As the son of an Air Force officer, the father of a Marine combat veteran, and a Marine combat veteran myself, I understand the sacrifices that our service members and their families make every day.  I have worked on these issues throughout my life, and they continue to be one of my top priorities as a member of the Senate Committee on Armed Services and the Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs. 
 

Since taking office, I have consistently supported legislation and policies that provide for a strong national defense, enhance the well-being of our men and women in uniform and their families, contribute to the modernization and recapitalization of all branches of the U.S. armed forces, and strengthen congressional oversight.
 

With nearly 124,000 active duty, National Guard, and reserve personnel assigned to more than 30 major military installations in the Commonwealth, my focus on national security also encompasses necessary improvements to military facilities, continued support for critical modernization and military construction projects, and proper equipping of the Virginia National Guard.
 

I am proud to have half-a-dozen veterans on my 40-person Senate staff—ranging from combat veterans of the Vietnam War to those who have served recently in Iraq and Afghanistan. They bring an exceptional degree of military experience to their duties—a valuable factor across the range of their responsibilities in my office.