As we approach the end of the 113th Congress, lawmakers in Washington still have a number of important legislative items to consider before Christmas. Among them is a bill to fund programs and personnel dedicated to securing our nation. This bill is commonly referred to in Washington as the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), and I believe it is one of the most important bills Congress must consider each year.
This year, we’ve seen Russia increase its belligerent behavior, Iran relentlessly pursue development of a nuclear weapon, and terror groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) threaten our allies and wage a violent campaign against civilians. Although we are reducing our mission in Afghanistan, many challenges remain. That’s why it is so important for our military men and women to have the tools and training they need to safely fulfill their mission. Failing to act on an updated funding authorization for our Armed Forces is simply not an option.
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have had the opportunity to offer several amendments to improve the NDAA, and I’m pleased that they have been incorporated in the final bill that was recently released, agreed to by the House, and will soon be considered by the Senate.
One of the amendments, which I introduced with senators Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), would build upon historic reforms Congress made in last year’s NDAA to curb instances of sexual assault within the military. It allows victims who are subsequently discharged to challenge the terms and characterization of their separation from service. It also boosts accountability among commanding officers by strengthening evaluations of how they handle reports of offenses within their unit.
Recently, the Department of Defense released a study highlighting the progress that has been made since last year’s reforms. According to the survey, instances of sexual assaults have decreased in 2014, compared with previous years. More survivors are also willing to come forward. This shows that we are headed in the right direction, but we won’t stop here. The survey also identified the issue of retaliation against those who report sexual assaults as a serious problem. Congress must focus on this specific issue as it continues to address this grave problem.
Our military men and women often put themselves in harm’s way for all of us. They should not face threats from within their own ranks. I will continue working to reduce sexual assaults, with a particular focus on retaliation, in our military.
This year’s NDAA also includes the final funding installment for construction of a new, state-of-the-art command and control facility for U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) at Offutt Air Force Base. As the nature of threats continue to evolve, it’s imperative that STRATCOM maintains a cutting-edge ability to detect and deter potential attacks. This facility upgrade will help ensure the safety and security of all Americans well into the 21st century.
A number of other provisions I supported to strengthen our nation’s nuclear deterrent and invest in training for our special operations forces are included in the final NDAA bill as well. As Ranking Member of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities subcommittee, I am particularly proud of provisions we submitted to prioritize funding for training and readiness requirements of our soldiers that were not funded in the president’s budget request.
The success of our troops depends on our commitment in Congress to support their efforts. The NDAA is one very important way to ensure they are equipped to focus on their mission, defend our nation, and return home safely. I look forward to supporting this legislation when it comes to a vote in the coming days.
Thank you for taking part in the democratic process, and I will visit with you again next week.
This year, we’ve seen Russia increase its belligerent behavior, Iran relentlessly pursue development of a nuclear weapon, and terror groups like the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL) threaten our allies and wage a violent campaign against civilians. Although we are reducing our mission in Afghanistan, many challenges remain. That’s why it is so important for our military men and women to have the tools and training they need to safely fulfill their mission. Failing to act on an updated funding authorization for our Armed Forces is simply not an option.
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I have had the opportunity to offer several amendments to improve the NDAA, and I’m pleased that they have been incorporated in the final bill that was recently released, agreed to by the House, and will soon be considered by the Senate.
One of the amendments, which I introduced with senators Claire McCaskill (D-Mo.) and Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.), would build upon historic reforms Congress made in last year’s NDAA to curb instances of sexual assault within the military. It allows victims who are subsequently discharged to challenge the terms and characterization of their separation from service. It also boosts accountability among commanding officers by strengthening evaluations of how they handle reports of offenses within their unit.
Recently, the Department of Defense released a study highlighting the progress that has been made since last year’s reforms. According to the survey, instances of sexual assaults have decreased in 2014, compared with previous years. More survivors are also willing to come forward. This shows that we are headed in the right direction, but we won’t stop here. The survey also identified the issue of retaliation against those who report sexual assaults as a serious problem. Congress must focus on this specific issue as it continues to address this grave problem.
Our military men and women often put themselves in harm’s way for all of us. They should not face threats from within their own ranks. I will continue working to reduce sexual assaults, with a particular focus on retaliation, in our military.
This year’s NDAA also includes the final funding installment for construction of a new, state-of-the-art command and control facility for U.S. Strategic Command (STRATCOM) at Offutt Air Force Base. As the nature of threats continue to evolve, it’s imperative that STRATCOM maintains a cutting-edge ability to detect and deter potential attacks. This facility upgrade will help ensure the safety and security of all Americans well into the 21st century.
A number of other provisions I supported to strengthen our nation’s nuclear deterrent and invest in training for our special operations forces are included in the final NDAA bill as well. As Ranking Member of the Emerging Threats and Capabilities subcommittee, I am particularly proud of provisions we submitted to prioritize funding for training and readiness requirements of our soldiers that were not funded in the president’s budget request.
The success of our troops depends on our commitment in Congress to support their efforts. The NDAA is one very important way to ensure they are equipped to focus on their mission, defend our nation, and return home safely. I look forward to supporting this legislation when it comes to a vote in the coming days.
Thank you for taking part in the democratic process, and I will visit with you again next week.
No comments:
Post a Comment