Defense & National Security

Today, the United States faces a more diverse range of serious threats than at any point in our history. I believe protecting the country from these threats is the first duty of the federal government, which requires the United States to maintain the most lethal, agile, and robust military in the world.
I know how important a properly funded and functioning military is to our nation and our military families. To maintain our competitive edge on the world stage, it is Congress' responsibility to ensure the Pentagon's budget reflects the threats we face from traditional nation-states, terrorists, and all who seek to wreak havoc on the American dream and our allies.
In recent years, we have taken steps to rebuild our military, give our troops well-deserved pay raises, and bolster border security. I introduced legislation to ensure special operators who are serving in combat receive the same tax relief as other service members, and my legislation to increase funding for our Special Forces and to ensure soldier pay adequately reflects modern warfare demands was signed into law.
Representing service members and families is the honor of a lifetime. I am grateful for their bravery and sacrifice to protect America and our interests. It is due to the sacrifices of our men and women in uniform that the United States sustains a world-class force, capable of taking the fight to the enemy and winning. I will continue working to support our bases, our troops, and their families.
More on Defense & National Security
FAYETTEVILLE, N.C. (WTVD) -- The concerns some Fayetteville families voiced in the spring have now become their reality.
"When I heard that they were taking ABA away out of school, I literally felt sick to my stomach. It was a devastating blow because, for my daughter to get the education that she deserves and that she's capable of getting, she needs her RBT," Fayetteville mother Katrina Powers said in May.
Mary Moore
Moore County residents are finding ways to get involved in the effort to aid evacuees from Afghanistan.
Until recently, a church in Carthage was running an emergency supply collection service.
“Many people in our congregation know people in Afghanistan, have seen what people have gone through, and they want to make a difference the best they can,” said Donna Kokes, administrator at New Covenant Fellowship Church in Carthage, whose congregation includes a number of veterans, military personnel, their spouses and families.
Laura Douglass
Fort Yarborough, Fort Robinson, Fort Sandhills and Fort Liberty are just four names from a lengthy list of potential options being considered for the anticipated renaming of Fort Bragg.
The 2021 National Defense Authorization Act, passed by Congress last year, mandates the modification or removal of names that commemorate the Confederate States of America or any person who voluntarily served with the Confederacy. The initial focus is on renaming several major military posts including Bragg.
RACHAEL RILEY The Fayetteville Observer
FORT BRAGG — People with ideas on what they think the new name for Fort Bragg should be need to start submitting ideas — sooner than later.
Col. Scott Pence, Fort Bragg’s garrison commander, has spent the week talking with residents about how the process to rename the country’s most populated military installation came about and what’s next. It’s part of a congressional mandate to rebrand all Army installations that are named after Confederate leaders.