Issue Position: National Defense & The U.S. Military

Issue Position

Issue Position: National Defense & The U.S. Military

"We must always remember that our government's primary responsibility is to protect and defend the American people and advance the interests of the United States."

-- Senator John Cornyn
A Leader in Strengthening our National Security

As a Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Senator Cornyn plays a key role each year in drafting the National Defense Authorization Act. This important legislation authorizes appropriations for the Department of Defense and military operations in support of the global war on terror.

Senator Cornyn's position on this Committee is particularly important for Texas which averages over $30 billion per year in defense contracts and is home to 15 major military installations: Fort Hood, Fort Bliss, Fort Sam Houston, Red River Army Depot, Corpus Christi Army Depot, Randolph Air Force Base, Lackland Air Force Base, Sheppard Air Force Base, Dyess Air Force Base, Goodfellow Air Force Base, Laughlin Air Force Base, Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base, Ellington Field, Corpus Christi Naval Air Station, and Kingsville Naval Air Station.

As Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities during the 109th Congress, Senator Cornyn held a number of oversight hearings including:

* U.S. non-proliferation efforts
* The DOD's science and technology budget
* U.S. Special Operations
* The DOD's chemical demilitarization program.

In 2006, Senator Cornyn played a key role in passage of the Military Commissions Act of 2006. This legislation established the procedures to prosecute al Qaeda terrorists and provided legal clarity to allow continuation of the CIA's High Value Terrorist Detention program.
A Strong Supporter of Texas Military Programs

Appointed as Ranking Member of the Armed Services' Airland Subcommittee for the 110th Congress, Senator Cornyn is in a key position to continue supporting critical air weapons programs that are built in part in Texas, including the F-22A Raptor, the Joint Strike Fighter, the V-22 Osprey, and the Army's Future Combat System.

Over the last four years, Senator Cornyn has worked to authorize $45 billion for these three Texas-based military weapons systems. He has also worked to authorize almost $4 billion for the Family of Medium Tactical Vehicles (FMTV), built in Sealy, Texas, which are currently used to re-supply and carry troops in combat zones.

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