Renewing Our Focus

May is Military Appreciation Month - a time to honor those who have bravely sacrificed to serve our country and those who are currently defending our nation both at home and abroad. Let us renew our focus on what we can do to offer greater support to our servicemen and women at our 15 major military installations in the state and to the nearly 1.7 million veterans who call Texas home.

The United States is at a crossroads when it comes to meeting the diverse threats we face today while simultaneously preparing our armed forces for the ever-evolving future threats headed our way tomorrow.

A modern military that can continue to keep our nation safe for generations to come is a bipartisan, non-negotiable priority. Like Texas families, our military needs budget stability and the ability to plan long-term so our warfighters have the resources and training they need.

By putting the Pentagon on a dependable and predictable budget, Congress has a tremendous opportunity to support our military’s missions, take care of our service members and their families, and prepare for the next generation of war fighting.

The United States can’t maintain our status as the top military in the world with the self-destructive drama of potential government shutdowns and never-ending continuing resolutions. It’s time to get back to the basics of governing.

I’m working with my colleagues in the Senate to develop a coherent approach to budgeting for national security that will keep our fiscal house in order while deterring our enemies and reassuring our allies. Congress needs to address the behemoth that is all government spending, but taking a look at how best to support our military is a good place to start.