Defense and National Security

Providing for the common defense was a key component to the creation of our federal government. I am committed to keeping America safe from growing threats around the world, and will continue to focus my efforts on:

PROVIDING AMPLE RESOURCES WHILE MAKING SMART CHOICES

Our troops are committed to defending and sacrificing for the American people. When they go into battle, they deserve the best training, equipment, and resources to accomplish their mission to uphold the foundational principles of America. In July 2022, I voted in support of legislation which would give our troops a 4.6 percent pay raise and provides the funds needed in order to strengthen our military.

While ensuring our troops have the necessary tools, we must also make smart choices that reduce wasteful and unnecessary spending. During the House’s consideration of H.R.5293, the Fiscal Year 2017 Department of Defense Appropriations Act, I successfully offered a bipartisan amendment to cut off taxpayer dollars from going toward wasteful infrastructure projects in Afghanistan, which the Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction has found to be wrought with waste, susceptible to fraud, and unsustainable over the long term.

MONITORING ROGUE NATIONS

Congress must stand firm against provocations that threaten the security of our citizens and our allies around the world. In April 2018, I voted in support of H.R. 4744, the Iran Human Rights and Hostage-Taking Accountability Act, which would allow the United States to impose property-blocking and visa-denial sanctions on Iranian officials or their family members responsible for illegal detentions of U.S. citizens or Iranian expatriates. Additionally, I was a cosponsor of legislation that would place sanctions on countries that directly fund Hezbollah, most notably Iran, and supported legislation that would encourage all European Union countries to designate Hezbollah as an international terrorist organization. Amidst aggression from nations such as North Korea, Iran, or Syria, it is imperative that America retains its ability to promote peace through strength.

SECURING THE HOMELAND

Protecting our nation from threats is a multi-front mission. Thwarting future terrorist attacks requires that we secure our borders, share intelligence effectively and efficiently, protect our critical infrastructure and key resources, enforce our immigration laws, and safeguard our cyberspace.

We must ensure we have a military that is unified and ready to combat the various threats facing our nation. I recently supported the FY23 National Defense Authorization Act, which authorized $850 billion for national defense discretionary programs, an increase of $37 billion over the President’s request. This legislation reverses President Biden’s cuts to our national security. Importantly this keeps pace with our adversaries expansion and modernization. Included are cost saving measures and reforms, increases a one time pay bonus to combat Biden’s inflation, and continues the strong Congressional support of our servicemembers and their families. To learn more about the FY23 NDAA and its positive impact on our national security, please click here.

ACCOUNTABILITY FOR DEFENSE SPENDING

Strengthening our national security and providing resources to increase the safety of our troops is of the utmost importance, and President Biden’s bungled withdrawal from Afghanistan undermined both of these cornerstones of American foreign policy. In response to the botched withdrawal from Afghanistan which resulted in the death of 13 servicemembers, I offered an amendment signed into law as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2022 to boost our national security by evaluating the military capabilities of the Taliban post-withdrawal and its ability to assist other adversaries with those resources. I also cosponsored H.Res.607, condemning President Biden's failure to heed the advice of military and intelligence advisors about the speed and nature of the Taliban offensive, leading to a disorganized, chaotic, and abrupt evacuation of United States personnel and Afghan allies. Because of this failure, Americans are in more danger at home and abroad.