Congressman Ted Yoho

Representing the 3rd District of Florida
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Defense and National Security

National defense is a key function of the Federal government. While we must always strive to protect our citizens, we must be careful that our protection does not infringe on our civil liberties. The PATRIOT Act and similar legislation, while well-intentioned, need strong reforms to ensure that privacy and liberty are protected. Recent events have proven the need for strong reforms at the NSA and other agencies. As such, I am a proud cosponsor of of the LIBERT-E Act and the NSA Inspector General Act. The LIBERT-E Act eliminates the authority the NSA uses to broadly collect citizen's data and the NSA Inspector General Act brings accountability to the agency. I am a proponent of a stong national defense, but our nation is only as strong as our bedrock--the Constitution. I believe our Founders knew that national security and liberty can go hand-in-hand. We must always work towards a Federal government that achieves that balance.

More on Defense and National Security

Jan 10, 2017 Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Ted S. Yoho’s (R-FL-03) re-introduced the State Sponsors of Terrorism Review Enhancement Act for the 115th Congress. This anti-terrorism bill passed the House last year. The bill will quadruple the time - from 6 to 24 months - a designated country must refrain from sponsoring terrorism, before a President, regardless of party, can remove it from the sponsor list. The bill also increases congressional oversight by doubling the time Congress has to review the President’s proposed removal--from 45 to 90 days.

Dec 2, 2016 Press Release

 

Washington D.C. - Congressman Ted S. Yoho (R-FL -03) voted in favor of authorizing funds to strengthen America’s national defense and increase pay for our active duty troops. This important bipartisan authorization contains two provisions inserted by Congressman Yoho. The first prohibits the transfer of detainees from Guantanamo Bay (GITMO) or the closure or transfer of that base. The second requires congressional approval of any and all MANPADS to Syria. Congressman Yoho released the following statement:

Sep 12, 2016 Press Release

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Ted S. Yoho’s (R-FL-03) bill, the State Sponsors of Terrorism Review Enhancement Act (H.R. 5484), passed the House. This anti-terrorism bill will quadruple the time - from 6 to 24 months - a designated country must refrain from sponsoring terrorism, before a President, regardless of party, can remove it from the sponsor list. The bill also increases congressional oversight by doubling the time Congress has to review the President’s proposed removal--from 45 to 90 days.

Aug 25, 2016 In The News

Last week the Obama administration approved the largest release of detainees from the terrorist prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. These fifteen hardened terrorists will be transferred and placed under the custody of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). This prisoner release greatly concerns me.  As a member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, I believe this transfer is reckless and shortsighted.

Aug 24, 2016 In The News

Florida Republican Ted Yoho is leading the charge on Capitol Hill to delay--and possibly halt--the sale of weapons to Saudi Arabia. 

Yoho noted on Wednesday that he was against the State Department’s planned $1.15 billion arms sale to Saudi Arabia. 

The North Florida Republican pointed to Saudi activities in Yemen as to why he was against the arms sale. The Saudis are currently battling Houthi insurgents in Yemen.

Jun 16, 2016 Press Release

Washington, D.C.  – In support of our nation’s military and national defense, Congressman Ted S. Yoho (FL-03) voted in favor of H.R. 5293 - Fiscal Year 2017 Defense Appropriations. Within the defense appropriations bill, Congressman Yoho inserted language that will prevent the United States from providing or transferring any Man-Portable Air-Defense Systems (MANPADS) to rebels fighting in Syria

Congressman Yoho released the following statement:

Jun 14, 2016 In The News

A Florida congressman is ripping into President Obama in the wake of the deadly terrorist attack in Orlando over the weekend, saying Mr. Obama has failed to call out radical Islamic terrorism for what it is.

“We’re hearing the wrong signal out of this administration. President Obama owns this,” GOP Rep. Ted Yoho said this week on “Tim Constantine’s Capitol Hill Show.”

The White House has refrained from using the phrase “radical Islamic terrorism,” but Mr. Yoho said you can’t defeat something if you can’t identify it or recognize it.

May 18, 2016 Press Release

Washington D.C. - Congressman Ted S. Yoho (R-FL -03) voted in favor of strengthening our armed forces, raising the pay for our troops, and keeping shoulder fired missiles out of the hands of jihadists in Syria. H.R. 4909 funds America’s national defense for fiscal year 2017. Congressman Yoho released the following statement:

May 4, 2016 In The News

On May 4, 27 Members of Congress, led by Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) and Rep. Ted Yoho (R-FL), sent a bipartisan letter to President Obama urging him to maintain his opposition to the transfer shoulder-fired surface-to-air missiles (“MANPADS”) to Syrian combatants. The letter followed a report in the Wall Street Journal that the Central Intelligence Agency was considering supplying Syrian insurgents with MANPADS.

The Conyers-Yoho letter was endorsed by VoteVets, the Friends Committee on National Legislation, and Just Foreign Policy.

Rep. Conyers said:

Apr 21, 2016 Press Release

Washington D.C. –Congressman Ted S. Yoho (R-FL-03), member of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, joined Rep. Ted Lieu (D-CA) and Senators Rand Paul (R-KY) and Chris Murphy (D-Conn), in introducing a bill H.J. Res 90 - to prevent the United States from continuing to support Saudi-led military campaigns in places like Yemen where Saudi Arabia’s year-long campaign has led to a devastating humanitarian crisis and a security vacuum that has empowered our terrorist enemies al Qaeda and ISIS. The bill will not allow the sale of high-tech U.S.