Florida has 20 major military installations, including three of ten Unified Combatant Commands: U.S. Central Command, U.S. Southern Command, and U.S. Special Operations Command. Additionally, over 69,000 active-duty personnel, 205,000 military retirees, and 1.5 million veterans call Florida home.
As a retired Naval aviator who deployed in several global conflicts and sat on the House Armed Services Committee, I understand the challenges facing our men and women in uniform, as well as what is required to keep our country safe.
Now more than ever, America’s leadership in the world is critical. We are in an era of Great Power Competition with China and Russia, coupled with threats from rogue regimes in Iran and North Korea. We must provide the necessary resources to ensure we have the best equipped and most lethal fighting force on the globe. Our military solely exists to provide for our common defense by being prepared to fight and win wars, if called upon to do so. Our service members should never be used for social experiments or to advance a political agenda.
As a member of the Armed Services Committee in my first term, I secured several key provisions in the Fiscal Years 2022 and 2023 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). These provisions include:
- Providing congressional oversight of the Afghanistan Withdrawal
- Supporting small businesses working in the artificial intelligence sector
- Enhancing the Department of Defense’s cybersecurity
- Modernizing our fighting force
- Funding the new KC-46 refueling tanker program
In the 118th Congress, I now serve on the House Appropriations Committee. In this capacity, I will continue to support a strong military well-equipped to face the challenges of the 21st century. I will also work to ensure fiscal discipline when national security and defense spending priorities come to the full committee and House floor for a vote.