Values
- Our soldiers, sailors, airmen, and marines put their lives on the line every day for this great nation.
- Congress must ensure that every defense dollar is spent on the most important national security priorities rather than on unnecessary or wasteful initiatives.
- The President should seek and receive the approval of the Congress prior to U.S. military engagement as set forth by the War Powers Act.
- Does not believe that the military should be able to exercise the power of detention at home against U.S. citizens.
Actions
- Supports the Ensuring Pay for Our Military Act of 2011 (H.R. 1297), which would ensure that members of the Armed Forces and Reserves continue to receive pay for their active service in the event of a shutdown of the federal government.
- Supported the RECLAIM Act (H.R. 1212), which would have ended the use of force by American troops in Libya. I believe the President was in direct violation of the Constitution, and we should have ceased all military actions in Libya until he requested approval from Congress. If President Obama would have come before Congress to request the appropriate authority for action in Libya, I would have voted in favor of authorizing the mission.
- Supports (H.CON.RES.110) which expresses the sense of Congress that the President should not interpret or construe the Defense Production Act of 1950 to authorize the President or any Federal department or agency to confiscate personal or private property, to force conscription into the Armed Forces on the American people, to force civilians to engage in labor against their will or without compensation, or to force private businesses to relinquish goods or services without compensation.
- Supports House Resolution 568 (H.RES.568) which expresses the sense by the House of Representatives that it is important to prevent the Government of Iran from acquiring any sort of nuclear weapons capability.
- Voted against both the National Defense Authorization Act for 2012 (NDAA) and 2013 because in each instance the NDAA legislation arguably expands the original Authorization of the Use of Military Force, which was enacted in the aftermath of 9/11. I was particularly concerned with these bills because, under one interpretation, the NDAA would permit the U.S. military to detain American citizens on American soil. When language isn't absolutely clear, and there is an issue of liberty for U.S. citizens, if I am to err, I choose to err on the side of liberty.
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