Research | The Leader Board | THE NEWSROOM | Republican LeaderSkip to primary navigation Skip to content×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELL×Close THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELLxxsearchxMENUFacebookTwitterInstagramFacebookTwitterInstagramVisit Senator McConnell's site here THE NEWSROOMRemarks Press Releases The Leader Board Op-Eds Videos SENATE RESOURCESRepublican Senators Committees Congressional Record Congress.gov Senate Floor Webcast ABOUT LEADER McCONNELLxxsearchxMENUHomeTHE NEWSROOMThe Leader Board02.20.25Peace Through Unmatched StrengthSenate Republicans Are Working to Make America Safe Again “Like in 2017, we will again build the strongest military the world has ever seen.” – President Donald Trump“To those who voted for and support real border security and a stronger defense in a troubled world, help is on the way.” – Senate Budget Committee Chairman Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.)“We can’t waste a moment in getting our defense industrial base in a position to be ready.” – Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman Roger Wicker (R-Miss.)THIS BUDGET RESOLUTION IS THE FIRST STEP TOWARDS REVITALIZING AMERICA’S MILITARYThe budget resolution will make available $150 billion in funding for national security. (U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget: Chairman Graham Statement on Sending FY25 Budget Resolution to the Floor – 2/12/25)The resolution lays the groundwork to revitalize “our military by providing critical funding for the Department of Defense to strengthen the U.S. military to deter conflict and ensure our nation’s security.” (U.S. Senate Committee on the Budget: Chairman Graham Unveils FY 2025 Budget Resolution To Secure The Border, Revitalize Our Military, Unleash American Energy Production And Begin The Process Of Restoring Fiscal Sanity – 2/7/25)Republicans are righting the wrongs of the Biden administration: All four defense budget requests presented to Congress by the Biden administration failed to keep up with the rate of inflation and equated to a cut in defense spending. (Reuters: Biden's meager 1% US defense budget increase buys fewer ships, jets – 3/11/24; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index Summary – 3/12/24; Fox Business: Biden's defense budget hikes outpaced by inflation, drawing GOP criticism – 3/14/23; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index – February 2023 – 3/14/23; The New York Times: Biden Aims to Boost Military and Social Spending in 2023 Budget – 3/28/22; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index – February 2022 – 3/10/22; NBC News: First Biden budget outline calls for major boost in nondefense spending – 4/9/21; U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics: Consumer Price Index – March 2021 – 4/23/21)THE FUNDING NEED IS URGENT: AMERICA’S NAVY AND AIR FORCE ARE SHRINKING, WHICH JEOPARDIZES PRESIDENT TRUMP’S GOAL OF BUILDING “THE STRONGEST MILITARY THE WORLD HAS EVER SEEN” “Mr. Trump ran on ‘peace through strength,’ and his GOP platform vowed to make America’s military the ‘most modern, lethal and powerful.’ He won’t do that with the current defense budget, which is sliding to a post-World War II low of less than 3% of GDP.” (The Wall Street Journal: Editorial: A Bipartisan Failure in Congress on National Defense – 12/12/24)The U.S. naval fleet size is projected to be 294 ships by 2030, far less than the 425-ship fleet China is projected to have in 2030. (Congressional Research Service: China Naval Modernization: Implications for U.S. Navy Capabilities—Background and Issues for Congress – 8/16/24; U.S. Department of Defense: Military and Security Developments involving the People’s Republic of China – 12/18/24)The Air Force’s current aircraft fleet size is under 5,000 aircraft, the lowest total in its history. Without action, it could shrink further and fall into a “maintenance and modernization death spiral.” (Air & Space Forces Magazine: At a Historic Low, Air Force Fleet Size Will Keep Shrinking, Top Planner Says – 4/9/24; Defense News: As the US Air Force fleet keeps shrinking, can it still win wars? – 4/23/24)AMERICANS AGREE THAT A DANGEROUS WORLD REQUIRES A STRONG U.S. MILITARYNearly 8 in 10 Americans (79%) support increased defense spending, the highest level ever recorded in the seven years of the Reagan National Defense Survey. (Ronald Reagan Institute: Reagan National Defense Survey – Nov. 2024)China has more than doubled its nuclear arsenal in the last three years, and according to former Deputy National Security Advisor Matt Pottinger and former House Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party Chairman Mike Gallagher, China “is building up its conventional forces faster than any country has since World War II.” (Defense News: China more than doubled its nuclear arsenal since 2020, Pentagon says – 11/19/23; Foreign Affairs: No Substitute for Victory – 4/10/24)Iran continues to prop up Hamas, Hezbollah, the Houthis, and other terror groups in the Middle East. Secretary of State Marco Rubio said Iran is “behind everything that threatens peace and stability.” (NBC News: Rubio says Iran is ‘behind every terrorist group’ as he vows full U.S. support for Netanyahu – 2/16/25)The U.S. Navy’s defense of Israel and maritime shipping routes from Iran-backed terrorists “has turned into the most intense running sea battle the Navy has faced since World War II.” (The Associated Press: US Navy faces its most intense combat since World War II against Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels – 6/14/24)PrintEmailTweetNextPreviousTHE NEWSROOMSENATE RESOURCESABOUT LEADER McCONNELLFacebookTwitterInstagram
