National Security

Strong National Defense

It is important for the United States to maintain a robust military that has the capacity and tools necessary to keep our nation secure from hostile nation states, terrorists, and rogue nations. Congress must be very cautious about cutting the budget of our Armed Forces. Eliminating wasteful spending should be an ongoing effort, but I am not in favor of reducing America’s ability to defend ourselves or our allies. I will continue to do everything possible to ensure that our servicemen and women are equipped with the tools they need to effectively carry out their missions and protect our homeland against enemies foreign and domestic.

ISIS

ISIS is a radical Islamist group that has been overthrowing cities in the Middle East and inciting widespread violence and anti-Western propaganda across the globe. In Iraq and Syria, ISIS continues to systematically target religious and ethnic minority groups and brutally murder thousands of innocent civilians.

Recently, the House of Representatives unanimously voted to call ISIS’s atrocities what they are: a genocide. This legislation specifically condemns the atrocities committed by ISIS and also holds Syrian President Bashar al-Assad accountable for his heinous war crimes committed against his own people.

After pressure from Congress to properly condemn these atrocities, the Administration finally declared on March 17, 2016 that the Islamic State is committing genocide against Yazidis, Christians and Shiite Muslims in Iraq and Syria.

Unequivocally condemning these horrific actions for what they actually are is a start – but it is not enough. Violence and terrorism have no place in free, democratic societies such as our own. Defeating ISIS will require a coordinated effort from the intelligence community and our international partners. I will continue to work for legislation that enhances our national security efforts and also do everything possible to put an end to this brutal reign of terror.  

Syrian Refugee Crisis

The resulting destabilization of power in the Middle East has left neighboring countries and refugee asylums particularly vulnerable to the proliferation of Islamic extremism. It has long been a security concern that the Syrian refugee crisis would be exploited by ISIS and other terrorist groups to enable jihadists to gain access to the West. Those concerns were heightened when reports indicated one or more of the Paris attackers gained access to the European Union by posing as a refugee in Greece.

In the wake of these devastating attacks, it is necessary that we take action to protect American citizens from horrific acts of terrorism.  I have concerns that the flow of refugees from unstable regions of the Middle East to the United States poses a serious national security risk to the American people. I also agree that we do not yet have the necessary intelligence from Syria to vet those seeking resettlement. The United States must remain vigilant, particularly given the threat that ISIS poses around the world. The Administration’s plan to allow large number of war refugees to resettle on our shores is irresponsible and leaves the American people more vulnerable than ever to terrorism threats.

For these reasons, I recently joined 109 of my colleagues in the House by signing onto a letter to President Obama, urging him to suspend plans to admit thousands of Syrian refugees into the country until the Administration can ensure those individuals do not pose a threat to Americans. Additionally, I also supported House passage of H.R. 4038, the American Security Against Foreign Enemies Act of 2015, which enacts safeguards to protect Americans. This bill requires our nation’s top security officials to work collaboratively to ensure any refugee applying for entrance into the United States from Syria or Iraq does not pose a threat to our security. I will also support other legislative actions that place a review on the program or guarantee that states have the right to refuse participation in the Refugee Resettlement program if their Governor chooses to opt out.

Iran Nuclear Deal

The Iran Deal, agreed to on July 15,2015, represents a failed deal by the Obama Administration’s own standards. This deal threatens the region, as well as our own national security, and that of our allies. The agreement does not contain “anytime, anywhere” inspections for undeclared sites. In fact, should the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) want to inspect undeclared sites, there is an extensive approval process that can take up to 24 days to complete. Due to obstruction by the Iranian government, the extent to which Iran has developed a nuclear weapon is not fully known.

Additionally, the current agreement will dismantle current economic sanctions against Iran, providing $90-120 billion in sanctions relief. With Iran being one of the world’s largest state sponsors of terrorism, this frees up money that our own Administration acknowledges could fund regional threats and instability.

As international sanctions are being lifted, Iran continues to fire ballistic missiles in violation of international resolutions. The President touted the Administration would issue “snapback sanctions” if this were to happen. Yet, time and again, Iran has blatantly violated the agreement and the Administration continues to turn a blind eye.

This agreement is a cornerstone of President Obama’s foreign policy portfolio and he does not want to see it fail. It’s concerning that our President has chosen to place his own legacy above the security of America and our allies in the region. Instead of emboldening one of the largest sponsors of terrorism, President Obama must hold Iran accountable for its violation of international security resolutions. We are a nation of laws, not a nation of men.  I have supported numerous pieces of legislation to hold Iran accountable and I will continue to look for ways to stop this lawless President. A nuclear capable and armed Iran can only lead to dire consequences for the entire international community.