National Defense

Providing for the common defense is the foremost Constitutional obligation of our government. Equally important, it is a sacred contract we maintain with our men and women in uniform who sacrifice on a daily basis so that we may enjoy our rights and freedoms here at home. Unfortunately, for far too long Congress has failed to provide our service members with the resources they need to safely carry out their duty. I am committed to ending over $900 billion in destructive and arbitrary defense cuts and rebuilding America's military capabilities.

I am passionate about renewing our nation's defenses because I believe in peace through strength. I want would-be aggressors to look at America's military and realize that potential gains from conquest are not worth the inevitable American response. Maintaining a military beyond challenge is an investment in a stable and secure world. It takes resources and dedication, but it is ultimately a bargain compared to the horrors and destruction of war.

As a Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces and Readiness subcommittees on the House Armed Services Committee, I proudly advocate for the hardworking men and women of Marinette Marine and the Navy's Littoral Combat Ship.

Sponsored Legislation:

• H. Res. 994 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Marine Corps faces significant readiness challenges and that budgetary uncertainty impedes the Corps' ability to meet ongoing and unexpected national security threats, putting United States national security at risk.

Co-Sponsored Legislation:

• H.R. 1441 - Repeal Sequestration for Defense Act
• H.R. 2994 – Securing the Homeland by Increasing our Power on the Seas (SHIPS) Act
• H.R. 2912 – Advancing America's Missile Defense Act of 2017
• H.R. 2564 – Requiring an annual report on the personnel, training, and equipment needs of the non-federalized National Guard
• H.R. 2052 – The Protecting the Rights of Individuals Against Technological Exploitation (PRIVATE) Act

• H.R. 941 - 12 Carrier Act

• H.R. 5731 - Securing Our Schools Act

• H. Res. 984 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the use of continuing resolutions to fund defense-related activities erodes military readiness and poses an unacceptable risk to the national security of the United States.

• H. Res. 995 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the Nation now faces a more complex and grave set of threats than at any time since the end of World War II, and that the lack of full, on-time funding related to defense activities puts servicemen and servicewomen at risk, harms national security, and aids the adversaries of the United States.

• H. Res. 998 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Navy's total readiness remains in a perilous state due to high operational demands, increased deployment lengths, shortened training periods, and deferred maintenance all while the Navy is asked to "do more with less" as financial support for critical areas waned in the era of sequestration and without consistent Congressional funding.

• H. Res. 1007 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that not fully resourcing the United States Army in a timely manner erodes the Army's ability to maintain readiness and poses risk to the Army's ability to conduct military operations.

• H. Res. 1009 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the lack of timely and predictable funding unnecessarily undermines the mission of the United States Special Operations Command and jeopardizes the security of the United States.

• H. Res. 1010 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Air Force faces significant readiness challenges due to insufficient personnel levels, a shrinking and depleted aircraft fleet, and maintenance deferrals, all of which are affected by budgetary uncertainty and impede the Air Force's ability to meet ongoing and unexpected national security threats, putting United States national security at risk.

Caucus Membership:

• House National Security Caucus (Co-Chair)
• House Navy and Marine Corps Caucus
• House National Guard and Reserve Caucus
• House Army Caucus
• House Air Force Caucus
• House Special Operations (SOCOM) Caucus

Op-eds:

• Press Gazette: Navy spending is sound investment
• Proceedings Today: The Navy Must Be Forward
• Texas National Security Review: Changing Course: Making the Case (Old and New) for American Seapower
• War on the Rocks: Toward Total Defense ManufacturingVisibility
• War on the Rocks: Hedging Our Bets: Reviving Defense Industrial Surge Capacity
• ​The Hill: Congress Must Pass a Budget Deal to Rebuild America