Defense and National Security

Having served in the U.S. Army Reserve and earned a Masters in Strategic Studies from the U.S. Army War College, our nation’s security is an area of particular interest to me. With continued unrest in the Middle East, escalating tensions involving Russia in Eastern Europe and Chinese aggression in the Pacific, a robust national security strategy is needed now more than ever. The times and global situation require that the United States be more engaged, demonstrate leadership, and leverage our full capabilities - military, intelligence, economic, diplomatic - as new threats emerge to ensure we maintain our edge as a global super power.

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PRESS RELEASE - Heck Statement on House Defense Bill Passage

WASHINGTON - Congressman Joe Heck (NV-03) today released the following statement upon House passage of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017.

"The global security environment continues to be volatile, uncertain, and complex. The world is not getting any safer and this bill will allow us to hold our adversaries at bay and keep America safe," Rep. Joe Heck said. "The most valuable asset in our Armed Forces are the troops who volunteer to serve and this bill supports those brave men and women. Most critically, this bill boosts base defense spending while ensuring we have adequate contingency operations funds and, after three years of lower than by-law pay raises, provides our troops and their families the full pay raise they deserve. This NDAA also stops the reductions in the active end-strengths of the Armed Forces thereby increasing readiness while reducing the stress and strain on the force and their families." Read more here.

 

VIDEO - Rep. Joe Heck: I urge my colleagues to support our troops

 

PHOTO - Rep. Joe Heck visits Nellis Airforce Base to speak with the 547th Intelligence Squadron

 

PRESS RELEASE - Statement of Congressman Joe Heck on killing of Haji Imam

WASHINGTON - Congressman Joe Heck (NV-03) today released the following statement on the killing of Haji Imam, the Islamic State's #2 in command, during a U.S. strike in Syria. 

"This successful strike against one of the Islamic State's top leaders shows just how effective our intelligence community, special operators, and military personnel can be when given the opportunity to engage critical targets. With the Islamic State in a state of disarray at the loss of their #2 in command, we should increase pressure on other targets around the region. While we still have much to do in the fight against the Islamic State and to stop the flow of foreign fighters into western Europe, today's news marks an important tactical achievement. I stand ready to work with my House colleagues and the White House to ensure we develop and implement a comprehensive strategy to win the fight against the Islamic State and radical Islamic terror."    

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Congressman Joe Heck represents Nevada's Third Congressional District in the House of Representatives. He serves on the House Armed Services Committee, the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, and the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

 

PHOTO - $2.96M Urban Area Security Initiative (UASI) Grant Given to Las Vegas Area for Terrorist Attack Prevention

 

VIDEO - Heck: Bill improves national security, maintains economic benefits of international travel

 

VIDEO - Rep. Heck: Support our troops and their families; pass the NDAA

 

PRESS RELEASE -- Heck to President: Halt Admission of Refugees from Syria, Iraq​

WASHINGTON - In the wake of the Paris terrorist attacks and amid concerns that terrorists may be traveling under the guise of refugees, Congressman Joe Heck (NV-03) today joined a group of colleagues in calling on President Obama to "immediately halt admissions of refugees from Syria and Iraq."

"Our first responsibility must be to protecting Americans," Rep. Heck said. "The Islamic State has declared war on the west and settling thousands of new refugees who cannot be properly vetted only increases the chances of a Paris-style attack in the United States. The President may be satisfied with his strategy against ISIL, but it clearly is not working. It's time for a strategy shift in the war against the Islamic State. I will be working with my colleagues on the Armed Services Committee and Select Committee on Intelligence to ensure we bring to bear the full capabilities of the armed forces and our intelligence community in the fight against ISIL." Read more here.

 

PRESS RELEASE -- Heck Backs Defense Authorization Conference Report

Congressman Joe Heck (NV-03) today backed House passage of the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1735 – National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for FY2016. The NDAA is the primary mechanism through which Congress "provides for the common defense" and authorizes the budget authority of the Department of Defense and the national security programs of the Department of Energy. Read more here. 

 

PHOTO -- Rep. Joe Heck Speaks at Center for Strategic and International Studies

 

PRESS RELEASE -- Heck Backs Passage of Defense Authorization

Congressman Joe Heck (NV-03) today backed House passage of H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for Fiscal Year 2016. Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, Rep. Heck applauded the personnel-related provisions in the bill including preventing retaliation against members of the Armed Forces who report sexual assault, the establishment of a unified medical command, and improving the current military pay and retirement system so we can recruit and retain the very best talent available.

"This bill is a critically important part of Congress providing for the common defense and I was proud to support its passage on the floor," Rep Heck said. "The provisions in this bill, especially the personnel provisions, are the result of an open, bipartisan subcommittee and full comittee process. They ensure our war fighters, retirees, and their families receive the care and support they need, deserve, and have earned. It was disappointing, therefore, that despite the long history of broad bipartisan cooperation on drafting and supporting the NDAA, that this year House Democratic Leadership encouraged their members to join together in opposition to the bill to protest policies outside the scope of the NDAA. I applaud the 41 members of the Democrat Caucus that did not fall for this political ploy and who voted in support of this vital legislation." Read more here.

 

VIDEO -- Heck Urges Colleagues to Support the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA)

 

 

 

PRESS RELEASE -- Heck Issues Statement on Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Speech

Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered a very important message to Congress: the current negotiations pursued by the Obama Administration would not prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran has repeatedly missed deadlines for dismantling its nuclear program and yet the Administration continues to release money previously withheld through Congressionally-imposed sanctions. All the while, Iran continues to exert greater influence in places like Yemen, Syria, and Iraq, and in other nations through its sponsorship of terrorist groups like Hezbollah. Read more here.

 

VIDEO -- Rep. Joe Heck Questions Administration's National Security Strategy

 

IN THE NEWS -- Iraq war vet to take over HASC personnel panel via Military Times

A leadership round of musical chairs has put an Iraq War veteran in charge of the House Armed Services Committee's personnel panel for the first time, and South Carolina Rep. Joe Wilson in charge of the intelligence subcommittee. The moves announced Thursday put in place key figures for the fiscal 2016 defense budget debates as Congress finishes the fiscal 2015 budget this week. Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., a brigadier general in the Army Reserve who deployed to Iraq in 2008, will head the military personnel subcommittee next year. Read more here.

 

VIDEO -- Arming the Free Syrian Army: A plan destined to fail