WASHINGTON– U.S. Senator Roger F. Wicker, R-Miss., ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today delivered opening remarks at the “Pass the Gavel” ceremony to formally begin conference proceedings on the fiscal year 2024 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

In his opening remarks, Wicker highlighted several of his priorities for the annual defense bill, which include procuring new platforms and munitions for service members, deterring adversaries, and refocusing the Department of Defense on its primary mission of warfighting.

“Our weaponry is not where it should be. Our ships and airplanes – and particularly our submarines – are not where they ought to be,” Wicker said. “We are also concerned about the wokeness that seems to pervade the Department of Defense and military at this time, taking effort and attention away from most of what we need to be doing.”

Read Senator Wicker’s remarks as delivered in full below.

Thank you, Chairman Rogers, and thank you all. I agree with much of what has been said by my three teammates in this process already.

My Chairman, Chairman Reed, mentioned China, Russia, Iran – I would also mention North Korea – these adversaries of the United States are in it together.

It’s not just supposition on anyone’s part. The teamwork that they have been engaged in is public and open. And the Ranking Member Mr. Smith is correct: they have in common that they wish us ill.

I join with the distinguished House Chairman in saying that Republican members on this side are not at all satisfied with how this administration has carried out the national defense responsibilities of the federal government.

Our weaponry is not where it should be. Our ships and airplanes – and particularly our submarines – are not where they ought to be.

We are also concerned about the wokeness that seems to pervade the Department of Defense and military at this time, taking effort and attention away from most of what we need to be doing.

Clearly, Representative Smith is correct that our main goal should be the personnel in uniform who step forward to protect and swear an oath to the Constitution, who in a time of volunteerism, put themselves in harm’s way.

So, it’s been a learning experience for me. I would point out that it has been a bipartisan process. Much negotiation took place.

And here’s where I would thank the staff on both sides of the aisle and both sides of the Hill for the incredible amount of work and the late nights and long hours after members are able to adjourn and go home. Our hats are off to all the staff members.

The result is that we the passed the bill in the Senate Armed Services Committee by a vote of 24-1 after amendments were added in the Chairman’s package. After 120 amendments were considered on the floor – most of them added – the NDAA passed the Senate by 86-11.

So, this has been a bipartisan effort, though clearly there have been differences we have had to accommodate. Chairman Rogers is correct: I am not at all satisfied about some of the things we had to agree to, and neither are our Democratic friends.

That said, I want to say a personal word of thanks to this negotiating team and say I look forward to hearing the discussion of others in the Senate and this House so that this NDAA can move to the full House and Senate and get it done before we leave here.

Thank you.