My most sacred duty as your representative is to maintain the safety of all Americans and it is a responsibility that I take very seriously.

Throughout most of the 20th century, the U.S. reigned supreme as one of the biggest global superpowers. And during the Cold War with the former Soviet Union, our primary focus on foreign policy was on protecting Americans. Things became more dangerous though after the Soviet nations fell. As we progress through this new century, it is imperative that the U.S. work with our allies and partners around the world to face these challenges and work to integrating nations into the global community.

We can no longer afford to have the mindset that the U.S. is some global cowboy who can ride into complex international situations and fix them single-handedly. Yet we must not remove ourselves from the world stage. The U.S. is still a global leader. Instead, we should be expanding our diplomatic corps and enhancing our soft power tools to win over nations. Working with our partners and allies to solve these problems will help stave off potentially costly conflicts, while saving lives and tax dollars at the same time.

But not everything will turn out so rosy and I recognize that our armed forces must be prepared to respond to threats. I have long supported streamlining the Department of Defense to reduce redundant positions, update technology, and lessen our reliance on outdated weapon systems. DOD’s budget is incredibly bloated after decades of war. They must not be burdened with outdated and unwanted weapon systems only because it benefits some Congressional committee member’s district. Our military must modernize and be adaptable to the challenges our nation faces, both here and in the future. That is why I continue to offer my amendments to the annual Defense Authorization Act. Congress must make sure that the Pentagon focuses on getting their fiscal house in order.