Issue Position: Defense and National Security

Issue Position

As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, and Ranking Member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, Susan fully understands America's need for a strong military and the critical role our service members play in our national security. In Congress, she has been a consistent advocate for improving the lives of our service men and women and their families. Susan's role on the House Armed Services Committee provides San Diego with a strong voice on military issues that most affect our community.

Click here for information about the Armed Services Committee and for a schedule of upcoming hearings. Susan also periodically sends out a Defense E-News, updating how defense and veterans policies coming out of Washington will impact San Diego County. You can sign up to get Susan's Defense E-News here.
Military Personnel Subcommittee

Susan's passion for improving the lives of military families drives her as Ranking Member on the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel.

The Subcommittee's focus centers on healthcare, recruitment and retention, education, and transition from the service to civilian life. A leading advocate for military families in San Diego and around the world, Susan joins her colleagues in conducting thoughtful hearings.

Susan has devoted countless hours addressing number of key issues, including sexual assault, women in combat, military suicides, and TBI/PTSD. Susan's passion for our service men and women drives her to fight for their rights and create an equal and fair environment for anyone who desires to succeed in the military.
Military Sexual Assault

Sexual assault within the ranks is not only harmful to its victims but it is antithetical to the trust and camaraderie that defines military culture. Any sexual assault undermines the moral foundation of our Armed Forces and does irreparable harm to unit cohesion. As the then-Chair and current Ranking Member of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, Susan has taken a leading role to put policies in place to prevent sexual assault in the ranks and to prosecute these crimes.

Moving forward, Susan will continue to press military leaders on the need to implement, enforce and improve upon the policies put in place to end sexual assault in our military.
Military Suicides

With the number of suicides and attempted suicides of our returning warriors at alarming rates, Susan has been working with her colleagues and the Department of Defense to ensure that every resource is available for our brave men and women.
Readiness Subcommittee

Ensuring our men and women in uniform have the tools and resources to carry out their mission has always been a top priority to Susan. Susan serves as one of the most senior members of the Readiness Subcommittee, which oversees military readiness, training, and logistics; and deployment preparation and processes. The Subcommittee also has jurisdiction over military construction, depot policy, housing issues, and the base closure process.

From her position on the Readiness and Military Personnel Subcommittees, she will be a voice for San Diego's servicemembers and their need to have the best equipment, training and benefits available to them.
Supporting the Naval Fleet

As the home to one of the largest concentrations of naval forces in the world, the regional economy of San Diego benefits significantly from federal defense spending. In fact, defense spending impacts more than 300,000 jobs, a number that has grown steadily over the past decade. Susan works hard to maintain the unique economic role played by San Diego's defense community, especially small businesses.

Susan continues to push the Department of Defense to meet the requirement enacted by Congress to maintian a Naval Fleet of at least 11 aircarft carriers, which are a key component to combat operations and humanitarian refief efforts.

Susan was proud to welcome to USS John P Murtha as the Navy announced that the San Antonio-class amphibious landing ship will be homeported in San Diego.

The USNS Lewis B. Puller, recently christened in San Diego, is a prime example of the role shipbuilding jobs play in our region. The contract to build the Puller helped preserve 3,600 San Diego jobs. Susan has long been a strong and vocal supporter of the MLP program and the need to bring more shipbuilding contracts to San Diego's "working waterfront."

Having the Navy to continue multi-ship multi-option (MSMO) contracts for naval ships is critical to guaranteeing that ship maintenance of six months or less can be accomplished at its homeport. This means increasing the number of jobs for San Diego. Susan continues to press this issue with the Navy.

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