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.

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 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.

Supported the Pay Our Military Act of 2013 (H.R. 3210), which ensured that members of the Armed Forces continued to receive pay for their active service during the shutdown of the federal government.

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.

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, and 2014 (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 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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