National Security

The brave men and women serving in Iraq and Afghanistan deserve our full support, but lasting peace in the region will require a diplomatic solution. President Obama has begun to rebuild relationships that were fractured during the Bush Administration's eight years of belligerence. The importance of our perception in the world cannot be underestimated; closing the Guantanamo Bay detention center takes a recruiting tool away from Al Qaeda, and forging a stronger coalition with the Afghan government than we did in Iraq is critical for long-term peace and stability in the region. To more effectively defend our nation in today's world, we must reform the defense procurement process so we as taxpayers get our money's worth and stop undermining operational readiness.

* Rep. Biggert voted YES to authorize the Iraq war, NO on withdrawing troops, NO on combat pay bonuses for our troops.