Indo-Pacific Security Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2024

Floor Speech

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Mr. WOMACK. Madam Speaker, preserving the safety, security, and prosperity of our Nation is arguably our most important duty. There is a new axis of evil on the rise around the world, and just like the terrible original, this group is bound together by their desire to subjugate their people and destroy freedom and democracy all around the world. They want to end American leadership and prosperity.

The second half of the 20th century was the most prosperous in our Nation, and that prosperity was underpinned by relative peace. Increasing our strength and the strength of our allies is the only avenue to peace. This package does just that.

I thank Speaker Johnson for his courage and leadership, and I thank my good friends, Chairman Cole, Chairman Calvert, and Chairman Diaz- Balart, for putting this package together and putting it on the floor.

Madam Speaker, I was in the Army National Guard for over 30 years. A significant part of that time was spent training to fight and win against the Red Army in the Fulda Gap. There is a new Red Army today, and they are inching closer to Central Europe. This time, we have a democratic country in Eastern Europe in their way. All they need are weapons and training.

That is among the bills in the package that we provide today, which this body will vote on. Without this package, Putin will continue his march of death and destruction. Without this package, our own Army will have to cancel Combat Center training rotations, the training events that keep our forces the greatest in the free world.

During those 30 years, I was deployed with my battalion to the Sinai in Egypt. Standing on the Egyptian side of the Rafah crossing, I saw firsthand the death and destruction of Hamas. I also saw our greatest ally in the region, Israel, defending itself. This package today provides Israel with the tools it needs to destroy terrorists killing, capturing, and raping its citizens.

Our friends need our help, and without this package, our Navy--our Navy--will be without critical air defense munitions required to protect our sailors. These air defense assets enable our control of the seas.

Another dictator is marshaling his resources and planning to upend the free and open Indo-Pacific region that has contributed so much to American prosperity. This package makes important investments in our defense capabilities to deter this aggression. Without it, we will produce fewer submarines, produce fewer antiship missiles, and underfund the requirements of our commanders in the region.

Madam Speaker, Arkansans are at the forefront of producing critical munitions, from Tomahawk missiles to standard missiles to naval strike missiles, all funded in this package. Yes, Arkansas, like many other States, is the forge of the arsenal of democracy.

Today's vote seems pretty simple to me. We are choosing between strength and weakness, between freedom and repression, and between prosperity and decline.

Madam Speaker, I ask my fellow Members to look past the end of your noses, understand the context and gravity of the situation we face and that our partners and allies face, and support this package today.

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