Keeping America Safe

Earlier this month, radical Islamic terrorists carried out a failed attack on Texas soil in Garland. The Texas attack comes at a time when the Middle East continues to unravel and ISIS remains on the march. In this time of rising threats—it is clear to me that we must defeat and destroy ISIS—and use all the tools available to keep our communities safe.

This week, the House of Representatives is expected to vote on two bills concerning our national security; the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2016, and the USA FREEDOM Act. The NDAA authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and provides the resources needed for our military to carry out its mission. The USA FREEDOM Act modifies the surveillance techniques of our security agencies, while reauthorizing key provisions of the Patriot Act to gather intelligence on suspected terrorists and prevent future attacks.

As the debate in Congress continues, I am focused on providing for a strong national defense that can defeat the terrorist threat while appropriately balancing our civil liberties.