The world has changed since Chuck first entered Congress. America's
security needs have changed too. Chuck believes that a 21st century
security policy must focus on fighting terrorism, supporting our
allies in need, and using our power to defend our interests and
values abroad.
- Combating Terrorism Before September 11: In the House,
Chuck was a leader in the effort to create the 1996 Antiterrorism
Act, and in the Senate pushed to have its provisions applied to
"charity" organizations that operate in the US to raise
money for terrorist groups like Hamas. He demanded that the
State Department stop
omitting Palestinian terrorists from its website offering
rewards and information for the capture of those who are suspected
of killing American citizens.
- Combating Terrorism Since September 11: Chuck wrote the
money laundering provisions of the new antiterrorism bill passed
after the September 11 terrorist attacks to shut
down the financial operations of terrorist networks. Chuck
also wrote legislation making terrorist
hoaxes a federal crime, punishable by up to five years in
prison. Working with Senator Clinton, Chuck wrote legislation
permitting the FBI
to share information with local law enforcement, hopefully
leading to better federal-local cooperation. Chuck successfully
inserted a provision in the antiterrorism bill increasing funding
for more guards
and new security measures for the border crossings between
New York and Canada.
- Supporting Israel: Chuck traveled
to Israel to demonstrate solidarity and consult with the leaders
of the Middle East's only democracy. He called on the US to move
its embassy to Jerusalem to end this discriminatory treatment
of America's closest ally in a key area of the world. Chuck wants
to see lasting peace and security in the region, but questions
whether Yasser Arafat is interested in making peace. He denounced
the continued use of hate
rhetoric in Palestinian textbooks. After the bombings in Jerusalem
and Haifa in November 2001, Chuck called on the United States
and the rest of the world to give
Israel the green light to eradicate terrorism.
- Sanctioning Rogue States: Chuck successfully fought to
maintain the Iran
and Libya Sanctions Act, ensuring that America will not abandon
the struggle against governments who employ terror to accomplish
their goals.
- Defending our Rights: Chuck recognizes that we defend
our security in order to defend our values and must never allow
our concern for the former to override the latter. That's why
he opposed the Intelligence Authorization Act that would have
had a chilling
effect on free speech and undermined the core purpose of the
first amendment.
- Peace for Vieques: Similarly, no group of Americans should
need to bare more than their fair share of the burden of military
preparedness, and Chuck has called for an immediate
end to the bombing in Vieques.
- Help During Crises: As the world's sole superpower, Chuck
believes that the United States has a responsibility to do what
it can to help our allies in their times of need., and actively
supported the use of US military cargo planes to deliver
supplies for earthquake relief to El Salvador.
- Recognizing our Veterans: Chuck has been fighting to
get the Congressional
Medal of Honor for Henry Johnson. Johnson, an Albany native,
served in the US Army from 1917 to 1919 but was not allowed to
fight in an American combat unit overseas because he was an African-American.
Seeking to serve his country, he joined a group of African American
soldiers which came to be known as the "Harlem Hell-Fighters"
who fought under the French flag. While on sentry duty on May
14, 1918, Johnson singlehandedly fought off a German raider party
with rifle fire and hand-to hand combat. Despite sustaining 21
wounds, he kept his critically-injured sentry partner, Needham
Roberts, from being captured by the Germans.
For a complete index of press releases on foreign policy and national
security, please click
here.
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