{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://www.slotkin.senate.gov/2025/12/09/slotkin-tillis-announce-joint-statement-of-support-for-taiwans-special-defense-budget/", "Slotkin, Tillis Announce Joint Statement of Support for Taiwan\u2019s Special Defense Budget", "2025-12-09", "2025", "2025-12", "Democrat", "Senate", "MI", "Elissa Slotkin", "S001208", "www.slotkin.senate.gov", "slotkin", "https://www.slotkin.senate.gov/newsroom/", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Senator Elissa Slotkin (D-MI) alongside her co-chair of the bipartisan Senate Taiwan Caucus, Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC), released the following joint statement to commend Taiwan\u2019s progress on a special defense budget which is now under consideration in the Legislative Yuan:\n\n\u201cAs Co-Chairs of the Senate Taiwan Caucus, we strongly support Taiwan\u2019s historic $40 billion special defense budget and the legislative steps underway to advance it. This package represents a vital investment in Taiwan\u2019s self-defense and a clear demonstration of Taipei\u2019s commitment to deterrence, resilience, and responsibility-sharing at a moment of growing threat from the PRC. It also offers opportunities to work with Taiwan to advance American defense technology.\n\n\u201cMembers of both parties in the U.S. Senate\u2014including leaders on the Armed Services, Foreign Relations, and Appropriations Committees\u2014have spoken with one voice in support of Taiwan\u2019s efforts to accelerate critical defense capabilities. The message is clear: strengthening Taiwan\u2019s defenses strengthens stability across the Indo-Pacific and reduces the risk of conflict.\n\n\u201cWe commend Taiwan\u2019s leaders for continuing to take difficult but necessary steps to modernize its military, harden critical infrastructure, and build the stockpiles and systems required to deter aggression. As the Legislative Yuan considers this special budget, the United States will continue to stand with Taiwan as a trusted partner, a vibrant democracy, and a key contributor to regional security.\n\n\u201cWe encourage all parties in Taiwan to move forward with this package in a timely, unified, and forward-looking manner. Taiwan\u2019s continued investment in its own security is central to ensuring stability in the Taiwan Strait.\u201d\n\n###", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T20:09:11Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://www.slotkin.senate.gov/2025/12/09/slotkin-tillis-announce-joint-statement-of-support-for-taiwans-special-defense-budget/"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.9921020828187466, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}