WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the highest-ranking Republican on the Senate Armed Services Committee, released the following statement after voting against the initial supplemental proposal which included both the National Defense Supplemental and the border bill. After the border bill components were stripped out and the vote failed, Senator Wicker voted to support the National Defense Supplemental.

“My primary obligation as a U.S. Senator is protecting America. This national defense legislation counters the Biden administration’s weak defense policy decisions and will save American lives. The United States’ economy also stands to gain as 75 percent of the bill’s funding will go to Americans, including $59 billion for weapons production. The bill ensures our military readiness and ability to confront the collective national security threats from China, Russia, North Korea, and Iran.”

Click here to view Senator Wicker’s statement on the first vote where he voted no.

Among other key provisions, the national security supplemental would authorize:

• $76 billion total for defense-related national security funding to deter China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
• $3.4 billion in submarine industrial base funding, which Senator Wicker extensively advocated for in 2023 to get back to building 2 attack subs per year.
• $542 million for the highest priorities of our commander in the Pacific, including money for complex military exercises in the First Island Chain, missile defense of Guam, and the Joint Training Team for Taiwan.
• $2 billion for replenishment of weapons transfers to Taiwan and $2 billion of Foreign Military Financing for Taiwan and Philippines – both historic firsts.
• $26 billion for general U.S. military readiness and arms procurement through replenishment of drawdowns to partners. 
• $5.4 billion in direct investments for U.S. munitions companies, including getting to 1 million 155mm rounds per year, expanding cruise missile motor industrial base, and drastically increasing the capacity of Patriot interceptor production.