e-News 10/2/15

• House Advances National Security bill, President Threatens Veto
• House Seeks Justice for American Victims of Iranian Terror, President Threatens Veto
• Russia and Iran Take a ‘Victory Lap’
• Salute: Morris County’s John Fox

House Advances National Security bill, President Threatens Veto

The fight to ensure that our armed forces have enough funding to execute their missions took a step forward this week. The House of Representatives yesterday passed the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) - legislation that is our key mechanism for providing our troops deployed around the world in harms’ way with the support and funding they need to defend our nation.

 Specifically, this year’s NDAA authorizes:

• Full-funding for the President’s budget request for national security;
• A new retirement benefit for the 83% of our troops that currently get nothing;
• Greater protections against sexual assault;
• A plan to counter Iran’s activity in the Middle East;
• Lethal assistance to Ukraine and a plan to address Russia’s unconventional warfare methods;
• New Cyber tools;
• Funds Israeli Missile Defense at $320.2M above President’s request;
• New efforts to counter violence and narco-trafficking in Central America.

This bill does a lot, but it actually does not provide a penny for our military and intelligence community.  That task falls to the Appropriations Committee and the Defense Subcommittee I chair.  Our legislation is snarled in Washington political wrangling and should be passed immediately!  Further delay will do nothing to provide certainty to our troops.  It will postpone arrival of the tools, reforms, and policies they need to keep us all safe.   To hold our troops and the nation’s security hostage in an attempt to exert political pressure is flat wrong.

House Seeks Justice for American Victims of Iranian Terror, President Threatens Veto

 Did you know that, right now, Iran owes $43.5 billion in compensation to the families of the victims of its state-sponsored terror?  And not once has the Obama administration demanded that the regime pay these families.  Not one demand. 

Instead, the administration cut a deal whereby the president will go ahead without demanding justice and simply waive sanctions on Iran.  The President refuses to honor American judicial rulings that allow the families of victims of Iranian terrorism to claim Iranian assets here at home and abroad, giving the Teheran regime sanctions relief and the families nothing. In short, Iran’s hardliners will get a payday while their victims await billions of dollars in compensation.

I am a cosponsor of H.R. 3457, the Justice for Victims of Iranian Terrorism Act.  Passed by the House yesterday, this bill prevents President Obama from lifting sanctions until Iran pays what it owes to the victims of its terrorism.  It’s the least we can do for victims, five of whom come from New Jersey, and their families that have suffered at Iran’s hands.

I would urge you to view this powerful video produced by my colleague Rep. Pat Meehan from Pennsylvania.

This bill, which President Obama has now threatened to veto, is the next step in keeping our pledge to do all we can to stop a very bad Iran nuclear weapons deal.  It’s also just about justice.  Until Iran pays these families what they are owed, it shouldn’t get a cent in sanctions relief.  #NotOneCent– it’s that simple.

Watch my floor statement on this legislation here.

Russia and Iran Take a ‘Victory Lap’

Having gotten every type of concession in the nuclear Iran deal from President Obama and John Kerry, the Russians and Iranian military now take 'command and control' in Syria and Iraq and sideline the United States.

Read Max Boot in the Wednesday Wall Street Journal, “How Obama Could Salvage His Hapless ISIS Strategy” here.

Salute: A fond farewell to former Morris County Sheriff John Fox, who recently passed away.  John was an old friend who I first met when I got out of the Army back in 1971. He was a great Morris County sheriff and freeholder and left a positive mark on law enforcement in our community, especially his work to establish the Morris County Police and Fire Academy.

Read more about John’s life here in the Parsippany Focus.