Interior Alaska News

U.S. Senator Dan Sullivan, a Republican from Alaska and member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, addressed the Senate floor to advocate for national security legislation he helped develop. The bill aims to enhance America's military readiness and weapon production capabilities. According to Sullivan, this legislation is necessary due to what he describes as failures by the Biden administration that have led to global instability.

Senator Sullivan criticized President Biden's foreign policy, citing several issues such as the withdrawal from Afghanistan, policies regarding the southern border of the United States, proposed defense spending cuts, delays in supplying weapons systems to Ukraine, and an inability to unite the country on national security matters.

"This bill is not some kind of exhibit of Joe Biden's foreign policy triumph—it's a needed correction of Joe Biden's foreign policy failure," stated Senator Sullivan during his speech. He emphasized that since Vietnam, Democratic presidents have consistently reduced defense spending and readiness. In contrast, Republicans follow a "peace through strength" tradition.

Sullivan argued that President Biden has failed to explain why these issues are critical and accused him of attacking Republicans instead of fostering unity on national security matters. He praised Speaker Johnson for effectively communicating these stakes more than President Biden has done over three years.

He also expressed concern about defense budget cuts proposed by President Biden's administration despite what he called "the most dangerous time since World War II." Sullivan encouraged his Republican colleagues in the Senate to support this national security supplemental bill as part of their tradition of maintaining peace through strength.