Dennis Ross on Homeland Security

Try terrorists in military tribunals; no tax-funded lawyers

I Support--
• Trying terrorists in military tribunals, NOT in the United States. Taxpayers should never pay for defense lawyers for terrorists
• Ending prosecutions of CIA officers who protected America and took the fight to terrorists

Deploy BMD; maintain America's qualitative edge

I Support--
• Deploying a robust Ballistic Missile Defense Shield
• Maintaining America's qualitative edge over the rest of the world
• Ensure that waste and fraud in procurement is eliminated through monetary incentives for waste elimination and vigorous fraud prosecution
• Defend and engage allies, especially longstanding allies like Israel, Great Britain, Australia, and others

Voted YES on extending the PATRIOT Act's roving wiretaps.

Congressional Summary: To prohibit Federal funding of National Public Radio and the use of Federal funds to acquire radio content, including:
1. broadcasting, transmitting, and programming over noncommercial educational radio broadcast stations
2. cooperating with foreign broadcasting networks
3. assisting and supporting noncommercial educational radio broadcasting
4. paying dues to such organizations
5. or acquiring radio programs for public broadcast.

Proponent's Argument for voting Yes:
[Rep. Blackburn, R-TN]: This bill gets the Federal Government--and Federal taxpayers--out of the business of buying radio programming they do not agree with. This is a bill that is long overdue. Regardless of what you think of NPR, its programming or statements by its management, the time has come to cut the umbilical cord from the taxpayer support that has become as predictable as an entitlement program. Much has changed in the media landscape since the wiretaps, to seek certain business records, and to gather intelligence on lone terrorists who are not affiliated with a known terrorist group. The Patriot Act works. It has proved effective in preventing terrorist attacks and protecting Americans. To let these provisions expire would leave every American less safe.

Opponent's Argument for voting No:
[Rep. Conyers, D-MI]: Section 215 of the Patriot Act allows a secret FISA court to authorize our government to collect business records or anything else, requiring that a person or business produce virtually any type record. We didn't think that that was right then. We don't think it's right now. This provision is contrary to traditional notions of search and seizure which require the government to show reasonable suspicion or probable cause before undertaking an investigation that infringes upon a person's privacy. And so I urge a "no" vote on the extension of these expiring provisions.

Sell F16 fighter aircraft to Taiwan.

The Taiwan Policy Act of 2011 states that nothing in this Act shall be construed to amend or supersede the Taiwan Relations Act.

States that it shall be US policy to:
1. support Taiwan and the human rights of its people,
2. permit senior leaders of Taiwan to enter the US under conditions of appropriate respect and permit meetings between high level Taiwanese and US officials in all US executive departments,
3. sign a comprehensive extradition agreement,
4. accept a letter of request from Taiwan for price and availability data or for a formal sales offer regarding the F-16C/D Fighting Falcon aircraft, and
5. include Taiwan in the visa waiver program.

• Directs the Department of State to continue its program to ensure meaningful participation by Taiwan in international organizations.
• Directs the Secretary of State to brief Congress about any potential defense-related transfers to Taiwan.
• Authorizes the President to make available to Taiwan defense items or defense services, including air, maritime, and ground capabilities; and capacity for partnership with friendly foreign militaries.
• Expresses the sense of Congress that the goal of trade negotiations with Taiwan should be the negotiation of a free trade agreement.

Sponsored opposing the United Nations Arms Trade Treaty.

Congressional Summary:Expressing the conditions for the US becoming a signatory to the UN Arms Trade Treaty (ATT).

• WHEREAS the ATT poses significant risks to the national security, foreign policy, and economic interests of the US as well as to the constitutional rights of US citizens and US sovereignty;
• WHEREAS the ATT fails to expressly recognize the fundamental, individual right to keep and to bear arms;
• WHEREAS the ATT places free democracies and totalitarian regimes on a basis of equality, recognizing their equal right to transfer arms, and is thereby dangerous to the security of the US;
• WHEREAS the ATT will create opportunities to engage in 'lawfare' against the US via the misuse of the treaty's tribunals;
• WHEREAS the ATT could hinder the US from fulfilling its strategic and moral commitments to provide arms to allies such as Taiwan & Israel;
• Now, therefore, be it RESOLVED that--

1. the President should not sign the Arms Trade Treaty, and that the Senate should not ratify the ATT; and
2. that no Federal funds should be authorized to implement the ATT.

Opponent's argument against bill:(United Nations press release, June 3, 2013):

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon str