Survey of 2014 Senate campaign websites: on Homeland Security

Nathan LaFrance: Meta-data collection of phone records is unconstitutional

Revelations about current NSA domestic spying programs, being run under the direction of the Obama Administration, have shown an almost complete disregard for our Constitutional rights.

Contrary to administration claims, large-scale meta-data collection of Americans' phone records is a violation of privacy. Through this meta-data, the federal government has access to a tremendous amount of personal information on innocent Americans, including who we speak to, how often we speak with people, where we are located when we make or receive calls and the duration of our calls.

New details continue to emerge on other NSA programs, such as email and internet monitoring. As Americans, we must stand NOW and fight for our rights. Nathan LaFrance will fight to reign in the NSA.

John Buckley: National Defense Authorization Act is Big Brother spying

Randall Batson: Bring our troops home; close bases overseas

Bring our troops home from foreign lands and defend America. Claims that this is isolationism or being naive are incorrect. Peaceful trade and commerce benefits all and is not isolationism but expands peace and prosperity. Examples are our former enemies Vietnam, Japan, and Germany.

Gordon Ball: Ensure our troops receive the support & resources they need

As Senator, I will do all I can to support service members, their families, and veterans. I support fully funding the Veterans Administration, cutting red-tape to help make claims-servicing easier and more streamlined, and improving the quality of life for veterans by increasing compensation and guaranteeing world- class health care in state-of-the-art medical facilities.

I will also work hard to help ease the return to civilian life by supporting a strong GI Bill and ensuring that veterans have world-class medical care and realistic job opportunities.

Kevin Wade: Welcome home America's veterans and serve them

Our freedoms are assured by the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform. These heroes stand watch protecting our families from those who intend to bring harm to our nation. On their return to civilian life, their example of duty and service transforms to a national obligation and duty to serve them as veterans.

Veteran's Programs will address the issues of transition to civilian life and your life journey after service to the nation. Programs of urgent importance include the following:
• Disability and Health/Illness Issues
• Family Issues
• Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
• Substance Abuse (Alcohol or Other Drugs)
• Homelessness/Housing Concerns
• Unemployment/Under employment
• Poverty

Sam Rankin: Reduce our nuclear warhead stockpile & reduce F-35's

Military
• Reduce two front readiness to one and one half.
• Eliminate one leg of our nuclear deterrence.
• Reduce flag ranks dramatically w/ savings into Tricare.
• Reduce our nuclear war head stock pile to around 1500.
• De-commission the USS George Washington and its air wing.
• Reduce to 1400 F-35's and get rid of the F-35B (vertical take off)

Jeanne Shaheen: Tireless advocate for keeping our commitment to veterans

Jeanne Shaheen has been outraged by the backlog at the Department of Veteran's Affairs. She has been an outspoken critic of the issues there and introduced legislation to hire additional local VA staff to work to eliminate the backlog and to fund legal clinics that would help veterans get their care faster.

Jim Risch: Do everything to maintain a fully-equipped military

Connie Johnson: The debt we owe our Veterans is non-negotiable

Terry Adams: Service to Citizens: more veterans' benefits

It is unacceptable that disabled veterans and their caregivers have a backlog of 500,000 benefit claims for services and benefits already earned. It is equally unacceptable that there are 900,000 veterans who are on food assistance and Congress seeks to cut further.

It is the duty of this Nation to take care of those who have volunteered to, if necessary, make the ultimate sacrifice for this country. Perhaps it is because the number of veterans in Congress is at the lowest point since World War II that these issues are not at the forefront of the Congressional agenda. This has to change, not only because our national security is at stake but also because it is the right thing to do.

Terry Adams: Dependence on OPEC leads to foreign entanglements & wars

Terry Adams: Security depends on economic strength AND military might

Dave Domina: No cuts to veterans' pensions or benefits

Joyce Dickerson: Take action against neglect of our veterans

It breaks my heart to learn of the neglectful treatment that veterans from across our great country are experiencing. And in the worst cases, veterans have actually died while waiting for care from several of our VA Hospitals. With proper and timely care, these deaths may have been prevented. We are responsible for looking after those who have looked after us, protecting our freedoms.

