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Defense and Veterans
America has the best fighting force the world has ever known. However, our current engagements overseas place tremendous strain on our soldiers and their families. Frequent and lengthy deployments are the norm for these dedicated soldiers and the families that must bear with their absence. Unfortunately, future threats and obligations will continue to place great demands on our armed forces. To ensure that our military is able to meet these demands, I support growing the military by a number in the 100,000 to 150,000 range. I believe we can achieve this by adding incentives to soldiers' compensation packages. The fact that our current enlistment targets are being met, and in many cases exceeded, and that reenlistment numbers are at near record levels, indicates that this is an achievable task. However, the men and women currently serving in uniform and fighting overseas deserve our full support as they put their lives on the line in the War on Terror. They must not be sent into harm's way without the armor and equipment they need to successfully complete their mission.
Though we have made significant gains in Iraq since President George W. Bush initiated the surge in 2007, and though I believe we have achieved a definable victory there, our gains are still precarious and reversible. We must stay until the job is done, and we can only do so if we provide the funding our troops need. As for Afghanistan, the situation there has been deteriorating for some time, but now is not the time to give up. We know that al Qaeda used Afghanistan as a safe haven from which to plan the devastating attacks of September 11th. We cannot abandon Afghanistan now and let it once again become a safe haven for terrorists.
As a member of the Congressional National Guard and Reserve Components Caucus, I have worked, and will continue to work, to ensure that Iowa's Guard members and Reservists are represented here in Washington. These members of our military have unique skills, and, when combined with the active components of our armed forces, create a synergy that contributes to America's military superiority.
Despite recent increases in the size, funding, and function of the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), many veterans still struggle to access the care and benefits to which they are entitled. I have supported numerous pieces of legislation to ensure that veterans are given the care and benefits they have earned and have been promised, and I will continue to work to improve the disability compensation claims process within the VA and ensure that eligible beneficiaries get their claims processed in a way that is timely, accurate, and humane. Sitting idly by as problems persist at the VA and veterans are not able to access their benefits is the same as denying veterans access to care and benefits – something that is always unacceptable, but particularly so while young men and women are serving in harm's way and putting their lives on the line to defend our freedoms and our way of life.
More on Defense and Veterans
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Steve King released the following statement after introducing his substitute amendment to the Continuing Resolution (CR) that would set the discretionary budget at the $1.04 trillion level and would include the defunding of fourteen major provisions:
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Steve King released the following statement after he, Representative Randy Weber and Representative Louie Gohmert sent a letter to Secretary of Homeland Security, The Honorable Jeh Johnson, calling on him to publically renounce the Muslim Brotherhood and any further dealings with organizations like the Islamic Society of North America.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Steve King released the following House Floor statement on his amendment to H.R. 5293, Department of Defense Appropriations Act, that blocks unaccompanied alien minors on military bases by ensuring no funds are used by the DOD to carry out or in response to the “Memorandum for Secretaries of the Military Departments Director, Joint Staff.” King’s amendment passed, and he ultimately supported the Department of Defense Appropriations Act:
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Steve King released the following statement to honor the anniversary of the tide turning battle of D-Day:
Washington, D.C. – On Thursday, May 12, 2016 at 10:00 a.m., the Task Force on Executive Overreach will hold a hearing titled, “Executive Overreach in Foreign Affairs.” At the hearing, members of the task force will examine several instances in which President Obama has stretched the constitutional limits placed on his authority or simply ignored the law in foreign affairs.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Steve King released the following statement concerning the Brussels terrorist attack this morning:
“Our hearts and prayers are with Brussels as I express my deepest condolences to the families of those ruthlessly murdered and to the Belgian people,” said King. “There is no excuse for the horror our world experienced this morning, and there has never been a more important time for us to stand together in fighting terrorism.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Steve King released the following statement after voting yes on H.R. 3662, the Iran Terror Finance Transparency Act:
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Steve King released the following statement after voting no on the omnibus spending bill:
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Steve King released the following statement after submitting his amendment, defunding the Refugee Resettlement Process, to the omnibus spending bill:
“It is the obligation of Congress to restore its Article I Constitutional authority and the balance of power,” said King. “This omnibus is the best opportunity to support and defend our Constitutional authority.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Steve King released the following statement after submitting his amendment, defunding the Iran Nuclear Deal, to the omnibus spending bill:
“It is the obligation of Congress to restore its Article I Constitutional authority and the balance of power,” said King. “This omnibus is the best opportunity to support and defend our Constitutional authority.
