U.S. Senator
John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, delivered
the following opening statement on the floor of the U.S. Senate on the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016, which passed the Committee
22-4 last month, and which the Senate begins considering today.
“It is my pleasure to rise with my
friend and colleague from Rhode Island to speak about the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016. For 53 consecutive years, Congress has
passed this vital piece of legislation, which provides the necessary
authorities for our military to defend the nation. The NDAA is one few bills in
Congress that continues to enjoy bipartisan support year after year. This is a
testament to this legislation’s critical importance to our national security,
and the high regard with which it is held by the Congress.
Washington,
D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of
the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement today on
his opposition to the USA Freedom Act:
“Today,
I voted against the so-called USA Freedom Act, a bill that I believe
fails to provide our intelligence agencies with the critical capabilities our
country needs to prevent future terrorist attacks against our homeland. As our
nation’s top military and national security leaders have repeatedly stated, we
are facing a complex and diverse array of threats around the world that pose a
direct threat to the safety and security of the American people. Now more than
ever, our intelligence community must have access to the vital authorities and
capabilities they need to stop another terrorist attack before it happens
again.”
Washington,
D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of
the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement on his
meeting today with the Governor of the Japanese Prefecture of Okinawa, Takeshi
Onaga:
“Today
I had a friendly and respectful meeting with Governor Onaga. I expressed my
appreciation for the people of Okinawa and my continued willingness to engage
in constructive dialogue with the governor. At the same time, I expressed my
ongoing support for the current plan to relocate U.S. Marines on Okinawa, to
which the United States and the Government of Japan remain committed. I look
forward to working with Prime Minister Abe and his government on future issues
related to U.S. forces in Japan and to strengthening the U.S.-Japan alliance,
which remains the cornerstone of security and stability in the Asia-Pacific
Region.”
Washington,
D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman
of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today delivered the following remarks
at the American Action Forum’s Fred Malek Lecture Series in Washington, DC:
“Thank
you, Fred. As many of you will know, despite his West Point education, Fred is
one of America’s most successful businessmen. Fred has answered his nation’s
call to service on numerous occasions, and I am proud to count him as a
friend.
“I
am also very fortunate to have benefitted from the wise counsel of your
President, Doug Holtz-Eakin, for many years, and he remains a trusted friend
and adviser.
“It’s
a pleasure to be here today at the American Action Forum. I commend you for the
work you’ve done to promote free enterprise and smarter government. And I am
pleased to see you have expanded your advocacy on defense issues. It couldn’t
come at a more important time
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Jack Reed
(D-RI), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee,
sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Ash Carter on Thursday regarding the U.S.
invitation to the People’s Republic of China to participate in the 2016 Rim of
the Pacific military exercise in Hawaii. “Given China’s behavior in the past
year alone, including its disregard for the interests of our allies,
international law, and established norms, we do not believe Beijing should have
been invited to this prestigious U.S.-led military exercise in 2016,” Senators
McCain and Reed wrote. “China appears more intent on waging a maritime
sovereignty competition and bullying its neighbors than contributing in a
substantive manner to regional peace.”The signed letter is here
Washington, D.C. - U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Bob Menendez
(R-NJ) sent a letter encouraging Fédération Internationale de Football
Association (FIFA) Congress to reconsider its support for President Sepp
Blatter’s fifth term as FIFA President in light of his continued support for
Russia’s hosting the 2018 FIFA World Cup.
In the letter, the Senators note the economic
support that hosting the World Cup would provide Vladimir Putin in
contravention of multilateral sanctions that have been imposed against Russia
for Putin’s continued aggression in Ukraine.
“The next president of FIFA has a responsibility to
ensure not only a safe and successful 2018 World Cup, but the endurance of the
FIFA mission that claims to promote football 'globally in the light of its
unifying, educational, cultural and humanitarian values,'" write
Senators McCain and Menendez. "We strongly encourage you to elect a
president who will uphold these values and work to deny the Putin regime the
privilege of hosting the 2018 World Cup.”
The signed letter is here
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator
John McCain (R-AZ), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, sent the
following letter on Wednesday to Deputy Secretary of Defense Robert Work
regarding the construction of a $36 million command and control facility at
Camp Leatherneck in Afghanistan over the objections of commanders on the
ground. “It is unclear to me how the expenditure of $36 million on a building
that was never used by the U.S. military, and as I understand, has not been
used by the Afghan government, can be viewed as anything other than a failure
of fiscal stewardship,” Chairman McCain wrote. The text of the letter appears HERE.
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Senator John McCain released
the following statement today on the Senate’s passage of bipartisan Trade
Promotion Authority legislation:
“The Senate’s passage of Trade
Promotion Authority today is a win for America’s economic and national security
future. This bill ensures that U.S. trade negotiators will have fast-track
authority to complete trade agreements that create U.S. jobs, eliminate trade
barriers and set rules to level the playing field for American companies. These
agreements hold tremendous potential for businesses across the country
including Arizona, where international trade supports more than one-in-five
jobs that pay roughly 18 percent higher salaries.