Battling this kind of neglect of our veterans is why we need bold and courageous leadership in Washington. As US Senator, I can and will go to battle for our veterans and their families. You can count on me to protect President Lincoln's promise to our veterans. Let's take action!

Jeff Bell: Maintain strong defense; don't scale back anti-terrorism

I agree with Gov. Chris Christie's rebuke of those who want to scale back our anti-terror efforts. It is vital that our government institutions have the resources and ability to do their jobs aimed at protecting us. Our free society is dependent on our national security.

Ben Sasse: Spend to maintain the greatest fighting force the world

Monica Wehby: Put the needs and care of our veterans first

Monica Wehby: Strengthening our armed forces protects our freedoms

John Walsh: Worked to prohibit warrantless cell phone tracking

Bruce Skarin: Individuals control when private information is accessed

Allen Weh: Defense spending has been cut too much

Allen Weh: Defense spending has been cut too much

David Clements: Defend the missions of our military labs and bases

The defense of the nation against foreign military aggression is the most critical role the federal government possesses. In providing for the common defense, we must always maintain the most modern and efficient military, capable of a prompt and overwhelming response to any attack on the United States. This power includes maintaining superior intelligence in the field, communication technology, and anti-ballistic missile capabilities that are suitable to detect and decisively counter any strategic danger.

Senator Tom Udall has consistently failed to defend our installations. Udall played politics and chose not to vote for a bill that would have funded our labs and bases, leaving many hard working families in a state of uncertainty.

Terri Lynn Land: Peace cannot be attained through weakness

We must return to a commonsense foreign policy that puts America's interests first. I believe defending liberty at home and abroad should be the key objective of our foreign policy.

Terri Lynn Land: Focus on rebuilding US first, then national security abroad

Terri's Solutions:
• America's Interests First: Our foreign policy must be based on serving American interests. We should focus on rebuilding America first and foremost. Our involvement in other countries should be limited to those instances where our national security interests are at stake.
• Commit to Our Allies: Our leaders in Washington have spent the past several years trying to make friends with our enemies while ignoring our allies. This makes no sense. We need to demonstrate to our historic allies that our commitment to freedom is as strong as ever.
• Get America's Economy Back on Track: Simply put, the United States cannot afford to lose economic power. Prioritizing our economy serves our national security interests and will allow us to fund the military we need.

Nels Mitchell: Maintain Mountain Home Air Force Base

Milton Wolf: America's military should remain unrivaled

Imagine a government that does not have access to your cell phone calls or email password.

The republic is at stake and I will fight every day to ensure that we leave behind a brighter and more prosperous future for our children.

Rob Maness: Cut red tape standing in the way of our heroes

Lee Bright: Our liberty depends on a strong military

Lee believes one of the core functions of our federal government, as required by the Constitution, is providing America's security. After all, our liberty depends on a strong military.

The Obama administration and Congressional liberals have skillfully used the "sequester" to gut critical defense programs and shift that spending to wasteful domestic spending. Lee will work with other conservatives to make sure our military remains second to none. That doesn't mean that the Pentagon should have a free hand to purchase every new technology a defense contractor comes up with. In the U.S. Senate, Lee will be a deficit hawk with every aspect of the Federal budget, encouraging policy-makers to look for efficiencies in defense as in every other government program.

Sharon Hansen: Get rid of FISA, the NSA, the NDAA, and the TSA

• Stop all the spying on innocent American citizens. This pretty much goes along with cutting the waste. This paranoia of our government is costing the taxpayer billions and billions of dollars. It's unaffordable, it's a waste of money, and it's not productive. The NDAA and NSA need to go. I will work to repeal all the spying programs on US citizens.
• Secret Court needs to go. These people are allowed to change any policy they want. They are costing us money and they are not elected. It's just another set of unjust people that we are paying to rip off the taxpayer. I will work to defund the "secret" court.
• The TSA needs to go. We are being forced to submit to dangerous x-rays, and a personal pat down where some agents go overboard. How do we know these aren't pedophiles patting down our children? This is totally unnecessary. The airlines can do their own security. I will work to get rid of the expensive, intrusive, and ineffective TSA.

