e-News 5/15/15

• The Week: National Security in Focus
• Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act
• Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act
• National Defense Authorization Act
• “Playing Politics with Defense”
• Dutch Connection
• Salute: The Thin Blue Line 

 

The Week: National Security in Congress’ Focus

Under the Constitution, the first duty of each and every Member of Congress is to guarantee the security of the United States of America and its citizens. Article I, Section 8 of the Constitution of the United States, grants Congress the power to ‘‘provide for the common defense;’’ to raise and support an Army; to provide and maintain a Navy.”

In an era of growing and evolving threats to our safety and security, the House this week lived up to those responsibilities by passing several notable pieces of legislation:

Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act which ensures that Congress will have a role in approving or disapproving of any final deal that emerges from ongoing negotiations between the Iranian regime, President Obama and various world powers.

There are few national security priorities for our country more important than preventing Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and any agreement that seeks to do this must include Congress’ participation “up front.”

The Iran Nuclear Agreement Review Act (a) prohibits the administration from lifting any sanctions over a two-month review period, (b) forces the White House to turn over every single page of the finalized deal's text, and (c) establishes a recurring 90-day review cycle that persists throughout the duration of the deal. 

I understand that work continues on a final agreement with Iran. But frankly, given many of the statements I have heard coming out of the Obama Administration AND Tehran, I am very skeptical that we will see a verifiable, transparent and enforceable agreement. 

Read the bill here.

Hezbollah International Financing Prevention Act which aims to prevent Hezbollah and associated entities from using the international financial system to fund its global terrorist activities.  ISIL has rightly claimed much of the spotlight recently, but Hezbollah, a whole-owned subsidiary of the government of the Islamic Republic of Iran, has historically killed more Americans than just about any other terrorist organization.  That is why I have been a cosponsor of this important legislation.

Read the bill here.

National Defense Authorization Act is one of the key bills that fund our national security operations, along with the Defense Appropriations bill I am currently drafting with my Subcommittee.  I voted in favor of the NDAA this morning and was pleased that it passed the House.

Because politics should never taint our support for our troops and their families, these bills have ALWAYS been the product of bi-partisan construction and receive strong bi-partisan support.  It is, therefore, extremely regrettable that Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi disregarded this honorable tradition and prodded most democratic members of the House to vote “no” on the bill, simply because she did not like the manner in which the bill funded our overseas war on terror and the troops that support them.

The Washington Post took her to task, writing, "National Defense is a Clear Constitutional Responsibility of the Federal Government; Fully Funding it Should Take Priority." Read the Post editorial, “Playing Politics with Defense" here.

Read more of H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2016 here.

Ten things to know about H.R. 1735:

1.     It provides the resources for a strong national defense.  The bill reflects both Congress’s balanced budget plan and the president’s budget request, and it does so in a fiscally responsible way to ensure Americans get the most defense for the dollar.

2.     It improves pay and benefits for our troops and their families, including allowing servicemembers to contribute to a portable retirement plan, cutting the backlog for military childcare, and implementing a joint formulary for medications between the VA and the Department of Defense.  Amid calls for better care at the VA, this is an important step to ensure servicemembers receive the best and most consistent treatment as they leave military service.

3.     It initiates landmark reforms to the Department of Defense’s broken acquisition system by streamlining the process, improving accountability, and eliminating outdated regulations.  This will help ensure our military has the agility and technological edge to respond to the evolving security threats we face.

4.     It calls for greater protection of our troops from sexual assault, including recommending expansion of sexual assault prevention training to ROTC and Junior ROTC programs, and enhancement of sexual assault prevention for male victims in the Armed Forces. 

5.     It reinforces the mission to defeat ISIL, including authorizing resources for security assistance to Iraqi forces, training and equipping Syrian rebels, enhancing Jordan’s military capabilities, and approving a pilot program to counter propaganda efforts.   ISIL’s sophisticated use of social media was a frequent topic of discussion during Speaker Boehner’s visits with key partners in the Middle East, and he considers this kind of program vital to an overarching strategy to defeat this threat.

6.     It imposes greater restrictions on transferring terrorists.  In addition to continuing a bipartisan policy that keeps terrorists out of the United States, the bill rolls back the president’s authority to unilaterally transfer terrorists to other countries.  This provision addresses the administration’s unlawful transfer of five top Taliban leaders from Guantanamo Bay in exchange for Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl – an action that was taken without notifying Congress.

7.     It strengthens oversight of terrorist transfers and communications, withholding 25 percent of funding for the Secretary of Defense’s office until he fulfills Congress’s request for documents related to last year’s unlawful transfer of five top Taliban leaders.  The bill also requires the Department of Defense to report to Congress when former detainees attempt to re-engage and communicate with terrorists.

8.     It strengthens the nation’s cyber defenses, including fully authorizing all U.S. Cyber Command and Military Service programs, and boosting incentives for companies to share information on threats and defensive measures with the Department of Defense.  The House recently passed a series of cybersecurity reforms. 

9.     It provides for lethal aid to Ukraine, so that Ukraine can better defend itself against Russian aggression.  In March, a bipartisan group of House leaders wrote to President Obama urging him to approve lethal aid based on authority he has already been given, but he has yet to act. 

10.  It improves our missile defense capabilities, including authorizing resources for the planning and design of an East Coast missile defense site.  As the committee notes, this follows the president’s concessions to the Russians on missile defense, and a recent test showing that Iran continues to develop its capabilities.

Dutch Connection

I was honored to accept the "Ambassador C. Howard Wilkins Jr. Award for Outstanding Accomplishments in Politics, Government and Diplomacy” last night from the Netherlands-America Foundation.  The formal partnership between our two nations dates back to the American Revolution, which, of course, the Netherlands supported.  Our excellent bilateral relations are based on close historical and cultural ties as well as a common dedication to individual freedom and human rights.

Salute: The Thin Blue Line. We mark National Police Week.  The job of a police officer is not easy. It’s very dangerous and often requires great personal sacrifice. So we say a heartfelt “thank you” to all of our police officers and their families for their dedicated service and daily commitment to our communities.  We owe a special debt of gratitude to Patrick P. Montuore, Chief of Police of Florham Park, who founded the Police Unity Tour many years ago and which now boasts over 2000 bike riders!