Sen. Moran Speaks on the Senate Floor Regarding the National Security Supplemental

WASHINGTON - U.S. Senator Jerry Moran (R-Kan.) spoke on the Senate Floor before voting to support the National Security Supplemental legislation. The National Security Supplemental passed the Senate 79-18 and will now be sent to the President's desk for signature.

"National security crises abroad and here at home are ever increasing," said Sen. Moran. "Iran launched a full-scale attack on Israel; Hamas has stated its intent to wipe Israel off the map; Russia continues its brutal aggression in Ukraine; and China is rapidly modernizing its military and using companies to spy and track Americans. Each of these conflicts are interconnected, and it would be naive to send aid to Israel but take a pass on supporting Ukraine, Taiwan or our other allies."

"It is vital for the United States to be a steadfast and reliable partner in the midst of so many dangers that threaten the world and our own nation's peace and prosperity," continued Sen. Moran. "There is no path forward for Ukraine, there is no path forward for Israel or for Taiwan if the United States of America disengages in the world. The price tag is significant, but in the absence of taking a stand now, we have to take a stand tomorrow. Do what we need to do today or pay a price later, and later will be even more costly. In addition, a majority of the funding provided to Ukraine in this package and in previous packages will be directly injected back into the U.S. economy."

"The challenges we face will not resolve themselves, and the preservation of freedom requires enormous effort," said Sen. Moran. "Our greatest responsibilities as American citizens is to make sure that those who follow us live with the freedom and liberties that were guaranteed by our Constitution. That were fought to protect and defend by those who sacrificed - many of them who sacrificed their own lives. This week we have an opportunity to deliver on that effort - to live up to our responsibilities as Americans; to be a steadfast and reliable partner."

"Americans, who will be directly impacted, are watching, but so are our adversaries and allies," concluded Sen. Moran. "I hope we are successful in fighting for and defending the liberties and freedoms of America and Americans, and protecting and securing the remainder of the world. It is in our benefit, America's benefit, to do so."

Click HERE to Watch Sen. Moran's Full Remarks

Remarks as delivered:

My colleagues, we live in a dangerous time and world. Fellow Kansans and Americans, we live in dangerous times, and the world is a real challenge. The national security crises abroad and here at home are ever increasing. Iran launched a full-scale attack on Israel; Hamas has stated its intent to wipe Israel off the map; Russia continues its brutal aggression in Ukraine; and China is rapidly modernizing its military and using companies to spy and track Americans.

Each of these conflicts are interconnected, and it would be naive to send aid to Israel but take a pass on supporting Ukraine, Taiwan or our other allies. It is vital the United States be a steadfast and reliable partner in the midst of so many dangers that threaten the world and our own nation's peace and prosperity.

In a joint Fox News op-ed with former Secretary Mike Pompeo, we stated, "the preservation of freedom requires enormous effort; indeed, liberty demands the marshaling of every resource necessary in its defense against those who would see it destroyed."

Vladimir Putin has chosen to pursue the reconstitution of the Russian empire according to his own vision of Russian history. He has made clear that his aspirations go beyond Ukraine, and he views NATO as Russia's enemy.

And under Putin's leadership, Russia is increasingly collaborating with other nations who oppose us - Iran and our most powerful adversary, Communist China.

Allowing the war in Ukraine to fester will only prolong and deepen the instability already wrought, and it puts at greater risk the 100,000 U.S. servicemembers defending NATO's borders - including those from Fort Riley, Kansas.

I have said from the beginning - the world is a better and safer place if Ukraine wins and Russia loses.

Ending the war on terms favorable to Kyiv will leave Ukraine and the NATO's front in a stronger and better position to deter further Russian aggression.

Just a week ago, Iran launched a full-scale attack on Israel from its own soil. Through an impressive, coordinated effort with the U.S. and other countries, Israel successfully defended itself from the barrage of missiles fired at it.

It was a victory for Israel, but Iran has demonstrated that it is capable and willing to act on its desire to eliminate the state of Israel.

