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.
Republicans took the House majority six months ago and have done little to live up to the promises in their Pledge to America.
When Republicans took the House majority, they pledged to focus on creating jobs and growing the economy. But after six months, they still haven’t put forward a comprehensive jobs agenda. While Democrats are focused on the Make It In America agenda, a plan to support job creation and boost working families, Republicans are pursuing a partisan agenda that has the wrong priorities.
In recent months, people across the Middle East have bravely stood to demand that their governments respect their fundamental rights. The Libyan people, who have been subject to the dictatorship of Moammar Gadhafi for more than four decades, were among those who insisted that enough was enough. Gadhafi responded by unleashing widespread violence and threatening countless lives—publicly promising to go ‘door to door’ to kill those who stood against him.
For almost a decade, American troops have served bravely in Afghanistan. Their efforts have helped lead to the death of Osama bin Laden and the destruction, to a great degree, of al-Qaeda’s capability to plan and launch attacks against Americans from Afghanistan. These were our original objectives in Afghanistan, and they have been largely achieved. Our struggle against terrorists who would do Americans harm is certainly not over. But now is a time to consider how the threats against Americans have changed, and how we can most effectively defeat the terrorists behind those threats.
I am pleased that Leon Panetta was confirmed by the Senate today as our next Secretary of Defense. Over the years, I’ve worked closely with Secretary Panetta as he has filled a wide range of important positions: chairman of the House Budget Committee, Office of Management and Budget director, White House chief of staff, and director of the Central Intelligence Agency. At every step, Secretary Panetta has impressed me, and all who have known him, with his integrity, his insight, and his spirit of public service. I know that he will bring those assets to the Pentagon, along with his wide experience on budget issues—which is especially important at a time when all of our nation’s spending, including defense spending, must come under close scrutiny for savings. I look forward to continuing to work with Secretary Panetta.
I oppose both resolutions that were voted on in the House today. Despite the assertion in Speaker Boehner’s resolution, I believe the President has indeed articulated a rationale for action in Libya: to prevent the Gadhafi regime’s brutal attacks on Libyan civilians. Gadhafi vowed to go ‘door to door’ to kill those who opposed him, a threat that we could not stand by and allow to be carried out. That’s why I supported this mission. I said at the outset that our allies needed to take a leading role, and I was pleased when NATO did just that. I am concerned that sudden withdrawal would strengthen Gadhafi’s hand, undermine our NATO allies, and negatively impact other democratic transitions underway in the region.
“This Memorial Day we remember generations of Americans who have fought for our nation, both those who gave their lives for our country, and those who wore the uniform. Their service made this nation what it is today – a beacon of liberty and freedom to the world. I hope all Americans take a moment this weekend to honor their memory and their sacrifice...
This week, the House passed legislation that provides our Armed Forces the resources they need to keep our country safe and support our military families. I voted for this legislation, but I have concerns about some of the parts of the bill that don’t help make our nation safer, including reopening the issue of the repeal of “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” an overly broad expansion of the President’s powers to use military force, and limiting the tools in our tool box to fight terrorism...
Today, the House passed the FY12 Defense Authorization bill, which gives our Armed Forces the resources they need to keep our country safe, and also supports our military families. I voted for this legislation. Nevertheless, I am deeply concerned about several provision attached to this bill by Republicans, none of which will make our nation safer.
I support this amendment. In 2001, in response to the attacks of 9/11, the United States began a war in Afghanistan that targeted Osama bin Laden, al-Qaeda, and the Taliban, which provided bin Laden with sanctuary and aid. I supported this effort at the time. We have been pursuing this conflict for nearly a decade. The death of Osama bin Laden was a landmark moment in our ongoing struggle to disrupt, dismantle, and defeat the terrorist networks that intend to do Americans harm, and that struggle has not ended with bin Laden’s death.