Defense And Veterans

Member of:

• Committee on Veterans' Affairs

     Subcommittee on Health
     Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity

• Army Caucus
• Congressional Joint Strike Fighter Caucus

Provide for the common defense

Our founders understood a strong national defense was one of the most fundamental roles of Congress as mandated by Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States. It is important for the United States to maintain a robust military that has the capacity and tools necessary to keep our nation secure from hostile nation states, terrorists, and rogue nations.

Our armed forces continue to be deeply engaged in a number of ongoing military operations around the world and I am committed to providing the necessary funding required to restore the readiness of our military, enhance the quality of life of military service members and their families, sustain and improve the armed forces, and properly safeguard the national security of the United States.

Additionally, I believe we should be very cautious about cutting the budget of our Armed Forces. Eliminating waste and fraud should be an ongoing effort, but I am not in favor of reducing America’s ability to defend ourselves or our allies.

May we never lose sight of their needs in the field and at home

I served in the United States Army, Judge Advocate General Corps, from 1983 to 1987. And I am a member of the House Veterans Affairs Committee, which oversees, monitors and evaluates the Department of Veterans Affairs to ensure that veterans get the benefits that they've earned. I have the utmost respect and admiration for all of our service men and women who have defended our nation's freedom.

It is important that we fulfill our commitments to our service men and women and their families, all of whom sacrifice dearly on our behalf. As we come to terms with the reality of the fiscal crisis, may we never lose sight of their needs, both in the field and at home. America’s military veterans deserve to receive the benefits they were promised, and I will continue to fight to reform our current system to offer veterans more choices and greater independence.

National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)