Issue Position: National Security

Issue Position

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Shaheen is dedicated to strengthening America's national security. She believes that a strong and active United States is fundamental to securing our national interests at home and abroad.

Today the world is more interconnected than ever before, and our nation's economy and security are directly linked to events across the globe. Many businesses in New Hampshire and throughout the U.S. rely on markets and consumers thousands of miles away. As the attacks of September 11th tragically illustrated, the United States can no longer rely on our borders to protect us from attacks planned halfway around the world. The threats of the 21st century -- from terrorism and extremism to weapons of mass destruction, failed states to cyber attacks, climate change to disease-- are truly global and will require a balanced approach that leverages all of America's ingenuity and power.

Our country's national security has a direct effect on the lives of every American, and Senator Shaheen is committed to making sure our policies are strong and prudent, focused on promoting American interests around the globe while maintaining security at home. Senator Shaheen believes that America's leaders have a responsibility to leave the world a better place for the next generation.

A Strong Military

The United States Armed Forces are the strongest and most capable in the history of the world, and they form the backbone of American national security. In today's world, a strong military no longer means simply having the most firepower; it requires new technologies, adaptive innovation and flexible institutions. As the United States continues to face multiple threats and commitments overseas, we must ensure we not only provide for our current defense, but also invest in our military's future. Senator Shaheen is dedicated to strengthening America's military by equipping it to meet today's challenges and preparing it to overcome tomorrow's threats.

Support for our Troops

Our men and women in uniform are the greatest asset of the United States military, and we are all grateful for their service and sacrifice. Over the past decade our troops have carried a tremendous burden, and we must not forget the toll this has taken on them and on their families. Senator Shaheen has been a leader in supporting our active duty troops, our National Guard and Reserve forces and their families. In particular, the Senator has fought for the New Hampshire National Guard, which has undertaken multiple deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan over the past decade. She is committed to addressing the challenges that face our service men and women, such as post-traumatic stress disorder, high suicide rates and sexual assault. Our nation has an obligation to those who have put their lives on the line to protect our freedoms. For this reason, Senator Shaheen was the first to introduce legislation repealing the cut to Cost of Living Adjustments (COLA) for military retirees back in December 2013.

Afghanistan/Pakistan

The border region between Afghanistan and Pakistan is a place where militants continue to plot to target the United States. Senator Shaheen supports a joint military and civilian effort in Afghanistan, while working with the government of Pakistan to address our security challenges. Though our commitment to working with our partners in Afghanistan and Pakistan is long-term, our military engagement in Afghanistan cannot remain open-ended. Senator Shaheen supports bringing our men and women in uniform home, while transferring responsibility for security and governance to the people of Afghanistan.

Osama bin Laden's death was a triumph for U.S. national security interests and a testament to the quality and unrelenting resolve of America's intelligence, diplomatic, and military establishment. However, Senator Shaheen knows we must continue to stay vigilant in protecting the American people from the threat of terrorism.

As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Senator Shaheen works to ensure rigorous oversight of our efforts in Afghanistan and with Pakistan. Real progress will require a commitment from the governments in Afghanistan and Pakistan to not only address military threats, but to make progress on the civilian front by fighting corruption and improving governance. This requires holding Afghan leaders to account.

Counter Proliferation

The threat of nuclear weapons falling into the wrong hands is a nightmare scenario for American policy-makers and the people of this country. A nuclear weapon detonated anywhere around the globe would have immediate and devastating consequences for American economic and security interests. Meeting the threat of nuclear terrorism successfully will require us to take concrete steps to secure dangerous materials and weapons around the globe and will require robust and sustained international engagement. One way to reduce the odds terrorists are able to obtain a nuclear weapon is to reduce the numbers of such weapons. As the former Chair of the European Affairs Subcommittee in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Shaheen was a leader in pushing the Senate to ratify the New Strategic Arms Reduction Treaty (START), which reduces the number of nuclear warheads aimed at the United States and restores American leadership on the nuclear agenda.

Senator Shaheen has also worked to counter the proliferation of chemical and biological weapons. As a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Senator Shaheen has been a vocal proponent of the need for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to give up Syria's chemical weapons stockpile. In 2013, Senator Shaheen introduced legislation to modernize U.S. Cooperative Threat Reduction and nonproliferation assistance programs and expand them into the Middle East and North Africa.

Iran

Senator Shaheen has been a strong supporter of past sanctions legislation as a means of bringing Iran to the negotiating table. She hopes the current diplomatic initiative aimed at resolving the Iranian nuclear issue peacefully will succeed, but she recognizes that the true test will be whether Iran takes the steps needed to resolve international concerns with its nuclear program in a comprehensive deal. Senator Shaheen remains concerned that Iran continues to threaten our allies abroad. In addition to its illicit efforts to develop a nuclear weapon and its deplorable human rights record, Iran's military aid to insurgents in Iraq and Afghanistan, Palestinian Hamas and Lebanese Hezbollah is deeply troubling and directly undermines stability in a volatile and dangerous Middle East. The U.S. should continue to pursue all appropriate avenues to ensure that the Iranian government does not obtain a nuclear weapon, stops its support for terrorism, and respects the universal rights of its citizens.

Iraq

The war in Iraq has carried an enormous cost -- thousands of troops have been killed, tens of thousands were wounded, countless others suffer from PTSD and depression and hundreds of billions of dollars were spent. The recent upsurge of violence in Iraq is extremely troubling, and Senator Shaheen believes that the United States needs to stay diplomatically engaged in supporting stability in Iraq to honor the sacrifices of our men and women who fought there. She also believes it is important to keep faith with those Iraqis who assisted the U.S. effort, often at great personal risk. For this reason, Senator Shaheen has worked to improve the Iraq and Afghanistan Special Immigrant Visa programs, which enable those whose service to the U.S. has put them and their families in danger to immigrate to the United States.

Energy Security

Of the 90 million barrels of oil consumed globally on a daily basis, American consumption is responsible for nearly 20 million of those barrels -- a disproportionate percentage relative to the global population. Each year, the U.S. sends hundreds of billions of dollars to foreign markets in exchange for energy supplies that threaten our climate and influence our foreign policies abroad. Senator Shaheen believes that energy security is an important component of our national security, and America can do better. The United States is not alone in our efforts to find new and cleaner sources of energy. As the developing world continues to demand exponentially more energy, achieving energy security for America and our friends abroad becomes even more critical. For this reason, Senator Shaheen introduced the Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act to the Senate, which promote energy savings in residential and commercial buildings and industry, and for other purposes.

Europe and NATO

With years of experience in international politics, both through her role as Director of Harvard's Institute of Politics and as an international election monitor, Senator Shaheen has emerged as a leader in the Senate on trans-Atlantic policy issues. As the former Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on European Affairs, Senator Shaheen was responsible for overseeing U.S. involvement in NATO efforts around the globe, and U.S. foreign policy efforts in Russia, the Caucasus, the Balkans and throughout Europe. She believes that the enduring relationship between the United States and Europe remains the anchor for global stability. The greatest security challenges of our generation -- the global economic crisis, terrorism, nuclear proliferation, climate change and energy security --require a close cooperation with our European allies.

In addition to ensuring the security of Americans, the trans-Atlantic relationship continues to have a significant, direct impact on the livelihood of the people of New Hampshire. Our European allies purchase nearly $1 billion worth of goods annually from Granite State businesses and are a significant source of foreign investment. Senator Shaheen has made deepening and expanding this vital economic relationship a top priority.

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