Ander Crenshaw Calls for Strategic Defense Spending

U.S. Rep. Ander Crenshaw, R-Fla., took to the floor of Congress on Wednesday, insisting the measure would help improve national defense and help the First Coasts military community. Crenshaw said the following in his speech:

When you look at the world today, it certainly hasnt gotten any smaller. It certainly hasnt gotten any safer. But, I think this bill balances the priorities that we need to balance and focuses on being able to meet the many, many challenges that we face in terms of our national security.

I consider it an honor to serve on the subcommittee because when I read the Constitution, it teaches me that the No. 1 responsibility of the federal government is to protect American lives. And, the best way to keep America safe is to keep America strong, and I think this bill does that. We make sure that were not making any short-term budget decisions that would be easy to make in these difficult times.

The Navy decided that they would like to deactivate 11 Navy ships. Thats one half of our cruiser fleet. We dont need less ships. We need more ships, and Im proud that the subcommittee has worked out a compromise where these ships will be modernized. Their life will be extended, and theyll continue to do the work they need to do around the globe.

The people I represent back in Jacksonville, Fla., care greatly about national security. They care about the men and women in uniform, and they care about the men and women who work so hard to make sure the ships are repaired and the planes are flying in the sky.

And, the other thing I wanted to point out is, in terms of short-sighted budget-driven decisions, is that there was an effort to say theres not enough money to refuel the USS George Washington. Thats one or our nuclear carriers. It has 25 years left of useful life if we spend the money to refuel that. It will also help us comply with the law, that I helped write eight years ago, that says you have to have 11 aircraft carriers unless Congress says otherwise.

And finally, when I look at the airplanes, the new E-2D Hawkeye -- the Advanced Hawkeye these planes are relatively new, but theyre incredibly important to our national security. The Poseidon, the P-8 surveillance planes again relatively new but important to our national defense.

After the speech, Crenshaw doubled down on his support of the bill.

Plain and simple: We live in dangerous times, and now is not the time to cut back our military, said Crenshaw. My bottom line is to make sure our men and women in uniform have what they need to get the job done wherever they serve, whenever they serve. Congress is also duty-bound to make sure that our military and their families receive the benefits they have earned. This defense bill accomplishes these goals and deserves immediate passage by the House and the Senate.