National Security
Democrats are committed to enhancing our national security and advancing key American interests, while supporting human rights and democratic values at home and abroad.
In the 117th Congress, Democrats passed a bipartisan defense authorization bill that strengthened our national security, ensured our military personnel have the resources they need to defend our country, and bolstered our allies and international interests. In the 118th Congress, Democrats will build on these gains by continuing to help President Biden keep Americans safe.
We will continue to work with the Administration to provide our diplomats and our troops with the tools needed to carry out their missions abroad safely and effectively. This will include continuing to work with our allies to ensure Russia’s illegal and unprovoked invasion of Ukraine ends in defeat for Putin, that America maintains its competitiveness against China’s authoritarian challenges, and that the world is free from threats posed by Iran.
Today’s news of a cease-fire agreement in Ukraine is an important step, one that I hope will prevent needless loss of life, further destruction of property, and instability.
Tonight, President Obama authorized necessary action to protect American personnel and assist Iraqi civilians fleeing the brutal forces of the ISIL terror group...
I thank the Gentleman for yielding. I rise for two reasons. First of all to express my agreement with Mr. [Jim] Moran and with members of the Committee, perhaps on both sides of the aisle, with respect to our continuing Guantanamo policy.
We have a real stake in this, a real interest in this. The question becomes, okay, what do you do?
Obviously, we believe that global warming is a very, very serious issue, not only from a health standpoint, but from an economic standpoint, and we think that this is a movement in the right direction.
Today’s announcement that our combat mission in Afghanistan will end later this year represents a responsible plan to bring our troops home by 2016.
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
This week, the House passed the USA Freedom Act, which takes significant steps to address concerns over the intelligence community’s information-gathering programs while helping to strike an appropriate balance between national security and individual privacy.
The USA Freedom Act that passed the House today takes significant steps to address concerns over the intelligence community’s information-gathering programs.
While I supported the 2015 National Defense Authorization Act when it passed the House today, I share many of the Obama Administration’s concerns as well as those of House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Adam Smith that this bill does not reflect the hard choices necessary to achieve fiscal sustainability.
Today, President Obama proposed a budget that is focused on growth, opportunity, and security.