National Security

One of my top duties in Congress is to keep our country safe. This means strengthening our national security, supporting our troops at home and abroad, and completing our missions in Iraq and Afghanistan.

To increase our national security, I have supported legislation to give our men and women in uniform the resources they need to keep us safe while ensuring accountability and good stewardship of our taxpayer dollars. For instance, 2011’s National Defense Authorization provides our military with the additional tools they need to disrupt, dismantle, and eventually defeat al Qaeda and its extremist allies. These tools include counter-proliferation programs to keep weapons out of the hands of our enemies and intelligence and cyber security efforts to deter threats as soon as we learn about them. Al Qaeda and our enemies are constantly adapting, and I am committed to supporting our military and defense community in evolving to meet new threats.

Supporting our Troops

Over two million American service members have deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan since 2001. These brave men and women put their lives on the line to keep us safe and it is critical to our national honor and security to support members of our military when they are in the field and when they return home. To learn more about my work for veterans and their families, click here.

Saving Fresno’s 144th Fighter Wing

The Air National Guard’s 144th Fighter Wing in Fresno is vital for our national security and our Valley’s economic security. The location of the 144th Fighter Wing on the West Coast helps our nation maintain air superiority in the Southwest region of the United States and around the world, and with more than 1000 guardsmen and women stationed at the wing, the 144th is a central part of our local economy.

That’s why I fought so hard to stop proposals by other states to end the 144th fighter wing and halt the transfer of new F-15s to the wing. On a bipartisan basis, I rallied more than half the California Congressional delegation in support of the wing, and we were successful. The new F-15s are on track and the 144th is safe from any proposed elimination.

End of the War in Iraq

As a member of Congress, I have led bipartisan delegations on fact-finding trips to Iraq and Afghanistan. There we met with American troops and military commanders, local leaders, and civilians to assess first-hand the current situation and challenges we face.

American troops have served honorably in Iraq, and because of their sacrifice, the Iraqi people are securing their young democracy and building a better future through a more peaceful political process. Our mission in Iraq has ended, and there are no U.S. troops in Iraq for the first time since 2003. Though the war is over, my commitment to our returning service members will never end.

Responsibly Ending the War in Afghanistan

Our armed forces have executed the mission in Afghanistan with true distinction. As a result of their service, Osama bin Laden and most of al Qaeda’s top leadership have been brought to justice and the Taliban’s momentum has been halted. We must remain focused on defeating al Qaeda and advancing opportunities that will enhance the future security of the region.  Doing so will allow us to responsibly withdraw our troops and leave the nation to its people.