This upcoming Sunday, the people of Venezuela will hold an election that, if legitimate, would put an end to years of the oppressive Maduro narco-regime. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) issued a statement in support of the Venezuelan people: “The...
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Rubio: “La Tenacidad y Valentía del Pueblo venezolano Estarán a la Vista”
Este próximo domingo, el pueblo venezolano tendrá una elección que, de ser legítima, pondría fin a años de opresión por parte del narco-régimen de Maduro. El senador estadounidense Marco Rubio (R-FL) grabó un mensaje de video en español y emitió una declaración en...
Rubio, Scott, Colleagues to Biden Admin: No Privileges Should Be Given to 9/11 Terrorist
Twenty-three years ago, the United States was attacked by Islamic terrorists on September 11, 2001. Now, Zacarias Moussaoui, the only person convicted in a U.S. court for his role in the attack, has requested the U.S. Department of Justice to allow a prisoner transfer...
Next Week: Rubio Staff Hosts Mobile Office Hours
U.S. Senator Marco Rubio’s (R-FL) office will host virtual Mobile Office Hours next week to assist constituents with federal casework issues in their respective local communities. These office hours offer constituents who do not live close to one of Senator Rubio’s...
Rubio, Colleagues Introduce Ensuring Continuity in Veterans’ Health Act
As the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) opens up new facilities, many veterans are losing access to the VA’s Community Care Program and, consequently, their long-term healthcare providers. Veterans throughout the country have reported a loss of care, including...
Rubio Introduces Bill to Strengthen U.S.-India Security Partnership
The U.S.-India partnership is vital to countering influences from Communist China. In order to strengthen this partnership, it is essential to enhance our strategic diplomatic, economic, and military relationship with New Delhi. U.S. Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL)...
The Past & the Future of America’s National Defense
One year ago, America’s persistence and bravery resulted in a moment nearly ten years in the making, the death of Osama Bin Laden. That was an especially proud day for America, one that will always be remembered for the hard work that led to that moment, the President’s decision to move forward and the successful mission executed by Seal Team Six.
Unfortunately, the world remains a dangerous place and requires American leadership to address the numerous security challenges we face at home and abroad. Bin Laden is gone, but there are many more dangerous terrorists around the world who seek our destruction, as well as rogue regimes like Iran and North Korea that pose significant nuclear threats. Having a 21st century military to meet these and other challenges is of critical importance.
Unfortunately, in just eight months, our national defense will be decimated by automatic cuts stemming from last year’s failure to take meaningful steps to tackle our spending-driven debt crisis. Because the so-called Super Committee process failed, it triggered a defense sequestration of automatic, indiscriminate cuts. For years, our nation’s top military leaders have warned that the growing debt posed a significant threat to our national security. Even Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has said these cuts would “weaken our national defense.” And now we are on the clock, facing that reality at year’s end unless we act.
As I tour Northwest Florida this week, I will have the privilege of visiting some of the most important military installations in the country, including Tyndall Air Force Base, the Naval Surface Warfare Center Panama City, Eglin Air Force Base and Hurlburt Field. As a Floridian, I’m proud to represent these areas, which are such a vital part of our national security operations. But the reality is that the work done here has a far-reaching impact that affects all Americans’ security.
Across the country, similar installations that are critically important to our defense also face the prospect of arbitrary cuts because of these automatic defense spending cuts. For the sake of our national security, we need to enact The Down Payment to Protect National Security Act, a bill I cosponsored, which overrides the automatic, across-the-board cuts to our nation’s defense capabilities. The bill replaces the scheduled cuts by reducing the federal workforce through attrition and extending the current pay freeze for federal workers through June 30, 2014. By doing this, the legislation ensures the debt reduction targets laid out in the Budget Control Act are still on track to be met – without endangering our national security at a time when threats both at home and abroad remain very real.
This legislation is one option to help solve this problem, but the reality is Washington needs to have a sense of urgency to help stop these across-the-board cuts from taking full effect in 2013. The longer we wait to address this concern, the more tenuous our national security becomes.