Issue Position: Foreign Policy

Issue Position

I am committed to upholding the vital and constitutional role of Congress in foreign affairs. The President is the Commander-in-Chief of our Armed Forces, but Congress has a responsibility and power to hold the Executive Branch accountable for its decisions and actions. While the President is charged with negotiating international agreements on issues like trade, security, and the environment with his foreign counterparts, it is up to Congress to ultimately approve or reject these agreements, draft legislation guiding our foreign policy, and provide oversight and funding of federal agencies representing the United States abroad.

As your Representative in Congress, it is my responsibility to advocate for foreign policy that truly advances American interests, maintains America's unique role upon the world stage, guarantees our national security and constitutional liberties, supports our allies, restrains our enemies, and leverages international trade to enhance opportunity and prosperity in central and eastern Kentucky.

My foreign policy priorities include:

* Expanding Kentucky's access to international markets and attracting foreign investment to the Commonwealth. Today, one-fifth of Kentucky's manufacturing jobs are make goods for export. Export-led industries tend to create high-skilled, high-paying careers. Congress must craft policies that encourage export growth while ensuring that our foreign competitors trade fairly, without illegal subsidies for their companies or artificial barriers to entry for American goods. I have advocated on behalf of Kentucky's bourbon distillers, tobacco producers, automakers, and thoroughbred industry as the United States takes part in major trade negotiations with Europe and the Pacific Rim.

* Preventing a nuclear weapons-capable Iran. I have cosponsored and voted for H.R. 850, the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act. This legislation authorizes further sanctions on the government of Iran if that nation continues to pursue the production of nuclear weapons.

* I have cosponsored H.R. 938, the United States-Israel Strategic Partnership Act. This legislation reaffirms the U.S. commitment to enhancing security cooperation with our ally Israel in pursuit of shared objectives, as well as encourages greater bilateral cooperation in the areas of cyber-security and the sciences.

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