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
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) expressed concern with the U.S. Department of Defense (DOD) and its plan to institute mandatory furloughs for civilian workers. These furloughs will amount to 11 days of unpaid leave starting July 8 until the end of the fiscal year. Nearly 800,000 workers will be affected in order for DOD to meet the required budget cuts set by sequestration. However, navy shipyards will be exempt from these mandatory furlough days.
The Oklahoman - Chris Casteel
Rep. Tom Cole called Monday for a special committee to investigate the terrorist attack that killed four Americans, including a U.S. ambassador, in Libya last year.
Cole, R-Moore, said he had signed on to legislation that would create a select committee to review the killings in Benghazi, which are the subject of an ongoing investigation by the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee.
Tulsa World
Fourth District Rep. Tom Cole joined Republicans on Monday clamoring for further investigation into last year's terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
Cole said he is signing on as a co-sponsor of House Resolution 36, which would create a select committee to investigate the matter. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in the attack, and Republicans say the Obama administration mishandled its initial response and then tried to cover up its failures.
More than eight months ago on September 11, the nation was shaken by the attack on our consulate in Benghazi, Libya. Claiming the lives of four innocent Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens, that horrific night still demands further investigation before it can be laid to rest. Due to an uncooperative Administration and State Department who attempted to downplay the terrorist attack just eight weeks before the presidential election, we still don’t know the truth.
Washington, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) announced support of H. Res. 36, legislation that would create a select committee to investigate the Benghazi terrorist attacks that claimed the lives of four Americans, including Ambassador Christopher Stevens. Both the supposed preventative actions and responses provided by the State Department and Obama Administration shortly after the September attack are still under scrutiny.
Tulsa World - Staff Report
Fourth District Rep. Tom Cole joined Republicans on Monday clamoring for further investigation into last year's terrorist attack on the U.S. consulate in Benghazi, Libya.
Cole said he is signing on as a co-sponsor of House Resolution 36, which would create a select committee to investigate the matter. Ambassador Christopher Stevens and three other Americans were killed in the attack, and Republicans say the Obama administration mishandled its initial response and then tried to cover up its failures.
The "Accountability Review Board" assembled by the State Department to investigate security failures leading to the Benghazi terror attack has released a report that fails to hold any senior officials accountable for the assault that claimed four American lives.
The Hill - Pete Kasperowicz
Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla.) is calling on Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to speed up the process of reforming the department's internal postal service to ensure that members of the U.S. armed forces get their absentee ballots on time.
"For years our overseas service members have faced longstanding obstacles to their participation in elections," Cole wrote to Panetta in a letter he released Monday.
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Tom Cole (OK-04) today sent a letter to Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta urging him modernize the military voting system in order to remove obstacles overseas military service members face in exercising their voting rights. Cole made the following comment about the issue: