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
OBEY SUBSTITUTE TO IRAQ SUPPLEMENTAL BILL
On October 15, Rep. Obey, Ranking Democrat on the House Appropriations Committee, went to the Rules Committee and sought to have his Democratic substitute to the Iraq Supplemental bill made in order by the rule. The Obey substitute does more than the GOP bill to support our troops and encourages international participation in stabilizing and rebuilding Iraq. And the substitute does so at less cost to middle-class taxpayers...
HOYER ADDS ACCOUNTABILITY TO IRAQ SUPPLEMENTAL
WASHINGTON – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, successfully amended the 2004 Iraq Supplemental Appropriations bill today in the full House Committee mark-up to require greater accountability on such areas as the money spent and progress made in Iraq and Afghanistan and the effect the war is having on our troops and readiness, as well as language requiring advanced review of the awarding of no-bid contracts. Congressman Hoyer released the following statement regarding his amendments...
HOYER STATEMENT ON THE $87 BILLION IRAQ SUPPLEMENTAL
WASHINGTON – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer delivered the following statement today on the $87 billion Iraq supplemental currently being debated...
HOYER TO OFFER IRAQ SUPPLEMENTAL ACCOUNTABILITY AMENDMENTS
WASHINGTON – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, will offer two amendments at today’s House Appropriations Committee mark-up of the fiscal year 2004 Iraq Supplemental bill. The first amendment requires quarterly reports that provide accountability in past and future spending, detail progress in reconstruction and obtaining international assistance, and estimate expected future costs, among other items. The second requires advanced review of no-bid contracts, rather than after-the-fact review. Congressman Hoyer released the following statement regarding his amendments...
HOYER: STRONG SANCTIONS WILL DETER TERRORISTS
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer (MD) today spoke out on the House Floor in favor of H.R. 1828, the bipartisan Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, which would impose sanctions and other penalties on Syria. The following is Rep. Hoyer’s statement as prepared for delivery...
Democratic Leaders Respond to the President's Request for $87 billion for War and Rebuilding in Iraq and Afghanistan
Statements by Hoyer and Spratt, and reports on the cost of Iraq...
Clash Over Postwar Iraq Rises in Congress
WASHINGTON - House Majority Leader Tom DeLay "is in no position to question the patriotism" of President Bush's critics on Iraq, having once scathingly condemned President Clinton's military strategy in Bosnia, a Democratic leader said Thursday.
Spratt Statement on Potential Cost of Operations in Iraq
The Congress, our country, and the world were divided over the wisdom and timing of the war in Iraq. Many questions remain to be answered, but Saddam Hussein is gone, our troops are in Iraq, and the United States has a responsibility to finish the task we started and see that the job is done right. The Bush Administration has another responsibility, that of telling Congress and the American people how much this commitment is likely to cost in lives, dollars, and other resources, and what we can do to reduce the cost and expedite the return of our troops...
TOP ARMED SERVICES COMMITTEE DEM ASKS PRESIDENT TO ADDRESS SECURITY AND QUALITY OF LIFE ISSUES FOR U.S. TROOPS IN IRAQ
Washington, DC – In a letter to the President, Rep. Ike Skelton (D-MO) called on the Administration to address issues that are affecting U.S. service members’ security and quality of life while deployed in Iraq. Skelton urged the President to provide funding for these urgent needs within the Administration’s $87 billion supplemental appropriations request for Iraq and Afghanistan...
HOYER: GOP FINDS ROOM FOR TAX CUTS WHILE SHORTCHANGING COAST GUARD, OTHER PRIORITIES
WASHINGTON, DC – House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement this afternoon in response to President Bush’s speech on homeland security at the FBI Academy today in Quantico, VA...