National Defense
One of the greatest honors of my life was to wear our nation’s uniform as a commander in the U.S. Army Reserve and Iowa Army National Guard. Today, as the first female combat veteran elected to the Senate, I stand by the same oath of office as when I first commissioned as an officer – to support and defend the Constitution of the United States.
As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, I remain committed to ensuring we provide our military with the tools to defend our nation and preserve our values and to guarantee that the United States maintains the most lethal, modernized fighting force in the world.
Each year, I work with my colleagues on the annual defense bill, the National Defense Authorization Act, to equip our military to meet, defeat, and continue to protect the homeland from external threats. From making momentous reform to combat sexual assault within our military, to ensuring proper-fitting equipment is readily available to our female servicemembers, to promoting emerging technologies, and prolonging Iowa’s role in helping maintain our national defense, we’ve seen tremendous success.
The protection of Americans at home also requires the United States to assert itself abroad by partnering with willing nations that desire our shared values of security and prosperity. America’s leadership and presence around the globe creates stability and security at home and keeps the fight far from our shores. Whether it was President Biden’s haphazard and heartbreaking exit from Afghanistan, his failure to take proactive action against Putin, or his attempts to cozy up to the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism, Iran; America cannot appease our adversaries.
Finally, an important component of our defense apparatus, and one close to my heart, are the valuable contributions of our National Guard and Reserve forces. I am particularly proud of our Iowa Guard and their participation and support of the State Sponsorship Program. For years, Iowans and our Iowa National Guard have modeled the ideal State Partnership relationship with our partners in Kosovo.
I will continue my work in the Senate, to uphold my oath to protect Iowans and all Americans from enemies foreign and domestic and provide for the common defense.
More on National Defense
