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“U.S. military readiness and modernization, already under great stress and stretched thin around the world, has suffered under 15 years of continued operations, budgetary restrictions, and deferred investment.”

WASHINGTON –U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) today spoke at The Woodrow Wilson Center on the state of our military readiness in light of growing national security threats.  In his keynote address, he emphasized the need for Congress to work with the Administration to determine long-term defense spending priorities.   Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video of his remarks can be found here. 

“In many ways, I do believe the United States is at a crossroads when it comes to meeting the diverse threats that we face today while simultaneously preparing for the ever-evolving future threats headed our way tomorrow.”

“In the Middle East, even as ISIS forces are pushed back in Iraq, the ideology spreads like a contagion through their so-called cyber-caliphate. Iran, under the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, is a break-out nuclear threat, and remains the No. 1 state sponsor of international terrorism in the world.”

“And in Syria, 400,000 Syrians have died in a bloody civil war, while Bashar al-Assad, a brutal dictator known to repeatedly use chemical weapons against his own people despite red lines drawn, enjoys Russian and Iranian protection.” 

“But to address these threats, to maintain the peace and fight if we must, we have to maintain a capable, ready, and modern military. And the truth is we are not ready.”

“U.S. military readiness and modernization, already under great stress and stretched thin around the world, has suffered under 15 years of continued operations, budgetary restrictions, and deferred investment.”

“If we want to return to a strong American military after years of stress and inadequate funding, we need to start with an end to Department of Defense sequestration.” 

“A bipartisan Congress and the Trump Administration must address our budget priorities by looking at and addressing all federal spending, not just the 30 percent or so represented by discretionary spending.”

“The only way we can rein in spending, get a handle on our debt, and ensure our military stays ready for the threats facing it every day is to clearly articulate our country’s needs and how we meet them.”

“Congress has a tremendous opportunity, working with the Administration, to propose a strategy designed to modernize our military and prepare for the next generation of warfighting.”

“By doing away with the Budget Control Act, putting the Pentagon on a predictable budget, and developing a coherent national security strategy, we can maintain our status as the top military in the world. And along the way, we can ensure greater peace by deterring our enemies and reassuring our allies.”

“I’m committed to working with anybody who is willing to do that and who shares these goals.”