Defense and National Security
Congress has no greater responsibility than to provide our military with the training and resources it needs to meet the growing security challenges around the world. As a senior member of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, I am a champion for a strong national defense and returning fiscal discipline to the Pentagon. I support a strong military and believe one of my greatest responsibilities is to support a force postured to meet the challenges of the 21st century.
A long-term debt reduction plan remains the most divisive and elusive issue before Congress. In the face of unprecedented budgetary and fiscal challenges, I firmly believe that a broader discussion and debate must take place that includes Medicare and Social Security in the conversation. It is imperative that Congress confront the difficult budget decisions now, so that national security programs can continue to be funded at a level that ensures our armed forces are trained and equipped to meet any number of growing national security threats facing the United States.
Supporting our National Guard and Reserves
The National Guard provides a broad range of capabilities and is essential to our war fighting strategy. The Guard participates in exercises with allied forces, serves as the first line of defense for threats to the homeland and responds to disasters. The Reserves provide operational flexibility and strategic depth to combatant commanders as a key part of our national security architecture. As world events require, the Guard and Reserve will have a long and enduring role. I support fairness in pay and benefits for all Guard and Reserve members, their families and retirees as they continue to play an essential role as part of the Total Force.
Strengthening Fort Sill
Located right in the Fourth District, Fort Sill is the largest field artillery complex in the world. Home to the primary training facility for field artillery Soldiers and Marines, worldwide, the Field Artillery School trains approximately 9,000 students a year in basic combat, one-station unit training and advanced individual training. The Air Defense Artillery (ADA) Branch returned to Fort Sill from Fort Bliss more than 10 years ago and is an integral part of the Fort Sill community. Designated as the Fires Center of Excellence for the Army, soldiers and leaders are trained and educated in Fires readiness and joint operations. I will continue to support efforts to ensure the Fires community has the equipment, tools and infrastructure necessary to develop the right mix of capabilities for the future. During my tenure in Congress, Fort Sill has become the home of air defense artillery. This new mission has brought 2,500 new soldiers to Fort Sill and led to more than a billion dollars in new funding.
To find more information about Fort Sill please visit sill-www.army.mil.
Strengthening Tinker Air Force Base
Tinker Air Force Base is the home to six major Department of Defense, Air Force and Navy activities with critical national defense missions. With more than 26,000 military and civilian employees, Tinker is the largest single-site employer in Oklahoma and has a $3.6 billion economic impact on the state's economy each year.
The complex is responsible for the maintenance, repair and overhaul of a myriad of Air Force and Navy airborne accessory components. In addition, work at Tinker includes the development, sustainment and testing of operational flight programs, test program sets, test equipment and industrial automation software.
Recent improvements in manufacturing and quality control have made Tinker a nationwide leader in innovation. Resulting cost savings and increased capacity will allow Tinker to do even more work for the Air Force and other customers. Tinker has been a preeminent lead in its use of LEAN and Six Sigma Process Reform, which has greatly increased the utilization of depot capabilities. Throughout my time in Congress, I have worked with Tinker to ensure it has the resources needed to continually reform and rethink its depot maintenance process and adapt to the changing demands of an aging fleet. To find more information about Tinker AFB, visit tinker.af.mil.
More on Defense and National Security
Defense News - John T. Bennett
Widespread opposition has yet to form around any single Pentagon proposal to cut a specific weapon system, indicating most could be implemented despite lawmakers’ protestations on behalf of parochial interests.
Some lawmakers and analysts were quick to dismiss the Pentagon’s 2015 budget plan as dead on arrival. After all, it called for big troop cuts, politically radioactive troop benefit cuts, left some wondering if 11 aircraft carriers are affordable, and cut entire fleets of A-10 attack aircraft and U-2 spy planes.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement after the United States Air Force announced force structure changes in light of the president’s fiscal year 2015 budget proposal.
Last month, President Obama filed his annual budget blueprint for fiscal year 2015. While the contents of his proposal have been a major topic of discussion in the news since then, its official release on March 4 will determine the next steps for lawmakers, who must work together to ultimately find a common agreement.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), a member of the Appropriations Subcommittee on Defense, released the following statement after Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel revealed cuts to the Department of Defense in President Obama’s budget for fiscal year 2015. Among many of the proposed changes, the Army would see a reduction from 522,000 soldiers to between 450,000 and 490,000; the Army National Guard would see a reduction from 355,000 to 335,000 by 2017.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04), along with members of the entire Oklahoma delegation, today sent a letter to FAA Administrator Michael P. Huerta requesting a detailed briefing regarding the recent selection of unmanned aerial systems (UAS) test sites. Prior to the December 30th announcement, Oklahoma was one of about two dozen states vying to serve as a location.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) joined with House colleagues to urge Defense Secretary Chuck Hagel, Acting Homeland Security Secretary Rand Beers and OMB Director Sylvia Burwell to properly enforce the Pay Our Military Act. This letter was sent after hundreds of thousands of Department of Defense, U.S. Coast Guard civilians and members of the National Guard were furloughed.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) remembered the tragedy of September 11, when planes were hijacked twelve years ago by terrorists and crashed into the World Trade Centers in New York City, the Pentagon in Arlington, Virginia, and killed passengers on Flight 93 when it crashed in a field near Stoneycreek Township, Pennsylvania. He also remembered the terrorist attacks on the United States consulate in Benghazi, Libya, that resulted in the death of four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens.
Norman, OK - Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement to express his opposition of any American military intervention in Syria.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) released the following statement after the House passed H.R. 2397, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, on Wednesday. The legislation provides funding for critical security programs, supports our dedicated troops and continues current military operations.
Washington, D.C. - Congressman Eliot Engel (D-NY-16)and Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL-27) introduced the Open Fuel Standard Act (H.R. 2493) which wouldrequire 30 percent of new automobiles in 2016, 50 percent in 2017, and 50 percent in each subsequent year, to operate on nonpetroleum fuels in addition to or instead of petroleum based fuels. The bill also features original co-sponsors Reps. Steve Israel (D-NY-03), Allyson Schwartz (D-PA-13), Tom Cole (R-OK-04), Collin Peterson (D-MN-07) and Del. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam).