Defense and National Security | Page 2 | The Office of Majority Leader Steny Hoyer

Keeping America safe is Congress’ most important duty. Democrats are focused on strengthening U.S. national security and restoring America’s leadership in the world. That includes deploying the full arsenal of US power – diplomatic, development, and military tools – to maintain America’s standing in the world. The Democratic-led 116th Congress passed a robust National Defense Authorization Act, which strengthens national security, supports our troops, and defends our allies and interests abroad. It also includes the Intelligence Authorization Act, which reauthorizes critical intelligence programs and strengthens Congressional oversight.

President Trump, on the other hand, continues to undermine national security and make America less safe. With each tweet, Trump erodes US prestige. He has presented no plan or strategy for the gravest threats facing our nation, including strategies to address the situations in Syria, Afghanistan, Iraq, North Korea, or Yemen. He refused to affirm NATO’s Article 5 and the common defense of our allies or take a stand against Putin’s Russia, which has sowed doubt among US allies. He seeks to cut the diplomatic and development tools that are necessary to maintain order. Trump’s ban on transgender troops serving in the Armed Forces harms our military’s readiness and undermines the values for which U.S. troops risk their lives.

Defense and National Security Related

Hoyer Statement on House Republicans Politicizing the Fiscal Year 2020 NDAA

This morning, the House Armed Services Committee marked up a defense authorization bill for 2020 that will keep America safe and defend our allies and interests abroad. It is shameful that all but two Republicans on the Committee chose to make this vote partisan.

6/13/19

Hoyer: Accepting Electoral Help From Any Foreign State is Shameful and Unpatriotic

The President’s comments demonstrate contempt for the Constitution he has sworn to uphold and the institutions of our democracy.

6/13/19

Hoyer: This President and His Team Have No Clear Strategy on Iran

Yet again, we see that this President and his team have no clear strategy on how to deal effectively with Iran.

5/24/19

Hoyer Statement in Opposition to President Trump’s Attempt to Fund an Ineffective Border Wall At the Expense of Our Troops

"After President Trump failed to secure funding from Congress for his expensive and ineffective border wall, he declared that he intends to subvert the will of Congress and the American people and take funds away from our military and other defense priorities to pay for it.

5/10/19

Hoyer: Congress Must Be Briefed in Full on Iran

Iran continues to be a malign actor in its region and around the world, sowing instability in Syria and Yemen, positioning forces across Israel’s northern border, supporting violent terrorism, and threatening the United States and our allies.

5/8/19

Hoyer: It Is Essential the American People See the Full, Unredacted Mueller Report

Contrary to Attorney General Barr's assertion, the redacted report by Special Counsel Mueller is a damning recitation of lies, misinformation, and malfeasance

4/19/19

Hoyer Statement on Special Counsel Mueller's Report

The Special Counsel's report makes clear that Russia 'interfered in the 2016 presidential election in a sweeping and systematic fashion.'

4/18/19

Hoyer Statement on President Trump's Veto of the Bipartisan Yemen War Powers Resolution

President Trump has made it clear with this veto that he will stand in the way of bipartisan opposition in Congress to continued U.S. involvement in Yemen, and it is deeply disappointing that Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell has already signaled that he will not pursue an override of the veto, which would need to happen before the House can act.

4/17/19

Hoyer Statement on NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg's Address to Congress

Today, Congress heard from Secretary-General Stoltenberg about the challenges NATO member states face and how critical it is that we continue to face them together.

4/3/19

Statement

Hoyer Floor Remarks Urging the House to Reject the Trump Administration’s Discriminatory Ban on Transgender Service Members

Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of the resolution, introduced by my friend, the gentleman from Massachusetts, [Representative Joe] Kennedy.

3/28/19

Hoyer Statement on AIPAC Remarks

Last night, I made a comment during my remarks that was, unfortunately, misinterpreted, and I want to make sure there is no ambiguity about what I said.

3/25/19

Hoyer Statement on the Attorney General's Summary of the Special Counsel's Report

will carefully review Attorney General Barr’s summary of the Special Counsel’s report, but I will not be satisfied until the full report and all underlying evidence is made available.

3/24/19

Speech

Hoyer Delivers Remarks at AIPAC Annual Policy Conference

I am not Jewish, nor do I do represent a large Jewish constituency. But I have visited Israel some fifteen times, and I have seen the courage of its people and their enduring spirit to make their country flourish.

3/24/19

Hoyer Statement on Special Counsel Mueller’s Report

I have been clear from the start of the Special Counsel’s investigation: Congress and the American people deserve to know what his investigation has uncovered, including information about Russia’s efforts to undermine our democracy, allegations of the President obstructing justice, and any other potential criminal conduct by government officials.

3/22/19

Hoyer Statement on the Trump Administration's Ban on Transgender Americans Serving in the Military

Last night’s announcement is a betrayal of the thousands of transgender patriots who have served or have been preparing to serve our country in uniform.

3/13/19

Statement

Hoyer: It Is Time That We Set A New Course Forward On Yemen

Mr. Speaker, I want to thank [House Foreign Affairs Committee] Chairman [Eliot] Engel, [House Armed Services Committee] Chairman [Adam] Smith, Representative [Ro] Khanna, and others for ensuring that the House expresses its views on the humanitarian catastrophe in Yemen.

2/13/19

Democratic Leadership Statement on Anti-Semitic Comments of Congresswoman Ilhan Omar

Anti-Semitism must be called out, confronted and condemned whenever it is encountered, without exception.

2/11/19

Hoyer Statement on the Indictment of Roger Stone

Congress must take action to protect the special counsel’s investigation, in light of today’s arrest of Roger Stone and the other indictments of the President’s close associates.

1/25/19

Hoyer Statement on Venezuela

The people of Venezuela have suffered under the yoke of the Chavez-Maduro regime and yearn for a return to democracy.

1/23/19

Hoyer Remarks at Press Conference with House Democrats on Bipartisan NATO Support Act

Thank you very much, Jimmy. Congressman Panetta, of course, comes from a family that has made extraordinary contributions to the defense of our country and to the strengthening of our alliances.

1/22/19

Hoyer Statement on Today’s SCOTUS Decision on Transgender Troops

I am very concerned that the Supreme Court is allowing the Trump Administration to continue discriminating against transgender Americans wishing to serve their country as litigation over this issue continues.

1/22/19

Hoyer Writes to Treasury Secretary Asking for Delay in Lifting Russia Sanctions

House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD) today sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin asking for a delay in the lifting of certain Russia sanctions, now that bipartisan majorities in both the House and Senate have indicated their disapproval of such a move.

1/17/19

Statement

Hoyer Floor Remarks on the House Resolution to Prevent the Trump Administration From Lifting Sanctions on Companies Controlled by Oleg Deripaska

I'm offering this resolution today because it is deeply concerning that the Treasury Department would terminate sanctions from companies owned by Oleg Deripaska. Mr. Deripaska is a Russian oligarch, meaning he's very, very wealthy.

1/17/19

Hoyer Statement on the Deadly Attack in Syria

The deadly attack in Syria was a horrific reminder that the battle against ISIS continues.

1/16/19