Michelle Nunn: One-stop shop for veterans, like Hiring Our Heroes

Although there are many resources available for returning veterans, what has been missing is a one-stop shop. We need one place for anyone in need to go for these housing, educational, mental health and other services provided by generous and grateful Americans. One new collaborative initiative of this kind is the Community Blueprint within Points of Light.

Ben Sasse: Global preeminence essential our nation's interests

• American leadership and global preeminence are essential to advancing our nation's interests and values, and we must maintain a security posture and military and counter-terrorism budgets sufficient to ensure peace through strength and to deter all competitors.
• America is defined by a belief in universal values grounded in human dignity and liberty, and by simultaneous commitments to promoting religious freedom, human rights, and democracy, and to prudential skepticism of unnecessary military entanglements.
• America is faithful in our commitments to allies, who need to know that the US is a reliable friend who will not sacrifice them for the sake of expediency.
• American sovereignty undergirds international legal commitments, & multilateralism is a pragmatic tool to advance our national interests, rather than an end in itself.

Jim Rubens: NSA gathering data on citizens is abusive & unconstitutional

We cannot trust that this data will not be abused, because NSA grants access by tens of thousands of government employees and private contractors. Should I be elected to the U.S. Senate, I will speak out unabashedly against and work to defund and bar such constitutional breaches.

Jim Rubens: War for national security only; world's strongest military

• The Constitution requires Congressional authorization to engage in the bombing war.
• Arrest the murderous tyrant Assad and force him to stand trial before the Hague Tribunal for killing innocent civilians.
• Syria does not pose a threat to US national security. Encourage the regional powers, such as Israel, Turkey, and Saudi Arabia to intervene consistent with their own national interests.
• Dissuade Russia from continuing to arm Assad.
• Transition the US to a military strategy focused on national defense, to fighting wars only where US national security is at stake, and where we have a plan for outright victory. Such a stance will continue to require the US to have the world's strongest and most technologically advanced military.

Matt Silverstein: Support the strongest, most dominant military in the world

Matt is concerned about military readiness due to inefficiencies and redundancies. This reflects the broken culture in Washington DC of constant conflict as opposed to working together in creative cooperation. There's no excuse for our military to be inefficient and Matt will work every day to fight for Oklahoma's military installations, which are being devastated by partisanship and gridlock. Partisan finger pointing is obnoxious and it doesn't advance our collective goal to secure our nation and strengthen Oklahoma's economy with smart investments. Matt believes we need to consolidate redundant programs and zero out ineffective or outdated programs.

Pat McGeehan: Oppose PATRIOT Act and other 4th amendment infringements

Pat McGeehan: National defense is federal government's primary function

Pat McGeehan: Only fight under a US Commander; not a UN Commander

As U.S. Senator, I will support legislation that stops sending foreign aid to countries burning our flag.

Sam Clovis: Military holds a special place in fabric of American society

Today, we face a staggering economy. Through the ill-conceived sequestration apparatus in place today, we are taking half of the required spending cuts out of the Department of Defense. There is little we can do about the sequestration structure now, but as a Senator, I would fight to make sure that our military readiness received top priority.

Cory Booker: Maintain the strongest military force in the world

The military threats of the future look very different than the challenges we faced in the 80s, 90s, or even just a few years ago, and America's military needs to keep up. Without a major adversary like the Soviet Union, smaller nontraditional conflicts and interventions are more likely to be the rule, even as we refocus on asserting power in the Pacific. That is why military spending should be driven by a strategy to meet future threats, rather than an arbitrary number invented for political posturing or an attempt to fight the wars of past.

Cory Booker: Irresponsible to spend on irrelevant weapon systems

Joe Carr: Provide more healthcare and support for veterans

Joe Carr: A powerful military increases the platform of freedom

Matt Bevin: We must keep the strongest military in the world

Matt Bevin: Protect national security without violating civil liberties

Matt believes we have the right to defend our country and our allies when our security and freedom are being threatened, but we cannot sacrifice our constitutional principles in the process. To paraphrase Benjamin Franklin, if we trample on our liberty in the name of security, we will have neither liberty nor security. Matt will fight to protect our constitutional freedoms, including rolling back the Patriot Act and limiting the government's ability to engage in unconstitutional surveillance of American citizens.

