Below is a transcript of an interview with House Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCall that aired on “Face the Nation” on July 16, 2023.
Margaret Brennan: We’re joined by Texas Republican Rep. Mike McCall, Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee. Welcome back.
House Foreign Relations Chairman Michael McCall: Thank you for the welcome.
Margaret Brennan: There’s a lot to talk about, but I’d like to start with the Defense Authorization Act. The bill got a lot of attention this week because it passed the Republican-controlled House and involved social policy issues. in addition. So this is the bill, pay military personnel and do what is necessary for national security. If this goes to the Senate, they’re going to cut them all off, you see. It will come back to you in the House. Are you confident that Republicans can pass this much-needed bill without helping Democrats cross the finish line?
Rep. McCall: You know, we saw the conference when the Democrats had a majority, they passed a very partisan NDAA bill and they went to the Senate, you know, I’m at a conference — we’ve done conference committees, and traditionally the more partisan minutes are dropped. Ultimately, this will always be a bipartisan bill. But he also had some policies, like the post-1980 Hyde Amendment, that didn’t fund taxpayer-funded abortions, and members thought it was very important to include them. I think that’s what survives.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you’re talking about a clause that restricts funding for military personnel to travel.
Congressman McCall: Yes, I will pay for the expenses.
Margaret Brennan: But Pentagon policy never funds abortion.
Senator McCorm: Well, I wish I hadn’t–
Margaret Brennan: Or fertility services.
Rep. McCall: Actually, they kind of started this discussion and you see, this is a process. We had many amendments and members needed their votes. I think that eventually we will come together as a conference and have a bipartisan bill. I believe nothing is more important than national defense and the military. We’re giving you the biggest pay raise in the last 20 years. We will significantly upgrade our triad systems, nuclear capabilities, and hypersonic speeds to counter China, especially Taiwan. So in the end it is vital that we do not politicize this bill and I am very confident that a bipartisan bill will be introduced.
Margaret Brennan: Okay. Because you voted to abolish the Department of Defense’s Office of Diversity, deny hormone therapy to transgender troops, and limit funding for reproductive services such as fertility treatment and abortions for travel. None of what you think will be reflected in the final bill–
[CROSSTALK]
Rep. McCall: It goes against —
Margaret Brennan: None of those things can win the Democratic vote —
Congressman McCorm: I disagree. Since 1980, we have not funded taxpayers, the money that goes into abortion. I think some of the cultural policies put forth by the Department of Defense have caused problems within our military. Hiring is currently at an all-time low. After Afghanistan, say you have to see Shields implementing their own social and moral policies to see these videos they trained. Let’s talk about war preparedness and our capabilities.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, that’s why the Secretary of Defense said, oh my God, one in five soldiers is now a woman, and he introduced this policy to enable that because they It’s about traveling to get things you don’t need covering the state they live in. So shouldn’t all troops get the same treatment regardless of where they are stationed? Why punish them for living in Texas instead of California, for example?
[CROSSTALK]
Congressman McCall: Well, they’re free — they’re free to travel to another state to have an abortion —
Margaret Brennan: They will be punished and will have to go on vacation.
Rep. McCall: It’s just not at the taxpayer’s expense.
Margaret Brennan: They have to take vacations and so on, and that will probably affect their ability to do their jobs. if they have to take a vacation. Anyway, he’d like to ask about one of the things that’s included in it, which isn’t there, but many Conservatives in the caucuses wanted it. It is a limitation of funding to Ukraine. What does this imply about Republicans crossing the finish line in the fall when it comes to actual recruits to aid Ukraine?
Congressman McCall: Well, you know my position on Ukraine. A year ago, we should have put the weapons we now put into action not just to survive, but to win. There have been several Ukrainian amendments, but they all failed, and it can be said that the majority of Republicans voted for Ukraine. After all, the Reagan Institute did a great, great poll to show that over 70% of Republicans support Ukraine, and I think that was reflected in our vote. Yes, about 70 MPs voted against it, but I think the revival of the bill would bring more bipartisan support, especially for its efforts in Ukraine, which is in the midst of a counterattack. increase. To me, it is very dangerous to put forward these amendments at a time when Ukraine is under barrage trying to counter Russian aggression.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re talking about an amendment like the one Marjorie Taylor Greene was trying to put forward, but the Republicans were against it…
[CROSSTALK]
Congressman McCall: Yes. correct. I did. and it failed. And I think that’s good news.
