President Donald Trump on Monday gave a shoutout to Rep. Elise Stefanik (R., N.Y.) for persistently inviting him to her district to deliver remarks at Fort Drum and sign the John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act, or NDAA.
Trump praised Stefanik for pushing him to be in attendance at the ceremony, despite initial schedule conflicts. The event was help to recognize the signing of a bill named in honor of Sen. John McCain (R., Ariz.).
"I'd like to recognize Congresswoman Stefanik, whose district proudly includes Fort Drum, and I have to tell you about Elise. She called me so many times. I said, 'I don't wan't to take her call.' She wanted me to be here. I said, 'I won't be able to. We'll have to change a lot of scheduling,' but that didn't suit her. She didn't stop and here I am," Trump said before inviting her to speak briefly onstage.
Stefanik said it was a honor to have Trump in attendance at the ceremony to sign the historic NDAA.
"It is truly an honor to welcome you to Fort Drum, home of the historic 10th Mountain Division, the most deployed unit in the U.S. Army since 9/11," Stefanik said. "Thank you for being here to sign the historic National Defense Authorization Act, which includes the largest pay increase, support for our military families, and investing in our military readiness."
"Climb to glory, 10th Mountain Division," she said, referencing the division's motto.
The massive military spending package that Trump signed includes $716 billion for national defense in the next fiscal year. It also "helps develop a more lethal and resilient force, and grows the size of our forces by authorizing an increase of 15,600 troops across the Army, Navy, Air Force, and Marine Corps," according to the White House.