Alison Grimes: Reduce veterans' services backlog; support new vets jobs law

I'm committed to serving Kentucky's 350,000 veterans and I will fight for the quality health care, benefits and treatment they have earned. We must expand education and training opportunities for service members and veterans, facilitating public/private partnerships that help them translate their military skills for the civilian workforce. We must improve access to health care services, including mental health, prosthetic care and wound regeneration.

Dan Sullivan: Ensure a strong national defense & stand up for our veterans

I see some of my Marine Corps brothers in the audience today. As a Lieutenant Colonel in the Marine Corps Reserves, I know how important it is for our veterans to get the support they have earned--but are not getting from Washington today. This has to change!  Over the past four years, we have gotten big things done for Alaska in all of these areas -- REAL RESULTS, NOT JUST TALK.

We did this by applying conservative principles--less government and more freedom--with dogged determination to address Alaska's challenges. But we must do more, and Washington needs to help, not be the obstacle that it is today with its broken institutions and policies that clearly aim to limit Alaska's full potential.

Doug Truax: Learned about duty, honor and country at West Point

He began a successful private sector career as a rising manager who aspired once again for the American dream--starting his own business. Doug beat the odds by launching his business just before a recession devastated the economy...and succeeded. Today, he is co-owner and managing partner of Oak Brook-based Veritas Risk Services, LLC, a strategic risk consulting firm that empowers employers in controlling their healthcare costs, benefits, retirement plans and business risk.

Liz Cheney: Strengthen our national security

Owen Hill: Moral duty to be a force for freedom in the world

Just as our federal government can't solve domestic problems with bureaucracy, we can't solve international problems with bureaucracy.

Our ability to make a difference where it counts depends on our ability to limit our international actions far more than we have in the past.

Rick Weiland: 1997: Served as Regional Director of FEMA

As Regional Director he was responsible for all federal disaster response in Region VIII. Rick supervised the Federal recovery response to flooding in North Dakota and South Dakota; wild fires in Montana, Wyoming and South Dakota; tornadoes in Spencer, SD as well as on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation. During his tenure at FEMA he was called upon to provide support to local law enforcement during the Columbine tragedy.

In addition to Federal disaster response, Rick lead a "historic" conference for 28 tribal nations within Region VIII. At the conference, Rick and FEMA worked to establish more effective emergency management coordination and to improve services to underserved communities on tribal reservations. The conference established the Tribal Emergency Management Coordination Council.

Shane Osborn: Strong voice for America's Veterans

Shane helped launch a company that helps disabled Veterans find jobs and start their own businesses. He co-founded the Nebraska Soldiers Foundation to help military families cope with the effects of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and is involved with a foundation supporting Navy Seals and their families.

As a U.S. Senator, Shane will be a strong voice for America's Veterans.

Joni Ernst: Strong national defense makes the world is a safer place

Joni Ernst: I'm a veteran; honor and care for our nation's veterans

Corey Stapleton: Remain ever vigilant & continuously improve our readiness

Natalie Tennant: Help returning veterans find jobs and start businesses

Murray Sabrin: Don't police world at behest of military-industrial complex

The federal government is a financial basket case and Romney wants to increase military spending by another $100 billion when the federal deficit was $1.3 trillion last year. So savvy, successful executive Mitt Romney wants to increase the deficit or will raise taxes to keep American troops all over the world and build more weapons of mass destruction while the unemployment rate is still above 9% and the unofficial rate according to some estimates is more than 20%.

Murray Sabrin: Americans are all terrorist suspects, according to DHS & TSA

Inasmuch as we are all suspected terrorists now, the federal government is making sure that a "shoe bomber" or an "underwear bomber" does not board any commercial flight. Thus, a so-called porno scanner must examine all airline passengers, and those who refuse to be bombarded with dangerous X-rays will have to be pat-downed by rubber gloved TSA agents who may be transmitting diseases to airline passengers. However, high-level government officials and other exempt individuals will not have to be X-rayed or "fondled" TSA agents. In other words, big-shot Americans will get a pass at the airport because they are big shots.