flying.

The legislation also includes an additional $70 million for the next- generation combat vehicle prototype. The Detroit Arsenal in Warren will be the home of the Army's cross-functional team for the next-generation combat vehicle, reporting to the Army Futures Command.

This important work on developing the future of the Army's ground vehicles will continue to occur in Southeast Michigan, taking advantage of many of the automotive manufacturers and suppliers that are shaping the future of mobility.

Just as the commercial automotive industry is developing connected and autonomous vehicles that will change the future of transportation forever, the next-generation combat vehicle and other concepts developed by the Army's Tank Automotive Research, Development and Engineer Center, TARDEC, will change the future of warfare.

All self-driving vehicles, whether they are developed for the military or for the auto industry, rely on artificial intelligence and machine learning. Artificial intelligence powers autonomous systems but can also reform the business practices of the Pentagon. AI can help with personnel management and purchasing practices and find insights and efficiencies that are difficult to find unless you can manipulate and analyze the Department's massive amounts of data.

Artificial intelligence will have an enormous impact on our economy, and that is why it is essential that the United States make significant investments in AI development and that we lead the world in developing this capability. We know that our competitors are taking AI very seriously. China has developed a national strategy to develop its AI capabilities, and Vladimir Putin has said that whoever leads in AI will rule the world. The United States must lead the way on artificial intelligence to best shape the future economy and our country, to strengthen our national security, and to address the moral and ethical questions that arise with any new technology.

Without question, the United States needs our own coordinated strategy on AI. That is why I wrote a provision in the bill that designates a senior official for artificial intelligence at the Department of Defense and cuts redtape, letting that person utilize all of the flexibilities Congress has provided to the Pentagon.

It is also important that we take steps to protect American ingenuity and innovation generally. That is why I also authored a provision in the bill that will allow the Department of Defense to require that companies and researchers receiving defense contracts not share new technologies and capabilities developed with any foreign entity, and if they do, they will lose the rights to that intellectual property. This will help ensure that investments made by DARPA and the DOD labs are not shared with our competitors.

Additionally, this bill also includes reform to the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States, known as CFIUS. CFIUS works to ensure that investments in U.S. companies made by foreign investors do not threaten national security by providing other countries with access to the crown jewels of U.S. technology.

In closing, Madam President, I wish to point out that this bill is named for Chairman John McCain. We all know his presence is missed on the Armed Services Committee, as well as throughout the entire Senate. I wish him a speedy recovery. I am keeping him and his family in my prayers.
amendment no. 2276

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