National Security

Colorado’s Fifth District is the proud home to one of our nation’s most military-intensive congressional districts and to more than 100,000 veterans who have served our country with distinction and honor. My goal as a member of the House Armed Services Committee is to advocate on behalf of our troops. I am dedicated to fighting for better pay and full funding for our troops so that they can receive the best training and equipment available.

Missile Defense

Developing the United States’ missile defense system is one of my highest priorities. While mutually assured destruction kept tensions between the U.S. and the Soviet Union relatively quiet during the Cold War, the international dynamic has changed. Key players from rogue nations, such as Kim Jong Un and Rouhani, are dangerously less predictable and more vocal about their military intents.

While some in Congress are trying to cut funding for missile defense projects, I will continue to support the funding of current missile defense programs and the development of new technology and development. As co-founder of the Missile Defense Caucus, I recognize the importance of a strong missile defense system.  Right now, our military has only a limited defense capability in the event of a threat. Self-declared enemies of America already have some missile capability and our eastern seaboard is largely unguarded from ship-launched missiles.

Homeland Security

The terrorist attacks of September 11th, 2001 forever changed our world. In response, Congress created the Department of Homeland Security. Congress continues to play a critical role in ensuring our laws are up-to-date with the ever-changing terrorist threats from around the world.

We must ensure that our federal agents have the most effective tools possible to keep our citizens safe. Good intelligence is key to our safety, not only here at home, but also for our deployed soldiers and diplomats around the globe.

Of course, in monitoring those who would do us harm, we must protect the privacy rights of American citizens. Through good oversight, I believe Congress can write laws that will allow us to aggressively pursue terrorists and their supporters while still maintaining the rights afforded to us in our Constitution.

Congressman Lamborn with a Blackhawk Helicopter crew from the Colorado Army
National Guard Unit based at Buckley AFB.

Congressman Lamborn meets with Colorado soldiers serving in Afghanistan on a congressional trip to study security issues.

Major Defense and National Security Legislation

National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017

I added several amendments to this year's NDAA, several of which were adopted into the House version of the bill: 

• Amendment 286: Protect Northcom
• Amendment 119R1 and 289: Anti-Tunneling
• Amendment 62: New Senior DE Official
• Amendment 287R1: Commercial Space
• Amendment 288: Aviation Museum
• Amendment 198: Iran Military Power Report
• Amendment 309: Iran Heavy Water
• Amendment 61R2: New START
• Amendment 206R1: Cyber Hardening
• Amendment 303: GMD Review Amendment

Cosponsored National Security Legislation

H.R. 4126 - Guantanamo Transfer Prevention Act

H.R. 3573 - Refugee Resettlement Oversight and Security Act

H.R. 3314 - Resettlement Accountability National Security Act of 2015

H.R. 2937 - Cuban Military Transparency Act

H.R. 401 - Detaining Terrorists to Protect America Act of 2015

H.R. 1614 - State Partnership Program Enhancement Act of 2015

H.R. 3662, the Down Payment to Protect National Security Act

Previous Congresses - Introduced Legislation

• H.R.2348 (112th)  - EMP Weapons Accountability Assessment Act to require the Director of National Intelligence to submit a report on the foreign development of electromagnetic pulse weapons.
• H.RES.692 (112th) – Resolution to recognize the 30th Anniversary of the United States Air Force Space Command headquartered at Peterson Air Force Base, Colorado.
• H.AMDT.1131 to H.R.4310  - Amendment to limit the availability of funds for Cooperative Threat Reduction activities with Russia until the Secretary of Defense can certify that Russia is no longer supporting the Syrian regime and is not providing to Syria, North Korea or Iran any equipment or technology that contributes to the development of weapons of mass destruction.

Previous Congresses Cosponsored Legislation

• H.R. 2348 Weapons Accountability Assessment Act - Requires the Director of National Intelligence to report to the congressional intelligence and defense committees on the research, development, testing, and deployment programs of foreign countries relating to electromagnetic pulse (EMP) weapons and associated delivery systems and platforms. Directs that such report identify each country pursuing an EMP weapons program and describe the scope of each such program.

Related Items

• 2018.09.19 Ltr to OSD re US Space Command 
• FY19 Missile Defense Budget 
• FY19 Space Budget 
• Minibus 2 - FY 2019 Defense Appropriations Bill - One-Pager 
• Providing for the Common Defense Sept. 2018 FINAL