In response to the terrorist attacks of September 11th, our country was forced to reevaluate its strategy for protecting our homeland.  Now, more than a decade later, we must continue to ensure that our nation’s military and homeland security officials have the flexibility and resources they need to respond to threats at home and abroad quickly and effectively. Our recent withdrawal of troops from Iraq should allow us to focus our attentions on emerging threats in Asia and the Middle East. In Afghanistan, I believe we should transition our mission from one of nation-building to one of counterterrorism and security maintenance.

• Protecting America: While I firmly believe that America should be focused on nation-building here at home, not abroad, I feel strongly that we must maintain a counterterrorism infrastructure that ensures a tragedy like September 11th will never happen again. Homegrown terrorists pose a threat on U.S. soil, and terrorist groups in countries with weak, unstable governments are fighting to establish strongholds across the globe. I will continue to support policies that foster a smart, agile military, capable of responding to 21st century threats.


• Honoring our military families and veterans: Over the past decade, more than 2.3 million troops have served in Iraq and Afghanistan. These veterans and their families are facing a host of issues as a result of their deployment that we in Congress must address. The new veteran unemployment rate is around 13 percent, and nearly a third of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans are suffering from a traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, or depression. Congress has a responsibility to ensure that when our troops return home, they have the medical resources they need and that they are able to find stable employment. I will continue fighting to ensure that our veterans and their families get the care and benefits they need and deserve by supporting programs designed to ease the transition for members of the military, veterans, and their families.


• Supporting the Delaware National Guard: As our security needs have evolved over the past several years, the National Guard has played a crucial role in providing the manpower and expertise to wage two major combat operations at once. As our troop commitments overseas decrease, Delaware Guard members will be poised to apply the additional experience they have gained to protecting Delaware’s homeland.  I am committed to supporting policies that promote the integration of the National Guard into our country’s long-term national security strategy, including the recent addition of the Chief of the National Guard to the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

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Name of bill: Iran Threat Reduction Act
Sponsor: Rep. Ileana Ros-Lethinen (R-FL)
H.R. number: 1905
Date introduced: 05/24/2011
Description: Establishes stronger sanctions against Iran as to reduce the potential threat they pose to the United States.
Full bill text