NATIONAL SECURITY

The most basic responsibility of government is to defend our national security.

As a third-generation military veteran, protecting our nation is a core tenet in my family. I personally served in the Air Force. Before me, my father was a pilot and intelligence officer in the Navy during the Cold War, rising to the rank of Captain. And my grandfather was a Captain in the Navy.  For three generations, we have stepped up to defend our country and ideals, and I proudly continue our tradition by addressing our national security as a Member of Congress.

At our best, the United States leads the international community as a force for good, advocating for global peace, cooperation, and human rights. With nearly 195,000 servicemembers and tens of thousands of diplomats, development experts, and civilian personnel deployed overseas, we have a responsibility to have their backs and put them in positions to succeed. As a Member of the House Armed Services Committee, I am acutely focused on defending against global threats and protecting our service members at home and abroad.

In Congress, I am working to ensure our national security by:

  • Supporting our allies in Ukraine. Through his illegal and dangerous invasion of Ukraine, Vladimir Putin threatens the global order and economy. We, with the help of our allies, must do everything in our power to defend democracy in Ukraine. I visited President Zelensky two weeks before the invasion, and my father was born in Lviv, which at the time was Nazi-controlled Poland and is now a key Ukrainian city. In Congress, I helped to deliver much-needed humanitarian and military aid, and we must continue until our Ukrainian allies secure victory.

  • Ensuring a robust national defense. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I directly oversee the Defense Authorization Act to ensure that we robustly and effectively fund federal investments in our national defense.

  • Keeping our allies close and watchful eyes on our enemies. I believe we need strong global engagement and to work with our allies to address global threats from adversaries like China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea. I have worked across the aisle to push back on Chinese and Russian aggression, strengthen NATO and other alliances, and promote human rights and economic empowerment for women and girls in developing countries.

  • Addressing cyber threats. In a 21st Century economy and information ecosystem, protecting our cyber security is paramount. We must ensure that we have telecommunications infrastructure that is resilient to cyber intrusions and critical supply chains that are not vulnerable to our adversaries. 

  • Mitigating climate change. As was outlined in recent reports from the Department of Defense, climate change is a critical national security threat. As an engineer, I am advancing solutions to increase climate-resilient infrastructure, aggressively deploy clean energy technology, and invest in the climate solutions of tomorrow.

  • Empowering young, talented people to serve. Our long-term national security depends on the next generation of leaders stepping up to serve. That’s why I am proud that we run one of the best academy nomination programs in the state, with more of our students getting appointments to military academies than most congressional districts. Moreover, I authored the Armed Forces Digital Advantage Act, which was enacted into law in 2019 and enabled the Department of Defense recruit and retain talented professionals with cyber and tech backgrounds. I also introduced a bill to ensure the State Department could hire personnel with STEM backgrounds, so that our diplomacy can keep pace with cyber threats, digital trade, and other emerging challenges.