Senate votes 45-51 to reject closing debate on NDA

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., flanked by Minority Whip John Thune, R-S.D., left, and Sen. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, talks to reporters following a GOP strategy meeting, at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, Nov. 16, 2021. 

 

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) effectively set up a blockade on what Republicans decried as a lackluster defense bill proposed by Democrats.

On Monday, the Senate voted 51-to-45 in favor of Republicans to reject a motion to close debate and vote on the 2022 Defense Authorization Act. This missed the 60 vote threshold to move on to a vote, which is something McConnell threatened would happen if Democrats failed to hear concerns made by Republicans.

McConnell warned that despite being downplayed by the Biden administration, the threats to U.S. national security have gotten immensely worse, especially in the Middle East.

“In 10-months in office, despite naïve happy talk from the administration, the threats we face are remarkably worse,” stated the Senate Minority Leader. “The vacuum they left in Afghanistan has emboldened terrorists from Iran’s militias in Iraq, Syria and Yemen to the highest ranks of the Taliban’s government.”

McConnell also called out Democrats for neglecting the mounting threats to America and international security from Russia. This ranges from cyber security threats to hypersonic missile development and undermining American energy with the creation of the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

McConnell laments Democrats are turning a blind eye to Russia after wailing about their alleged heavy meddling in the 2016 election of 45th President Donald Trump.

“For four years, my colleagues, the Democratic leaders, seem constantly focused on Putin and Russia,” stated the senator. “But now with Putin flaunting his power and Russia engaged in ongoing cyber attacks, weapons tests and troop build ups — crickets.”

The Kentucky Republican added, the current draft of the NDAA fails to take on America’s greatest threat on the international stage — China.

However, since Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and a handful of other members of the Democrat Caucus voted with Republicans, he can force another vote at a later date. In the meantime, Schumer has vowed to work hard to get the bill passed through Congress and Republicans hope the future law reflects a bipartisan legislature.