2016 CA Senate race: on Homeland Security


Kamala Harris: Champion a robust VA for our Veterans

With more than two million Veterans, California has more Veterans than any other state, and we owe them the support and care they earned while wearing our nation's military uniform. Over the years, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has been plagued by scandal and budget crises, resulting in disgraceful levels of service and irresponsible delays in providing medical care and disability benefits.

As Attorney General, Kamala formed a working group to fight scams and other predatory conduct uniquely targeting service members, and secured enhanced protections for active-duty and Veteran homeowners during the foreclosure crisis.

In the Senate, Kamala will champion a robust VA for our Veterans. She will fight to ensure that when Veterans leave military service, they have the support they need to readjust to civilian life, including proper physical and mental health care. It's unconscionable that 22 Veterans take their own lives each day.

Source: 2016 California Senate campaign website, KamalaHarris.org Aug 31, 2016

Rocky Chavez: Block Syrian refugees until we upgrade our intel and vetting

Accept Syrian refugees? Republican Rocky Chavez says, "One, security is important, but two, we need to understand we are a country that has always been a home for those who are hungry and tired and oppressed."

Another Republican Senate candidate, former state party chief Tom Del Beccaro, was more comfortable with blocking refugees. "The wise thing would be to upgrade our ability and our intel and if we are satisfied, if we are able to vet people, we could look to resuming it," he said. "We shouldn't move too quickly. Just like our mothers taught us, safety first." But he too expressed hope that the discussion of refugees could lead to a refreshed conversation about immigration.

Source: LA Times, "Syrian Refugees?" on 2016 California Senate race Nov 22, 2015

Rocky Chavez: Focus on national security: prepared to deal with ISIS

In his announcement, Chavez focused on national security, saying he would be better prepared than Kamala Harris to deal with issues such as the rise of ISIS. Chavez, 63, is a retired Marine Corps colonel.
Source: LA Weekly on 2016 California Senate race Mar 5, 2015

Tom Del Beccaro: Terrorists believe in terrorism; we can't persuade them

Americans also need to recognize that it is human nature to try to explain--and hope to correct--others' actions through our own experiences and values. [But] Genghis Kahn ravaged a continent, not thinking he was "bad"--just being the person his culture trained him to be. Attila the Hun, Mao, and Stalin believed in their goals. No amount of civility or American values would have persuaded them to be decent or lay down their arms. If history tells us anything, amongst its lessons is the fact that there are people who are evil and will do anything for power. If we understand all of those lessons, we can also understand that when someone tells you who they are, why they are doing something violent, you should take them at face value-- especially if what they do is a common occurrence. In other words, we need to stop disbelieving the terrorists who fervently believe in their means.
Source: Washington Times OpEd on 2016 California Senate race Jan 14, 2015

  • The above quotations are from 2016 California Senate race: debates and news coverage.
  • Click here for definitions & background information on Homeland Security.
  • Click here for other issues (main summary page).
Candidates and political leaders on Homeland Security:

Retired Senate as of Jan. 2015:
GA:Chambliss(R)
IA:Harkin(D)
MI:Levin(D)
MT:Baucus(D)
NE:Johanns(R)
OK:Coburn(R)
SD:Johnson(D)
WV:Rockefeller(D)

Resigned from 113th House:
AL-1:Jo Bonner(R)
FL-19:Trey Radel(R)
LA-5:Rod Alexander(R)
MA-5:Ed Markey(D)
MO-9:Jo Ann Emerson(R)
NC-12:Melvin Watt(D)
SC-1:Tim Scott(R) 		Retired House to run for Senate or Governor:
AR-4:Tom Cotton(R)
GA-1:Jack Kingston(R)
GA-10:Paul Broun(R)
GA-11:Phil Gingrey(R)
HI-1:Colleen Hanabusa(D)
IA-1:Bruce Braley(D)
LA-6:Bill Cassidy(R)
ME-2:Mike Michaud(D)
MI-14:Gary Peters(D)
MT-0:Steve Daines(R)
OK-5:James Lankford(R)
PA-13:Allyson Schwartz(D)
TX-36:Steve Stockman(R)
WV-2:Shelley Capito(R) 		Retired House as of Jan. 2015:
AL-6:Spencer Bachus(R)
AR-2:Tim Griffin(R)
CA-11:George Miller(D)
CA-25:Howard McKeon(R)
CA-33:Henry Waxman(D)
CA-45:John Campbell(R)
IA-3:Tom Latham(R)
MN-6:Michele Bachmann(R)
NC-6:Howard Coble(R)
NC-7:Mike McIntyre(D)
NJ-3:Jon Runyan(R)
NY-4:Carolyn McCarthy(D)
NY-21:Bill Owens(D)
PA-6:Jim Gerlach(R)
UT-4:Jim Matheson(D)
VA-8:Jim Moran(D)
VA-10:Frank Wolf(R)
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Dec 08, 2018