I strongly believe that our defense funding should be driven by the need to do all we can to defend this nation and support our men and women in uniform. While this budget does restore significant funding to our defense budget for FY 2014, extensive budget cuts, known as sequestration, remain in place, and I believe these cuts must be replaced in order to ensure that our men and women in uniform have the highest caliber of resources and training that they need to accomplish their missions. Read more »
... forced budget cuts, known as “sequestration,” will irreparably harm our nation’s security and its all-volunteer force, and in turn will affect so many individuals and families in Virginia. While I was pleased that the president acknowledged the many challenges facing Virginia, I was disappointed not to hear more specifics for how he thinks this immediate challenge should be addressed. These cuts could have drastic implications for our region, not to mention risking the readiness of our armed forces and the functionality of our federal government. Read more »
It is absolutely critical for our nation’s leaders to take realistic, substantive measures to correct the unsustainable path of our federal spending. The national debt continues to grow and, without serious spending reform, our children and grandchildren will be saddled with debt by the carelessness of past generations. Read more »
Congress will address many important issues over the coming year, and it is critical that these matters be considered in terms of what will help our nation going forward into the future. Read more »
Governing is a serious task, and it is past time to talk about real solutions to the problems we face. Our men and women in uniform and this nation cannot risk failure. Our national security depends on us getting this right. Read more »
Our nation’s servicemen and women and our veterans have truly made the United States the greatest nation in the world, and I am grateful every day for their dedicated service. The sacrifices of their families often go unrecognized as well, and I sincerely appreciate the irreplaceable contributions they’ve made in support of their loved ones in the Armed Forces. At the same time, we must not forget the many brave Americans who have lost their lives in service to this country. That debt can never be repaid. Read more »
Our country certainly faces difficult challenges in the coming days, from the unsustainable state of our federal deficit to the sluggish and unstable job market. I will continue to work hard to rein in our government’s debt and facilitate an environment where businesses can innovate, expand, and hire people. Read more »
Our shipbuilders are the finest in the world, and they deliver the finest ships in the world to our Navy - which is also second to none. As sequestration approaches, we cannot forget how critical it is for the future security of our nation that we assess our military budgets strategically and with consideration for what our capabilities need to be. Read more »
Last week, the world saw an act of senseless violence occur in Benghazi, Libya, as the U.S. consulate was attacked and four of our fellow citizens were slain, including Ambassador Chris Stevens. These men were exemplary Americans, striving to improve a world split by hate. Though their deaths were premature, I know that they made a mark on this world and that their legacies will remain.… Read more »
The ideas and principles that were used in founding this nation came from many different sources, and each of our Founding Fathers had to work out his differences with the others in order to pursue a reasonable solution. This sort of rational discussion is practically unheard of today. Congress must show the American people that it can live up to the high standard set by those brave individuals who formed this nation. Read more »