Margaret Brennan: You’ve been pushing long-range missile systems like ATACMS. Do you have enough money for your current allocation, or what can you raise in the fall to continue the pace of weapon development?
Congressman McCall: Right. It has already been appropriated in the last year’s supplement. You know, $90 billion. In other words, withdrawal authority. We have ATACMS. I have good sources on the ground and they are now saying that because of mines and fortifications, what they need is cluster munitions, which will help kill Russians in the open. However, they need long-range artillery to hit their warehouses, energy, and logistics supply lines, which they don’t have, and they don’t have air support. This is really important. Because the F-16 has been held up by the government and pilot training for too long, it’s really sad that it doesn’t have what it takes to win this fight back.
Margaret Brennan: Just a quick question about Iran. You’ve been vocal about asking the government to explain the reason for your suspension with Special Envoy Rob Murray. Do you have any promise that you will receive it? Is it possible to obtain information?
Congressman McCall: Well, I sent the letter. we were reprimanded. No word on his situation. Remember, he is, you know, the leading negotiator with Iran on one of its most important nuclear weapons programs.
Margaret Brennan: Right.
Congressman McCorm: Top secret. So we have a deadline of July 25th for the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Security and Administration to come and explain to us in a classified space. Margaret, I don’t know how important this is. Because he somehow — you know, worst case scenario, if he transfers intelligence and secrets to foreign enemies.
Margaret Brennan: But there is no evidence of that at this time.
Congressman McCorm: I have no proof of that, but if it were, it would be treason in my opinion.
Margaret Brennan: Unfortunately, it has to stay that way. Because we have a tough situation here. But as always, I have more to say. we will be back soon.
Congressman McCall: Thank you Margaret.
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Below is a transcript of an interview with House Foreign Relations Committee Chairman Rep. Michael McCall that aired on “Face the Nation” on July 16, 2023.Margaret Brennan: We’re joined by Texas Republican Rep. Mike McCall, Chairman of the House Foreign Relations Committee. Welcome back. House Foreign Relations Chairman Michael McCall: Thank you for the welcome.
Margaret Brennan: There’s a lot to talk about, but I’d like to start with the Defense Authorization Act. The bill got a lot of attention this week because it passed the Republican-controlled House and involved social policy issues. in addition. So this is the bill, pay military personnel and do what is necessary for national security. If this goes to the Senate, they’re going to cut them all off, you see. It will come back to you in the House. Are you confident that Republicans can pass this much-needed bill without helping Democrats cross the finish line? Rep. McCall: You know, we saw the conference when the Democrats had a majority, they passed a very partisan NDAA bill and they went to the Senate, you know, I’m at a conference — we’ve done conference committees, and traditionally the more partisan minutes are dropped. Ultimately, this will always be a bipartisan bill. But he also had some policies, like the post-1980 Hyde Amendment, that didn’t fund taxpayer-funded abortions, and members thought it was very important to include them. I think that’s what survives.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, you’re talking about a clause that restricts funding for military personnel to travel. Congressman McCall: Yes, I will pay for the expenses. Margaret Brennan: But Pentagon policy never funds abortion.Senator McCorm: Well, I wish I hadn’t–
Margaret Brennan: Or fertility services. Rep. McCall: Actually, they kind of started this discussion and you see, this is a process. We had many amendments and members needed their votes. I think that eventually we will come together as a conference and have a bipartisan bill. I believe nothing is more important than national defense and the military. We’re giving you the biggest pay raise in the last 20 years. We will significantly upgrade our triad systems, nuclear capabilities, and hypersonic speeds to counter China, especially Taiwan. So in the end it is vital that we do not politicize this bill and I am very confident that a bipartisan bill will be introduced. Margaret Brennan: Okay. Because you voted to abolish the Department of Defense’s Office of Diversity, deny hormone therapy to transgender troops, and limit funding for reproductive services such as fertility treatment and abortions for travel. None of what you think will be reflected in the final bill– [CROSSTALK]Rep. McCall: It goes against — Margaret Brennan: None of those things can win the Democratic vote — Congressman McCorm: I disagree. Since 1980, we have not funded taxpayers, the money that goes into abortion. I think some of the cultural policies put forth by the Department of Defense have caused problems within our military. Hiring is currently at an all-time low. After Afghanistan, say you have to see Shields implementing their own social and moral policies to see these videos they trained. Let’s talk about war preparedness and our capabilities.
