Senator King: Blocking Senate Defense Bill Undercuts “Fundamental Responsibility” to Ensure National Security

Before the vote, Senator King points to bipartisan consensus, 202 amendments already contained within the bill as some seek votes on their own proposals

WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Angus King (I-Maine), a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today (Nov. 29th) voted to open debate on the annual National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). Moments later, the motion failed to reach the sixty-vote threshold, threatening a 60-year streak of passing this essential bipartisan legislation and invest in America’s national defense. The Senate has passed this annual legislation for decades, typically on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis, to bolster America’s national security, support our men and women in uniform, and strengthen Maine communities. This year’s NDAA was approved by the Senate Armed Services Committee by a vote of 23-3.

Prior to today’s vote, Senator King took to the Senate floor to urge his

colleagues in both parties to support this important legislation:

“In a few moments we'll have what I hope is not an historic vote. It shouldn't be an historic vote, it ought to be a boring vote. The vote is to proceed to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for 2022, just as we've done for 60 years running. But I understand that there's a movement afoot to derail [the NDAA] because there haven't been enough amendments,” said Senator King on the Senate Floor. “The Members of the [Senate Armed Services Committee] put the interests of the United States of America first and make their decision on that, not on politics. So there were 145 amendments in the committee, then there's a managers' package that we're going to be voting on today that has 57 amendments in it: 27 supported by Republicans, 27 by Democrats, and three that are entirely bipartisan. So we're up to 202 amendments – that's a lot of amendments to a piece of legislation. Not to mention the fact that the managers' package within the Committee was developed largely by consensus between the two parties' leaders, Chairman Reed and Ranking Member Inhofe. So this process is replete with amendments and compromise, and that's how it's been done for the past 60 years.”

“This is the defense of the United States of America – why can't we do just one bill without politics? Without stamping our feet and saying ‘I didn't get my amendment, so I'm going to vote against it’? This is the national security of this country, this is a pay raise for our troops, this is national security that our people depend upon – that's our most fundamental responsibility,” continued Senator King. “The preamble of the Constitution: one of the key responsibilities is to provide for the common defense. That's why you have governments in the first place. We've done it for 60 years in a row, I urge my colleagues, this isn't a moment for partisanship or for playing about and saying ‘I didn't get my amendment, so I'm not going to vote for it.’”

Senator King previously spoke on the Senate Floor in support of the National Defense Authorization Act earlier this month, laying out a number of important priorities that he advocated for in the package, including the $3.7 billion for the procurement of 2 DDG-51 Arleigh Burke-class destroyers, a 2.7% pay raise for military servicemembers and DOD civilian workforce, the advancement of several cybersecurity priorities, and 12 weeks of parental leave for military personnel. A dedicated member of the Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC), Senator King chairs SASC’s Strategic Forces Subcommittee and serves on the Seapower and Airland Subcommittees.