WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) released the following remarks today regarding Senate completion of the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA):

“Our nation faces many national security threats across the globe. The threats and challenges posed by Iran, China, Russia, North Korea, ISIL, al-Qaeda, and its affiliates represent a diverse range of conventional and asymmetric capabilities that threaten our national security and that of our allies.

“We also know that the challenges we face have been compounded by everything from sequestration to the last administration’s self-defeating foreign policy, with the Obama Administration’s focus on reducing the size of our conventional force only adding to the burden of our forward-deployed units.

“We have to be smart if we’re going to address these challenges effectively and do right by our men and women in uniform appropriately. We have to provide our servicemembers with the resources and training they need. That’s obvious. We have to continue the hard work of rebuilding our military and restoring combat readiness. That’s ongoing. We have to modernize the Pentagon and root out waste within the military bureaucracy. That’s important for strengthening accountability.

“We also have to prepare for the threats of both today and tomorrow by promoting defense innovation, enhancing cyber security, and — especially when you consider all the recent belligerence from North Korea — strengthening missile defense. For these reasons and many others, like authorizing a well-deserved raise for our servicemembers, it’s imperative that we join together today in passing the defense authorization legislation before us.

“I thank the Armed Services Committee for its good work on this year’s National Defense Authorization Act. The members of that committee, from both parties, came together to support this year’s NDAA and send it to the Senate floor. It’s yet another testament to the leadership of Senator McCain, the committee’s top Republican, and Senator Reed, his Democratic counterpart. Thank you, Chairman McCain. Thank you, Ranking Member Reed. Thank you to everyone else who worked so hard on this legislation. Now, let’s pass it.”