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.
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Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-D) issued the following statement in response to the terrorist attacks in Brussels today:
Ms. McCOLLUM of Minnesota: Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to the Conference Report to Accompany H.R. 1735, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016.
Washington, DC – Today, Congresswoman Betty McCollum (MN-04) released the following statement in response to the announcement that members of the Minnesota National Guard Red Bull 34th Infantry Division Headquarters will be mobilized in the Spring of 2015 to provide command and control support for U.S. troops involved in Operation United Assistance supporting the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) response to the Ebola virus outbreak in Western Africa.
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (DFL-MN) issued the following statement on the 13th Anniversary of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on the United States:
Washington, DC – Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN) was informed this week that the National Guard Bureau is facing a $101 million budget shortfall as the September 30th end of the federal fiscal year approaches. The Minnesota National Guard will be forced to reduce personnel and training expenditures by $3.6 million to help solve this budget problem. All state and territorial Army National Guard units have also been asked to delay drills until the end of September.
Congresswoman McCollum issued the following statement in response:
Washington, DC – President Obama has authorized targeted military airstrikes against the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) to protect American officials in northern Iraq, as well as Kurds, Christians, and Yazidis, a religious minority under siege by ISIS. The President also authorized a humanitarian mission to airdrop food and water for the Yazidis, which began yesterday. This morning, the Pentagon announced that the U.S. Air Force had conducted limited military strikes against ISIS militants in northern Iraq.
Washington, DC – Yesterday, the National Guard announced that it would be ending its $32 million annual sponsorship of NASCAR driver Dale Earnhardt, Jr., as well as ending their $12 million contract with IndyCar driver Graham Rahal. In addition to NASCAR and IndyCar, the Pentagon’s professional sports marketing efforts have wasted more than $1 billion of taxpayer funds on professional fishing, motocross, World Wrestling Entertainment, and cage fighting since the program’s inception.