National Security

Keeping America safe is Congress’ most important duty. Democrats are focused on strengthening U.S. national security, defending democracy, and restoring America’s leadership in the world.

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.

Related
Hoyer, Leading Defense Democrats Decry Republican Cuts to National Defense
House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD) and leading House Democrats on national defense issues released the following statements today decrying Republicans’ proposed 2% across-the-board cut to all national security programs. Republicans have proposed these cuts as an irresponsible and ineffective way to address the record deficits their policies have created.
Hoyer to Unveil Panel’s Foreign Policy Proposals
House Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) has assembled a kitchen cabinet of fellow moderate Members to shape the Democratic strategy on national security issues and battle perceptions that the party is weak on defense.
House Dems Advocate Ramp Up In Nonprolif Spending
Efforts to stem the spread of nuclear weapons are at the center of a Democratic national security strategy put forward by House leaders last week, with legislators advocating a significant increase in spending on nonproliferation and a dramatic acceleration of cooperative nonproliferation programs with Russia.
House Democrats' New Security Strategy Calls for More CTR Funding
House Democrats, led by Minority Whip Steny Hoyer (D-MD), are calling for tripling the budget for the Pentagon’s Cooperative Threat Reduction program and other nonproliferation initiatives as part of a new national security strategy unveiled Sept 15.
House Democrats unveil defense proposal
House Democrats unveiled a 12-page plan on Thursday that they hope to use to shows they can be as tough on defense as Republicans.
Democrats reassert allegiance to security
WASHINGTON Decades ago, Democrats with names like Kennedy and Roosevelt and Truman were known for their tough-minded views on military and foreign policy and their ability to lead the nation in times of conflict.
A Way For Democrats To Regain Credibility That GOP Now Enjoys
Fifteen Democratic members of the House of Representatives have produced a document and a strategy they hope will convince substantial numbers of voters who don’t trust them on national security to begin trusting them again. Led by Minority Whip Steny Hoyer of Maryland, “Ensuring America’s Strength and Security: A Democratic National Security Strategy for the 21st Century” is an attempt by at least some Democrats to reclaim this issue from Republicans and return the Democratic Party to majority status.
Hoyer on Homeland Security Appropriations Bill
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement tonight on the Fiscal Year 2006 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Bill:
Hoyer, Weldon Successfully Fight for Firefighters
Congressman Curt Weldon (R-PA) and House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD), Co-Chairs of the Congressional Fire Services Caucus, helped to successfully fund the Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response Firefighters (SAFER) and Fire Grants Programs at $155 million more than the Administration’s Fiscal Year 2006 budget request.
Hoyer Statement on 9/11 Anniversary
House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today regarding the fourth anniversary of the September 11th terrorist attacks: