Ranking Member Coons statement on Senate passage of defense spending bill

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Chris Coons (D-Del.), Ranking Member of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement after the SAC-D bill passed the U.S. Senate as part of a package of five appropriations bills:

"We are living through a dangerous moment. As our adversaries increasingly collaborate, we need more than ever to strengthen our ties with our allies. We recognize that in the Senate - and I'm glad there is a bipartisan consensus here that we owe it to Americans to keep them safe, and we owe it to the men and women of our armed forces to give them what they need to succeed in doing so.

"I'm grateful to Chairman McConnell for his partnership in passing this bipartisan bill that addresses the urgent challenges faced by our military and our nation. The bill invests in next-generation weapons and munitions to deter Russia and China. It strengthens ties with partners and allies like Ukraine, NATO members, the Philippines, Australia, and Taiwan. It reduces waste by cutting underperforming programs. It also supports the service members, civilians, and their families who sacrifice so much to keep us safe by raising their salaries, adding more funding for child care, and funding new medical research programs.

"I am glad the Senate has passed this bill, and I urge the House to pass it and the president to sign it as soon as possible, so our service members can stop worrying about their pay and equipment and remain focused on keeping us safe."