Foreign Policy

US-Israel Relations

Since its foundation in 1948, the nation of Israel has been a friend and ally of the United States, and remains the only democracy in the Middle East. It is vital to U.S. foreign policy in the region that we remain Israel’s most staunch ally and supporter. I support a number of pieces of legislation in the 113th Congress, including bills that would include Israel in the Visa Waiver Program, and H.R. 938, which would proclaim that Israel is a major strategic ally of the United States of America. I am also a strong supporter of H.R. 1130, which would allow the President to aid Israel in the maintenance and development of their Iron Dome missile defense system, which is  vital in their fight against terrorism.

ISIS

As you know, it has been almost three years since President Obama ordered the withdrawal of the last of our troops from the state of Iraq and left the Iraqi government in complete control of its own territory. The withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq and the drawdown in Afghanistan, which is set to be complete by December 2014, are impacting United States foreign policy, particularly Middle East terrorism and its possible impact on domestic terrorism in the United States.

We have seen the recent result of President Obama’s decision to withdraw troops from Iraq, which is the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), whose primary goal is to create an Islamic fundamentalist state that will kill anyone that does not convert to Islam. It is now very clear that ISIS is more than a typical terrorist organization, ISIS is well funded, and now controls thousands of miles of Iraqi territory with the hopes of creating a new Islamic State.

While Congress authorized funding for airstrikes against ISIS, I voted no, because much of that money is going to train rebels of the Syrian military. I do not know who these rebels are, and I have serious concerns that these same people we are training now will turn around in a few years and attack the U.S. or our allies. Without better intelligence as to the identities of these "rebels," I cannot support training these people.

Benghazi

On September, 11, 2012, the American Embassy in Benghazi, Libya was attacked by terrorists. In the aftermath of the attack, four American citizens had lost their lives, including Ambassador J. Christopher Stevens. Following the attack, the Obama administration claimed it was a random act of terror prompted by an inflammatory video. However, subsequent investigations have found that the attack was carried out by Islamic extremists and was premeditated. The Obama administration knew that the situation in Libya was escalating to dangerous levels, and did nothing to increase the security of those Americans who were there in the service of their country. I don’t believe that the administration did nearly enough to protect those Americans abroad, which is why I cosponsored H.RES.36, which established a committee to investigate and report on the Benghazi attack. The truth about this attack that left four Americans dead and three others injured needs to come out, and the executive branch needs to be held responsible for this failure of foreign policy. 

I support the following legislation: 

• Cosponsoring H.R., 937: United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2013
• Cosponsoring H.R. 938: United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act of 2013
• Cosponsor H.Res. 36: Establishing a select committee to investigate and report on the attack on the United States consulate in Benghazi, Libya 
• Cosponsoring H.R. 1130: Iron Dome Support Act
• H.Amdt.167: Amendment prohibits the Secretary of Defense from using any funds authorized to the department for the transfer or release of Guantanamo detainees to Yemen