America's security is under constant threat. I believe we have a responsibility to maintain America's military preparedness against all foreseeable threats. An aggressive China, a resurgent Russia, the proliferation of nuclear weapons from the former Soviet Union, rogue nations from the Middle East to the Korean Peninsula, and the rise of ISIS and other radical Islamic terrorists intent on killing innocent victims around the world are just a few of the potential security threats we must be ready to address without warning.
The brave soldiers, sailors, airmen, Marines, and national guardsmen who protect our nation at home and abroad, each and every day, deserve our support -- and they deserve better than they've received in recent years. Servicemen and women sent into harm's way should be the best trained in the world, and the best equipped. When they return home from service, our veterans should in be served by a swift and efficient Department of Veterans Affairs. Today, however, our VA is backlogged with years of claims sitting unprocessed. The men and women who fought for our nation are treated with neglect by an inefficient bureaucracy, and this must end. As a 5th generation military officer, I am committed to preserving America's armed forces, and protecting our national security from all threats.