Streamlining Procurement for Effective Execution and Delivery and National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026
Floor Speech
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Mr. BERGMAN. Madam Chair, I thank the chairman for yielding.
Madam Chair, I rise in support today of the National Defense Authorization Act. This bill is painstakingly thorough with over 900 amendments considered, over 13 hours of markup deliberations, and a final passage vote in committee of 55-2.
I am proud to offer my voice in support of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2026.
In the Readiness Subcommittee, this bill addresses some of the largest readiness challenges in the Department, including a specific focus on the Joint Strike Fighter and amphibious ship readiness concerns.
This bill reestablishes safety as a culture and seeks to partially correct the mistakes that led up to the Black Hawk collision with a commercial airliner here at DCA earlier this year.
This bill seeks to foundationally reform the military construction process.
Finally, this bill remains focused on our servicemembers and their families during training, combat, and even periods of transition.
Madam Chair, this is a strong mark that sends a forceful signal of change. It places our military on a secure footing and, if necessary, enables it to win decisively in conflict.
I also thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for their steadfast support in passing this bill, and I especially thank Ranking Member Garamendi for his continued bipartisan support of the Readiness Subcommittee.
Madam Chair, I urge all Members to vote ``yes'' on this important legislation.
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Mr. BERGMAN. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for yielding.
Mr. Chair, I urge strong support for this amendment to increase penalties for unauthorized access to DOD facilities.
In 2023, five Chinese nationals were caught in my district at Camp Grayling, Michigan, photographing military vehicles during allied exercises and attempting to conceal the evidence that they did take those photographs. This was not innocent trespassing. It was a deliberate act threatening servicemember safety and national security.
This was also not an isolated incident. Chinese nationals have also been caught near U.S. military installations in California and South Korea in recent years. Current law lacks deterrence. State trespass laws aren't sufficient for protecting Federal military sites.
The amendment creates clear Federal authority and escalating penalties to counter repeated or hostile intrusions. A slap on the wrist is not enough when foreign actors surveil U.S. military bases. Protecting our installations equals protecting readiness, our troops, and national security.
I urge my colleagues to support this commonsense measure to send a clear message: Trespassing on U.S. military property will not be tolerated.
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