Issue Position: Defense & National Security

Issue Position

Providing for the common defense was a key component to the creation of our federal government. I am committed to keeping America safe 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 2013, I voted in support of legislation, which provided a 1.8 percent basic pay increase for all military personnel for fiscal year 2014.

While ensuring our troops have the necessary tools, we must also make smart choices that reduce wasteful and unnecessary spending. The most recent defense spending bill, H.R. 2397, totals $5.1 billion less than last year's enacted level and implements reforms that save taxpayer dollars. During the bill's consideration, I successfully offered a bipartisan amendment to cut $79 million from unnecessary Afghanistan infrastructure projects and a second amendment to assist our Marines' crisis response capability in events similar to the one that took place in Benghazi in September 2011.

Fighting Terrorism
As American military forces continue their missions in Afghanistan and around the world, we must remain vigilant in our cause to defend freedom abroad when necessary. The death of Osama bin Laden in May of 2011 was a testament to the commitment of our intelligence community and armed forces in the War on Terror.

Monitoring Rogue Nations
Congress must stand firm against provocations that threaten our national security, while strengthening our relationships with global allies. To these ends, I cosponsored and voted for H.R. 850, the Nuclear Iran Prevention Act, and voted in February 2013 in support of H.Res. 65 to condemn North Korea for its provocations that threaten international peace.

Securing the Homeland
In light of the Boston bombings, it is clear that 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.

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