Mike Rogers

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. C. Scott Franklin), my friend and colleague, and a great member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, the underlying bill before this body, the FY22 National Defense Authorization Act, would increase spending by 3 percent over inflation, which is a modest increase. And it passed our committee with an overwhelming bipartisan vote. This amendment guts the bill. I urge all Members to oppose it, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I want people to understand what the gentleman is proposing because it is naive and reckless. When we get the budget proposal from the administration, it is just that. It is a proposal. But it is also from the executive branch. It is not coming directly from the combatant commanders, who are the individuals that we charge with the responsibility for executing the U.S. missions around the world. This amendment would prohibit them giving us the items that were not funded by the President's budget proposal. Keep in mind, both this President and the last President have given us budget proposals that were grossly inadequate. We were able to remedy it under the last President; we were able to remedy it in this one with this President. And we depend heavily on what the combatant commanders tell us they need. It is critical that Congress knows what the commanders need to keep our servicemembers safe and ensure the success of their missions. Here is an example. In the fiscal year 2022 unfunded priority, the CENTCOM commander sent us a $106 million request to operate and maintain the Patriot batteries deployed in Iraq to keep our troops safe from missiles fired from Iran and the proxies in Syria. That money was not in the Biden budget. We found out about it and funded it because of that critical need, and it is now in the bill because General McKenzie told us about it in his unfunded requirement list. We wouldn't have known about that otherwise. That is just one example of why this amendment is misguided. Mr. Speaker, I urge all Members to oppose it, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Texas (Mr. Nehls), another outstanding freshman.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Mr. Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rutherford), my good friend and a former sheriff.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I am concerned that adoption of this amendment would create a major recruiting platform for terrorists and create security risks. The Biden administration is opposed to this amendment. I oppose this amendment, and I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``no.'' I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, the amendment allows some of the most hardened terrorists in U.S. custody a platform to publicly broadcast their message. Letting these vicious terrorists know there is a public audience for their hate will do far more harm than good. It is important to note that Federal courts have consistently stuck to their guns against broadcasting major terrorism cases, such as the trial of Zacarias Moussaoui. I see no reason to make an exception for terrorists at Guantanamo. DOD has informed us they share these serious concerns and strongly oppose this amendment. Madam Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to oppose the amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I have a right to close, and I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to the amendment.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, it is my understanding that the ranking member of the committee of jurisdiction is opposed. Therefore, I must be opposed. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Oklahoma (Mrs. Bice), an outstanding member of our Armed Services Committee.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. DesJarlais), another fine member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Bacon), a great member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Wisconsin (Mr. Gallagher), the ranking member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Indiana (Mr. Banks), the ranking member of the Subcommittee on Cyber, Innovative Technologies, and Information Systems.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Gaetz), another fine member of the Armed Services Committee.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Missouri (Mrs. Hartzler), the ranking member of the Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Utah (Mr. Moore), one of our outstanding freshman Members.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Mississippi (Mr. Kelly), the ranking member of the Intelligence and Special Operations Subcommittee.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Turner).

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, this is a fine piece of legislation in a stand-alone fashion. In fact, I voted for the gentleman's stand-alone bill. I think what he is trying to accomplish is admirable and should be accomplished, but not in the National Defense Authorization Act. He knows that I am not picking on his bill. I feel this way about anything that is not in our jurisdiction. But having said that, the language is not related to the NDAA, and I urge opposition. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Wittman), the ranking member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee.

Mr. ROGERS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I, too, rise in strong support of H.R. 4350, the fiscal year National Defense Authorization Act. H.R. 4350 represents a truly bipartisan bill, and I want to thank Chairman Smith for his tremendous leadership and cooperation in helping fashion it. This has been a truly bipartisan endeavor. Over the last few months, we have seen the best of our soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and guardians. They have performed in the toughest of environments with the greatest level of skill and professionalism. Many gave their lives so others would have a chance for a better life. Without a doubt, our military is the greatest force the world has ever seen. Providing the authorities and resources for our service that our servicemembers need to defend our Nation and defeat our adversaries is the greatest responsibility we have here in Congress. We accomplished that responsibility with the bill before us today. H.R. 4350 ensures our warfighters are the best equipped and trained in the world. The bill puts our servicemembers first, providing a 2.7 percent pay increase and expanding benefits for their families. It also puts American workers first with historic investments in our defense industrial base. It also begins divesting legacy systems that will not help us deter future threats. Instead, it invests in new technologies like AI, hypersonics, and quantum computing that will help us stay ahead of our adversaries. That is important because Russia and China are rapidly modernizing their militaries. China is outpacing us with advancements in emerging technologies and weapons systems, and we know China isn't building these capabilities purely for defense. In recent years, we have seen China use its military to push out its borders, threaten our allies, and gain footholds on new continents. H.R. 4350 is laser-focused on preparing our military to prevail in a conflict with China. It makes critical investments in new systems capable of surviving in a contested environment. It includes provisions that will remove China from our defense supply chain, and it reaffirms our support to allies in the region, especially Taiwan. Unfortunately, threats from near peer adversaries like China and Russia are not the only ones we face. Terrorists continue their plots to destroy our way of life, and we must continue to take the fight to them anywhere and anytime they threaten us. With strong investments in new capabilities and readiness, this bill enables our warfighters to do just that. Finally, regardless of how you feel about the war in Afghanistan, Madam Speaker, I think we are all horrified by its disastrous withdrawal. This bill includes over 20 provisions to provide accountability to get us answers to questions we have been asking for here for months. This is a strong, bipartisan bill that will enhance our oversight of the DOD and ensure our military is properly resourced and equipped to defend our Nation and our allies. Madam Speaker, I urge all Members to support the bill, and I reserve the balance of my time.