MARGARET BRENNAN: Well, that’s why the Secretary of Defense said, oh my God, one in five soldiers is now a woman, and he introduced this policy to enable that because they It’s about traveling to get things you don’t need covering the state they live in. So shouldn’t all troops get the same treatment regardless of where they are stationed? Why punish them for living in Texas instead of California, for example? [CROSSTALK]Congressman McCall: Well, they’re free — they’re free to travel to another state to have an abortion –Margaret Brennan: They will be punished and will have to go on vacation. Rep. McCall: It’s just not at the taxpayer’s expense. Margaret Brennan: They have to take vacations and so on, and that will probably affect their ability to do their jobs. if they have to take a vacation. Anyway, he’d like to ask about one of the things that’s included in it, which isn’t there, but many Conservatives in the caucuses wanted it. It is a limitation of funding to Ukraine. What does this imply about Republicans crossing the finish line in the fall when it comes to actual recruits to aid Ukraine? Congressman McCall: Well, you know my position on Ukraine. A year ago, we should have put the weapons we now put into action not just to survive, but to win. There have been several Ukrainian amendments, but they all failed, and it can be said that the majority of Republicans voted for Ukraine. After all, the Reagan Institute did a great, great poll to show that over 70% of Republicans support Ukraine, and I think that was reflected in our vote. Yes, about 70 MPs voted against it, but I think the revival of the bill would bring more bipartisan support, especially for its efforts in Ukraine, which is in the midst of a counterattack. increase. To me, it is very dangerous to put forward these amendments at a time when Ukraine is under barrage trying to counter Russian aggression.
MARGARET BRENNAN: You’re talking about an amendment like the one Marjorie Taylor Greene was trying to put forward, but the Republicans were against it… [CROSSTALK]Congressman McCall: Yes. correct. I did. and it failed. And I think that’s good news. Margaret Brennan: You’ve been pushing long-range missile systems like ATACMS. Do you have enough money for your current allocation, or what can you raise in the fall to continue the pace of weapon development? Congressman McCall: Right. It has already been appropriated in the last year’s supplement. You know, $90 billion. In other words, withdrawal authority. We have ATACMS. I have good sources on the ground and they are now saying that because of mines and fortifications, what they need is cluster munitions, which will help kill Russians in the open. However, they need long-range artillery to hit their warehouses, energy, and logistics supply lines, which they don’t have, and they don’t have air support. This is really important. Because the F-16 has been held up by the government and pilot training for too long, it’s really sad that it doesn’t have what it takes to win this fight back. Margaret Brennan: Just a quick question about Iran. You’ve been vocal about asking the government to explain the reason for your suspension with Special Envoy Rob Murray. Do you have any promise that you will receive it? Is it possible to obtain information? Congressman McCall: Well, I sent the letter. we were reprimanded. No word on his situation. Remember, he is, you know, the leading negotiator with Iran on one of its most important nuclear weapons programs.
Margaret Brennan: Right. Congressman McCorm: Top secret. So we have a deadline of July 25th for the Secretary of Foreign Affairs, Security and Administration to come and explain to us in a classified space. Margaret, I don’t know how important this is. Because he somehow — you know, worst case scenario, if he transfers intelligence and secrets to foreign enemies. Margaret Brennan: But there is no evidence of that at this time. Congressman McCorm: I have no proof of that, but if it were, it would be treason in my opinion. Margaret Brennan: Unfortunately, it has to stay that way. Because we have a tough situation here. But as always, I have more to say. we will be back soon. Congressman McCall: Thank you Margaret.
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https://www.cbsnews.com/news/michael-mccaul-face-the-nation-transcript-07-16-2023/ Transcript: Rep. Michael McCall on “Face the Nation” July 16, 2023