Defense & National Security
More on Defense & National Security
September 10, 2014
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement after the President’s address to the nation on ISIL:
“After the execution of two American journalists and numerous human rights violations against Syrian and Iraqi civilians, it is clear that ISIL poses a serious and dangerous threat to the stability of the region and potentially to the United States itself. Tonight, the President laid out a thoughtful but narrowly defined strategy to deal with this immediate threat that includes a broad international coalition of our allies and no American ground troops. The President’s strategy will continue to protect U.S. military and non-military personnel, civilians, and those providing humanitarian assistance in the region. Any additional action, however, should be taken only with the authorization of Congress.
August 12, 2014
By Hugh Lessig, The Daily Press
PORTSMOUTH – Having escaped Washington for a few weeks, Rep. Robert C. "Bobby" Scott decided to catch up on some homework Tuesday — of the defense-related variety.
The Newport News Democrat spent part of the afternoon touring W&O Premier, a defense contractor in Portsmouth that manufactures components for Navy ships, including the nuclear-powered aircraft carriers built and maintained at Newport News Shipbuilding, not far from where the congressman lives.
Issues:Defense & National Security
August 8, 2014
NEWPORT NEWS, VA – Congressman Robert C. “Bobby” Scott issued the following statement regarding the President’s recent actions in Iraq:
“As the President clearly stated last night, there is no American military solution to the crisis in Iraq and the only lasting solution is reconciliation among Iraqi communities and a stronger, stable Iraqi government. The President has described the humanitarian aid and limited airstrikes as necessary to protect American troops in northern Iraq and assist Iraqi civilians fleeing the horrific threats of violence from the ISIL terrorist group.
July 30, 2014
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Sens. Mark R. Warner (D-VA), Tim Kaine (D-VA), and U.S. Reps. Rob Wittman (R-1st), Scott Rigell (R-2nd) and Bobby Scott (D-3rd) today met with U.S. Air Force Assistant Secretary Kathleen Ferguson, Deputy Chief Management Officer Mr. Bill Booth and Major General Theresa Carter for a briefing on proposed personnel reductions at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia. Today’s meeting followed a July 15th letter sent to by the Virginia delegation to the Secretary of the Air Force requesting a thorough briefing of the proposed personnel reductions, and the status of efforts to locate a new Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC).
July 29, 2014
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.) introduced a Senate version of H.R. 3361, the USA FREEDOM Act, which ends domestic bulk collection and reforms the government’s surveillance of United States citizens. On May 22, 2014, the House of Representatives passed the USA FREEDOM Act by a vote of 302-121. Senator Leahy’s version of the bill includes a new definition of “specific selection term” that addresses many of the concerns aimed at the House-passed compromise legislation.
“Senator Leahy’s introduction of the USA FREEDOM Act reinforces our commitment to protecting the civil liberties and rights of all Americans.
July 16, 2014
WASHINGTON, D.C. – In a joint letter, U.S. Senators Mark Warner, Tim Kaine and U.S. Congressmen Bobby Scott, Randy Forbes, Scott Rigell and Rob Wittman urged Secretary of the Air Force Deborah James to consider Virginia’s Joint Base Langley-Eustis as a location for the future Air Force Installation and Mission Support Center (AFIMSC). Locating the new facility there would help minimize the impact of 742 positions being eliminated at Langley-Eustis as part of the Air Force’s consolidation plans announced this week.
“Virginia is more connected to the military than any other state,” the members wrote. “We believe the existing infrastructure, military-friendly environment, and close proximity to major commands and other Service installations, make it an ideal location for this headquarters.”
June 23, 2014
By Bill Bartel, The Virginian Pilot
U.S. Rep. Bobby Scott said he's pleased Obama has flatly ruled out sending ground troops back into Iraq.
"I think there's just an overwhelming opposition to getting re-involved in a ground war in Iraq," Scott said, adding that the president should keep the option open to intervene in some other way if necessary.
May 22, 2014
Mr. Speaker, I join the author of the bill, the gentleman from Wisconsin and chair of the Judiciary Committee's Subcommittee on Crime, Mr. Sensenbrenner; my colleague from Virginia, the chair of the full committee, Mr. Goodlatte; the gentleman from Michigan and ranking member, Mr. Conyers; Mr. Nadler; and my colleague from Virginia (Mr. Forbes) for proposing this amended version of the USA FREEDOM Act. I commend my colleagues for working together to develop a bipartisan approach to addressing some of the shortcomings in our foreign intelligence surveillance statutes.
May 22, 2014
Washington, D.C. – The House of Representatives today approved by a vote of 302-121 the USA Freedom Act (H.R. 3361), a bipartisan bill authored by Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security, and Investigations Subcommittee Chairman Jim Sensenbrenner (R-Wisc.) that ends bulk collection of data by the government and reforms our nation’s intelligence-gathering programs operated under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA).
February 25, 2014
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Robert C. "Bobby" Scott (VA-03) issued the following statement on yesterday's preview by Secretary of Defense Chuck Hagel of the Department of Defense's Fiscal Year 2015 budget:"Secretary Chuck Hagel's Defense budget preview highlights the budget quagmire we have gotten ourselves into by prioritizing unaffordable tax cuts over addressing sequestration. The recently passed Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 only alleviated the impacts of sequestration for two years and, as the Secretary pointed out, if full sequestration funding reductions return in 2016, the consequences will be dire for military readiness.