Standing with Israel and Ukraine also means standing with our Indo-Pacific partners. We cannot be tough on China and weak on defending Ukraine and Israel.

The Pentagon describes China as the most "comprehensive and serious challenge" to U.S. security.

The Japanese Prime Minister stood before Congress just a few days ago and reaffirmed that Japan is already standing shoulder to shoulder with the United States.

The U.S. must send the message that we are committed and standing shoulder to shoulder with our allies in the Indo-Pacific.

The bill that we are about to debate, discuss and presumably vote on allows the U.S. to respond to immediate needs as China increases its military provocation of Taiwan, while also modernizing our own U.S. fleet to compete in the Pacific.

It is in America's vital national interest to assist Ukraine in repelling Russia's invasion, assist Israel in driving out terrorism and assist our Indo-Pacific partners in standing up to China's threats.

We must project strength. Failure to do otherwise undermines our credibility, which resonates around the globe. That credibility that is already damaged after the administration's disastrous and chaotic withdrawal from Afghanistan.

Additionally, a majority of the funding provided to Ukraine in this package and in previous packages will be directly injected back into the U.S. economy.

There has been a significant amount of misinformation on this bill that is important to clarify. 70% of the funding in the bill for Ukraine - $42 billion of the $60.8 billion - will be used to replenish U.S. stockpiles and develop, produce and purchase U.S.-made weapons, including weapons from production facilities in Kansas and the KC-area.

This package also requires the administration to develop a strategy to support a Ukrainian victory.

The American people deserve to know the objectives of supporting Ukraine, our interests as they relate to this war, the cost of not satisfying those interests and an estimate for the resources needed. The supplemental will deliver on all these aspects.

There is no path forward for Ukraine; there is no path forward for Israel or for Taiwan if the United States of America is disengaged in the world.

The price tag is significant. But in the absence of taking a stand now, we have to take a stand tomorrow. Do what we need today or pay a price later, and later will be even more costly.

These costs must be shared with our NATO allies and partners elsewhere in the world.

I commend NATO and the European nations that have - up to now - pledged more support to Ukraine's cause even more than our own country. Europe has pledged more than the United States. Yet, it is critical to rapidly fulfill those commitments, such as through the delivery of necessary equipment like air defense systems to help Ukraine better withstand Russia's onslaught.

I am reluctant - and so are many Kansans - to spend more money or to be engaged further in the world, especially with a crisis at our own southern border.

I share my colleagues' frustrations that we were unsuccessful in including border policies in this package.

The crisis at the southern border is a grave national security threat. The administration's continued inaction at the border is particularly frustrating, when the administration has many of the tools it needs to improve the situation.

I will continue working to pass legislation to protect the border, but at the same time we must also work to bolster our national security in the areas that we can agree upon.

We can't wait for a new administration or new Congress to try and pass perfect border legislation, if such a thing exists.

Some of the national security challenges we face are not strictly military in nature and reflect the changing nature of what "conflict" means today.

Our adversaries use technology companies to collect vast amounts of personal data from Americans. This information can be used to control or influence each of us, often without us even realizing it is happening.

This bill takes a first step to protect U.S. data, but significant work is left to ensure Americans' data is secured by a federal comprehensive data privacy and security law.

The challenges we face will not resolve themselves, and the preservation of freedom requires enormous effort.

I have always believed that an American citizen, that our greatest responsibilities as an American citizen is to ensure that those who follow us live with the freedoms and liberties that were guaranteed by our Constitution and that were fought to protect and defend by those who sacrificed - many of them who sacrificed their own lives.

This week, we have an opportunity to deliver on that effort, to live up to our responsibility as Americans to be a steadfast and reliable partner.

I am grateful to my colleagues in the House for their work in getting the National Security Supplemental passed and sent back to the Senate.

I underscore to my Senate colleagues the importance of doing the work we were elected to do. Americans, who will be directly impacted, are paying attention, but so are our adversaries and allies. I hope we are successful in fighting for and defending the liberties and freedoms of America and Americans, and protecting and help secure the remainder of the world. It is in our benefit, America's benefit, to do so.

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