Issue Position: Defense & Foreign Affairs

Issue Position

As a graduate of West Point and a former infantry officer, Senator Reed knows the risks our Armed Forces face every day. Reed voted against the Iraq war and offered a plan to responsibly bring our troops home and refocus our efforts on the threats coming from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Through his work on the Armed Services and Appropriations Committees, he works tirelessly to ensure that America's fighting men and women have the equipment they need and the benefits they deserve.

Senator Reed believes that the United States should also be engaged in diplomacy to support our allies and build stronger relationships with emerging nations. He has focused on arms control and non-proliferation efforts to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists and continues to support expanding our development programs, which contribute to global security.

Reed has also secured hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to bolster Rhode Island's defense industry, create more high-paying jobs, and expand opportunities for local businesses. Rhode Island's 16,000 defense workers make a valuable contribution to our national security and generate more than $1.75 billion in local economic activity each year. Reed has worked hard not only to maintain the U.S. Navy's presence in Rhode Island, but to expand it by bringing additional commands, institutions, and projects to Naval Station Newport, such as the Navy Supply Corps School, which was previously located in Athens, Georgia.

Key Priorities & Accomplishments

Senator Reed was one of the first to call for better body armor and up-armored vehicles for our troops in the field.
As the Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, Reed helped secure $1.2-billion for the construction of the two second new Virginia-class submarines per year. The Virginia class submarine is a critical component of our national defense capabilities, and Rhode Island plays a vital role in its construction.
Reed helped ratify the New START Treaty, an important agreement between the U.S. and Russia that reduces the number of strategic nuclear weapons, builds on previous treaties, and contributes to countering nuclear proliferation throughout the world.
To ensure our troops have the best equipment, Senator Reed worked for over a decade to secure eight state-of-the-art C-130J cargo airplanes for the Rhode Island Air National Guard to replace the Guard's aging fleet. These planes help the 143rd Airlift Wing transport troops, equipment, and supplies to combat and humanitarian missions around the world. Over the years, Senator Reed secured $37 million for the construction of a new maintenance hangar for the planes at Quonset Point.

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