National Security

According to the Constitution, the primary role of the federal government is to protect against threats, both foreign and domestic.

Yet the nature of these threats is evolving and escalating to a very critical mass.  America’s greatest threat is no longer conventional armies, such as those defeated by the Greatest Generation, but unconventional warfare deployed by rogue governments and highly-organized terrorist extremists.

As Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare, I am actively involved in monitoring current threats against our nation, advising Congressional leadership on action to guard against these threats, and informing ordinary Americans about steps they can take to protect their families and businesses.

We must continue to be diligent in protecting our nation from terrorist attacks, but there are other areas where we must focus on significant improvement.

• Even as ISIS seeks to consolidate territory in Iraq and Syria, they have stated a goal of planting an ISIS flag on the White House.  President Obama’s foreign policy of appeasement, withdrawal, and apology has created a vacuum leading to crises in Iraq, Syria, Ukraine, and elsewhere, empowering our adversaries.  As Chairman of the Congressional Task Force on Terrorism and Unconventional Warfare, I meet regularly with world leaders in an effort to rebuild America’s relationship with allies, many of whom have become confused about what America stands for in our foreign policies.  We might not agree on all issues with our allies and friends, but we should work together to defeat the common enemy of radical, jihadist terrorism.
• Most Americans remain unaware our financial industry, defense agencies, and critical infrastructure systems endure hundreds of thousands of cyber-attacks each day.  Currently, I am working with experts to develop a handbook to assist small businesses in defending against cyber-attacks.
• Fewer individuals understand the catastrophic effect of an electromagnetic-pulse  attack, causing widespread power outages and crippling the distribution of food, water, fuel, communications, emergency services, and all other infrastructure supporting our nation.  In response, I have co-sponsored the Secure High-Voltage Infrastructure for Electricity from Lethal Damage Act (H.R. 2417), which provides authorization for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to order emergency measures in response to an imminent electric grid security threat.

We must also maintain a robust defense against military actions, and I have repeatedly voted in favor of full funding and pay for our Armed Forces, even when the vote was considered “politically risky.”  The brave men and women who put their lives on the line for our freedom deserve modern equipment, adequate pay, and the certainty that America will care for our veterans.

America is a beacon of freedom and liberty to the world.  We must maintain constant vigilance and always be prepared to adapt to new threats.