Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2025

Floor Speech

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Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Chair, today, I rise in strong support of this bill as a member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee.

I commend Chairman Calvert and his team behind us for legislation that makes investments in our national defense. This bill invests in technology, innovation, and people with an eye on tomorrow while sustaining today's important platforms, such as the F-35 strike fighter.

If we prioritize social issues over lethality, our enemies will take note. Our colleagues across the aisle seem to prioritize shaking a fist at Mother Nature over standing strong against our enemies.

Make no mistake: This bill comes at a time of global conflict. Today seems a lot more like June 1938 than June 2024.

In the Middle East, Iran is sponsoring Houthis to shut down commerce in the Red Sea, which directly affects prices here at home. They are sponsoring, training, funding, and directing Hamas and Hezbollah in conflict with our good friends in Israel.

On the European Continent, for the first time since World War II and the formation of both NATO and the U.N., Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine foreshadows more imperial expansion and the desire to reconstitute the Soviet Union.

On the Korean Peninsula, we are technically still at war.

Finally, China is waging cyber warfare and chemical warfare here in our own homes and on our own border. Through the proliferation of fentanyl, all of the compounds which come from China, they are killing our future cops, teachers, servicemembers, and welders at numbers not seen since World War II, to the tune of 300 Americans every day.

They aspire to control the entire South China Sea, the maritime highway for one-third of the world's commerce. If they shut that down, imagine what happens to prices here at home and indeed world trade.

With a jealous eye on Taiwan, they are watching our every move to understand how the U.S. responds, or more importantly doesn't respond, to unprovoked attacks on our allies.

This bill counters those threats in a sensible way, and that is why I am proud to support it.

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Mr. ELLZEY. Mr. Chair, it contains important investments that I supported in satellite technology, advanced manufacturing, autonomous air and surface vehicles, tankers and fighting aircraft, cutting-edge software, and advanced projectiles.

I am proud of the work of the Appropriations Committee. Through this bill, we will maintain our edge and we will win, if necessary.

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