Iraq
As a member of the House Armed Services Committee and now the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have fought to ensure that our brave service members from Colorado and across the country have the resources they need to do their jobs. In Iraq, our troops have performed extraordinarily well under difficult conditions, and I am very proud of their efforts. But like most Americans, I am frustrated by the last Administration's failed policies, and I believe that now it's time to bring our service members home.
In 2003, I expressed my opposition to the Iraq War Resolution on the floor of the House of Representatives. I also offered my own resolution to slow the rush to war and reaffirm Congressional authority to determine when our country enters armed conflict. I said at the time that invading Iraq could result in social chaos, disrupt the region, spread our resources too thin, and dangerously distract us from the war against al Qaeda in Afghanistan. Unfortunately, most of the concerns I expressed before the war proved to be true.
Since 2003, I have visited Iraq twice, and I continue to believe that the best course of action there is a carefully phased withdrawal of American combat forces, as laid out in the Status of Forces Agreement reached between the U.S. and Iraqi governments in 2008 and as articulated by President Obama.
In order to make that redeployment as smooth as possible, I believe we must work with Iraqi forces to ensure that elements of al Qaeda are eliminated and humanitarian needs are secured. Other efforts should include intensified diplomacy to help Iraqis work toward political settlements between competing factions, as well as regional diplomacy. As a member of the House and Senate, I have authored legislation and worked closely with members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to reach those goals.
As debate on the Iraq War continues, I will continue to engage in open and honest discussion with members of both parties, as well as with the Administration and our top military leaders. These important issues are too important to be politicized. I want all Coloradans to know that I will support policies that make our nation safer and that protect our service members.
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Tricare 26
Expanding Health Coverage for Our Military Families: As part of health insurance reform, which was signed into law March 2010, young adults will soon be eligible to remain on their parents' health insurance policies up to age 26. Recently, I introduced the TRICARE Dependent Coverage Extension Act (S. 3201), to make certain that families of our armed service members are not left behind when this provision is implemented. Extending insurance to cover young Americans until age 26 is critical, especially as they make the transition into the tough job market. This important bill would ensure that this same benefit is available to young adults in families who get their coverage through the TRICARE program - the Department of Defense health insurance program for military service members, retirees, and their families.
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Senate Armed Services Committee
From my position on the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have helped secure authorization and robust funding for Colorado's military installations and kept funding on track to accelerate destruction of chemical weapons at the Pueblo Chemical Depot. In 2009, I led the fight for funding to help with the problem of encroachment at military installations, which can jeopardize an installation's mission and the economic well-being of surrounding communities. And I successfully pushed for increased oversight and coordination of efforts across the military services to improve our energy security.
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Halifax International Security Forum
In November 2009, Senator John McCain and I led a Congressional delegation to the Halifax International Security Forum. The focus of this inaugural forum was to increase global discussion and cooperation on such issues as Afghanistan, nuclear proliferation, international law, and emerging terrorism threats. I look forward to continuing to work to increase cooperation and bipartisanship on difficult issues through events like the Halifax Forum.
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Visiting Troops on the Ground
Since 2003, I have traveled twice to Iraq to gain firsthand knowledge of military operations and our ongoing political commitment to the region. This experience, along with gaining input from Coloradans, helps me build a foundation from which to make tough but smart national security decisions as a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee.
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Oversight Responsibility
In Senate Armed Services Committee hearings and meetings, I have questioned Defense Department leaders - including Secretary Gates and Admiral Mullen, General Petraeus, and General Odierno - about our redeployment plans and diplomatic strategy in Iraq. This important oversight and review ensures we are setting the right goals and that our fighting men and women have the guidance to succeed. Through future Armed Services Committee hearings, scrutiny of budget requests and policy proposals, and visits to Iraq, I will continue to focus on how we achieve our goals in that country. We must strategically pave the way for Iraqis to take control of their security and governance to free U.S. resources and personnel to focus on other national security efforts.
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Mental Health Care
Making sure that our veterans and soldiers get access to quality medical care, including behavioral health services, is critical. In October 2009, I pressed Veterans Affairs Secretary Eric Shinseki to allow greater veterans' access to Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) treatment programs by broadening the standards of what constitutes legitimate PTSD claims. PTSD is an increasingly common ailment on today's battlefields, and we must do all we can to ensure America's veterans get the care they have earned.