Defense & National Security
Ensuring national security is one of the primary Constitutional responsibilities of Congress. In the 21st Century, America needs a flexible military that is able to confront emerging threats, such as terrorism, growing regional instability, the spread of nuclear weapons, and the emergence of cyber warfare.
As the Vice Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, I support smart and strategic investments in our national defense that ensure our servicemen and women are the most skilled and the best trained and equipped fighting force in the world. I am also focused on improving military health care, ending military sexual assault, and supporting international military-to-military cooperation to prevent conflicts.
More on Defense & National Security
March 6, 2018
Press Release
Representatives Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.) and Chris Smith (R-N.J.) introduced a three-year reauthorization of their Global Food Security Act, reaffirming the United States’ commitment to fighting hunger and poverty worldwide. The bipartisan Global Food Security Reauthorization Act of 2018 (H.R. 5129) ensures that the vital Feed the Future Initiative continues through 2021.
February 26, 2018
Press Release
"Throughout my career in Congress I have felt an obligation to speak out and advance policies that reflect the best of American leadership in the world — from fighting HIV/AIDS, to improving food security for the world’s poorest, to efforts to prevent teenage girls into forced marriages."
February 9, 2018
Press Release
“The severity of the Porter scandal demands President Trump to immediately fire White House Chief of Staff John Kelly. Mr. Kelly has jeopardized national security by allowing his subordinate, White House Staff Secretary Rob Porter — who was never granted a permanent security clearance — to control the President of the United States’ most highly classified documents. Mr. Kelly empowered and defended a domestic abuser in a highly sensitive role despite evidence from the FBI that he could not receive a security clearance."
February 9, 2018
Press Release
"My vote last night supports education, environmental protection, and public safety, prevents layoffs at our Community Health Centers, extends the Children’s Health Insurance Program, and devotes new resources to the opioid epidemic and veterans’ health care."
January 30, 2018
Press Release
"The most basic fundamental responsibility of Congress is to provide adequate and timely funding for the entire federal government – both our national defense and our domestic priorities – for a full fiscal year. The fact that this bill is on the floor for a third time highlights the absolute failure of the Republican majority to advance a responsible budget process."
January 22, 2018
Press Release
“Minnesotans get absolutely nothing from this 17-day stopgap spending bill that papers over the abject failure of President Trump and the Republican Congress to agree on a budget and pass appropriations bills. The Republican strategy of lurching from one continuing resolution to the next will continue to cause serious damage to our national security and erode the vital services that families, businesses, and communities depend upon."
January 22, 2018
Press Release
"It is time for President Trump and the Republicans to stop the political games, end the chaos, and work in good faith across the aisle on an agreement that provides long-term budget certainty and addresses our urgent priorities. I hope that Republicans will do that. But even if they won’t, they should at least work with us now to ensure that our women and men in uniform, active duty, reservists and the National Guard, are not punished for their failure to govern responsibly."
January 20, 2018
Press Release
"I grew up in a military family and I understand the sacrifices that our service members and their families make. I know that all of us - Democrats and Republicans - agree that it is just plain wrong to ask our men and women in uniform to put their lives on the line without pay. That’s why I’ve introduced the Pay Our Military Act of 2018."
January 20, 2018
Press Release
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-Minn.), a senior member of the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, today introduced the Pay Our Military Act of 2018. This legislation provides pay to our servicemen and women, and death gratuities to the families of fallen heroes, during the Trump-Republican government shutdown.
January 20, 2018
Press Release
“President Donald Trump and the Republicans have total control of Washington, but have consistently refused to work with Democrats to fund the federal government or address a long list of urgent national priorities. As we reach the one-year anniversary of the Trump presidency, tonight's government shutdown demonstrates the real consequences of the chaos emanating from an incompetent White House and of Congressional Republicans’ complete failure to govern."