Issue Position: Defense

Issue Position

Values

Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines put their lives on the line every day for this great nation.

Congress must ensure that every defense dollar is spent on the most important national security priorities rather than on unnecessary or wasteful initiatives.

The President should seek and receive the approval of the Congress prior to U.S. military engagement as set forth by the War Powers Act.

Believes the United States must stand by our ally, Israel.

Does not believe that the military should be able to exercise the power of detention at home against U.S. citizens.

Opposes the National Security Agency's (NSA) surveillance activated to monitor and gather the telephone records and email communications of American citizens.

Actions

Voted to support and spoke in favor of the Amash-Conyers Amendment to the 2014 Department of Defense Appropriations bill to end the NSA's blanket collection of Americans' phone records. Unfortunately, the amendment was defeated by a vote of 205 -- 217 in the House of Representatives.

Cosponsored the Telephone Records Protection Act (H.R. 2014) and the LIBERT-E Act (H.R 2399) to rein in the NSA's unconstitutional surveillance of Americans.

Filed an amicus brief with 15 Republicans and Democrats urging the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court to release its secret opinions secret opinions interpreting Section 215 of the Patriot Act that allowed the NSA to spy on American citizens.

Cosponsored and supported the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act of 2013 (H.R. 850) to strengthen sanctions and increase pressure on the Iranian regime amid its continued attempt to acquire a nuclear weapons capability.

Supported a resolution (H.Con.Res.107) condemning Hamas for using Palestinian civilians as human shields, calling on the international community to condemn Hamas for breaching international humanitarian law by using human shields, and supporting Israel's right to defend its territory and citizens. The United States must continue to make certain that Israel has the ability to fight terrorism, protect its sovereignty, and be sure the world is aware of our enduring support.

Supported a resolution (H. Con. Res. 105) that would prohibit President Obama from deploying or maintaining U.S. Armed Forces in a sustained combat role in Iraq unless specific statutory authorization is provided from Congress.

Led a bipartisan letter to U.S. Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel supporting his balancing plan to both reduce Pentagon spending and strengthen U.S. national security.

Voted against the National Defense Authorization Acts for 2012, 2013, 2014 and 2015 (NDAA) because in each instance the NDAA legislation arguably expands the original Authorization of the Use of Military Force, which was enacted in the aftermath of 9/11. I was particularly concerned with these bills because, under one interpretation, the NDAA would permit the U.S. military to detain American citizens on American soil. When language isn't absolutely clear, and there is an issue of liberty for U.S. citizens, if I am to err, I choose to err on the side of liberty.

Cosponsored an amendment to the 2014 NDAA to bring home one of the Brigade Combat Teams stationed in Europe. While the amendment was defeated, I believe that we should bring home some of the 40,000 troops stationed in Europe and stop subsidizing the defense of our European allies.

Sponsored an amendment to the 2015 NDAA that would require the Pentagon to cut the number of top generals and admirals. The ratio of generals and flag officers to enlisted service members has been higher in recent years than at any other time in American history. At the end of World War II, the United States military had 2,068 generals and flag officers and just over 12 million active duty military personnel, or a ratio of approximately 1:6,000. Today the military has 924 generals or flag officers and only 1.38 million active duty military personnel, or a ratio of about 1:1,500. This modest proposal would fulfill Sec. Gates' goal and save U.S. taxpayers approximately $10 million each year.

Sponsored an amendment that was adopted by the House to the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill to lower the threshold from $35,000 to $15,000 on the cost of repairs to flag and general officer quarters that must be approved before they can be carried out. As we seek to control federal spending, this amendment ensures that the maintenance repair bills are being scrutinized for the government-provided quarters for generals and admirals.

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