State of Virginia secondary Archives: on Homeland Security


Dave Brat: Maintain a strong national defense

Ronald Reagan said it best: "Peace through strength." A strong military is essential to the success of our nation. We must secure our borders, support the Armed Forces, both at home and abroad, and maintain a strong national defense in order to secure our country's future. In addition, I support a full investigation into the Benghazi attacks.
Source: 2014 VA -7 House campaign website, DaveBratForCongress.com Jun 15, 2014

Harris Miller: Opposes don't ask, don't tell rule for military

Q: Do you like the don't ask, don't tell rule or do you think it is stupid?

WEBB: I support the don't ask, don't tell rule. I think that the military is a different environment. It's one where we've always had gays in the military, we always will.

Q: So you should keep your orientation to yourself if it is homosexual?

WEBB: At this point, yes. I just think it's a practicality issue.

Q: Mr. Miller, should we keep don't ask, don't tell?

MILLER: No, it needs to be modified. It is costing us $200 million or more a year, it's costing us the ability to recruit and retain very capable people. We need to come up with a more practical way.

Q: Do you think people should be able to be openly gay in the military?

MILLER: Yes.

Source: VA 2006 Democratic Senate Primary debate [X-ref Webb] Jun 9, 2006

Jim Gilmore: Close the pay gap for long-term military retention

Q: What changes would you propose to the current compensation and benefits provided to active-duty military personnel, injured service members and veterans?

Gilmore: As a veteran myself, I believe we must provide for our service members and their families while they serve and that our injured service members and veterans must not be left behind. As a U.S. senator, I will support closing the pay gap in order to further long-term retention and readiness. As governor of Virginia, I dramatically cut taxes for many military families in the commonwealth. I support allowing military retirees to remain eligible for CHAMPUS or TRICARE military health care programs. As a beneficiary of the GI bill, I understand the importance of offering a first-class education to those who put themselves in harm's way. As a U.S. senator, I will work to modernize the GI Bill and enact comprehensive reforms to support the men and women of our Armed Forces.

Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Virginian-Pilot Oct 17, 2008

Mark Warner: World-class benefits for military veterans

Q: What changes would you propose to the current compensation and benefits provided to active-duty military personnel, injured service members and veterans?

Warner: We must keep our military strong by providing compensation and incentives that allow us to meet our recruiting goals and result in our soldiers wanting to stay in the military for longer. We must recommit to providing world-class health care and education benefits to our troops and military veterans. They stand for us on the battlefield, and we must stand with them when they come home. Improving the services veterans receive is not only good government, it is a debt of gratitude we owe them for their sacrifices and accomplishments.

Jim Gilmore: As a veteran myself, I believe we must provide for our service members and their families while they serve and that our injured service members and veterans must not be left behind.

Source: 2008 VA Senate debate reported in The Virginian-Pilot Oct 17, 2008

Ralph Northam: Strengthen Virginia's relationship with the Armed Services

I will work hard to strengthen the relationships Virginia has with the Armed Services. The Commonwealth's military installations are critical to maintaining America's national security, and I understand what the military means to our economy. As a U.S. Army veteran, I also understand the challenges that our servicemen and women face every day. I am committed to helping government work for them, and for the thousands of retired military personnel living across Virginia.
Source: 2016-17 VA gubernatorial campaign website NorthamForLG.com Nov 1, 2013

Tom Garrett: Warrantless bulk data collection is unconstitutional

As a prosecutor, Tom knew that if he wanted to see a suspect's personal information he needed to get a warrant. The idea of collecting bulk data from millions of Americans without a warrant of any kind is unconscionable and unconstitutional. The Bill of Rights protects us from our government by limiting what our government can do. If the government wants to see what is in a person's phone records, text records, email records, photographs, bank records, or anything else, Tom believes it must obtain a warrant. To quote Ben Franklin, those "that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." Tom will join the Freedom Caucus in fighting to protect you from warrantless domestic spying.
Source: 2016 VA House campaign website TomGarrettForCongress.com Nov 8, 2016

Tom Garrett: Ensure best training, best equipment and best leadership

Providing for the national defense is the Federal Government's first responsibility, and should be one of Congress's foremost concerns. As a former Army artillery officer and six year active duty veteran, Tom knows firsthand the importance of making sure our military has the best training, the best equipment and the best leadership in the world. At the same time, he knows there is plenty of waste in the Defense Department, and will work to cut the fat and waste from the budget.
Source: 2016 VA House campaign website TomGarrettForCongress.com Nov 8, 2016

Tom Perriello: Ensuring our troops are protected & then supported as vet

There is no duty more sacred for an elected official than ensuring our troops are provided with a strategy for victory, protected in battle, and supported as veterans. Our support for troops must continue when they come home. As a proud member of the Veterans Affairs Committee, I've worked hard to ensure our vets get the educational and job opportunities they deserve when they return home.
Source: 2008 VA House campaign website PerrielloForCongress.com Nov 1, 2008

  • The above quotations are from Commonwealth of Virginia Politicians: secondary Archives.
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2016 Presidential contenders on Homeland Security:
  Republicans:
Gov.Jeb Bush(FL)
Dr.Ben Carson(MD)
Gov.Chris Christie(NJ)
Sen.Ted Cruz(TX)
Carly Fiorina(CA)
Gov.Jim Gilmore(VA)
Sen.Lindsey Graham(SC)
Gov.Mike Huckabee(AR)
Gov.Bobby Jindal(LA)
Gov.John Kasich(OH)
Gov.Sarah Palin(AK)
Gov.George Pataki(NY)
Sen.Rand Paul(KY)
Gov.Rick Perry(TX)
Sen.Rob Portman(OH)
Sen.Marco Rubio(FL)
Sen.Rick Santorum(PA)
Donald Trump(NY)
Gov.Scott Walker(WI)
Democrats:
Gov.Lincoln Chafee(RI)
Secy.Hillary Clinton(NY)
V.P.Joe Biden(DE)
Gov.Martin O`Malley(MD)
Sen.Bernie Sanders(VT)
Sen.Elizabeth Warren(MA)
Sen.Jim Webb(VA)

2016 Third Party Candidates:
Gov.Gary Johnson(L-NM)
Roseanne Barr(PF-HI)
Robert Steele(L-NY)
Dr.Jill Stein(G,MA)
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