"Pulling Funding From The Military Makes Our Nation Less Safe And More Vulnerable" ???

This week freshman Representative Progressive Elaine Luria representing the Virginia Second Congressional District (VA2) spanning the Hampton Roads and Virginia Beach region and one of the heaviest concentrated areas for both active and retired military in the nation is railing against President Trump and the diversion of military funding to the southern border.

Rep. Luria has opposed the funding and extension of the wall on the Southern border since taking office in January and her opposition to the diversion of funds was not unexpected. Luria approved the addition of measures in the Defense Spending Appropriations  (DSA) Bill that would limit the Executive Branch from using defense funds for executive priorities not only on the border but also in the Middle East.

Democrats approved the 733 billion Defense Spending Appropriations(DSA) Bill during the summer. Luria supported the measure which was 17 billion less than was requested by the President for funding the defense for FY2020 beginning October 1. The spending bill was passed by the House with a 226-203 vote after rigorous debate.

Republicans called the measure a "messaging bill" in large part because the inclusions of measures that advanced Progressive ideals and restrictions upon use of funds and support of allies.

Representative Elaine Luria stated this week that the diversion of funds from Virginia projects which totals 77 million of the total 3.6 billion being diverting from the 733 billion Defense Budget is "pulling funding from the military makes our nation less safe and more vulnerable".  However, Luria in her comments makes no mention of the 17 billion she refused to support for spending to keep our nation "less safe and vulnerable" and fails to address the crisis "today" we have on the Southern border that requires funding to be curbed that the 116th Congress has failed to address. It is clear that Rep. Luria does not believe that the immigration and humanitarian crisis we are experiencing is making Americans "less safe and vulnerable" and yet sex trafficking has never been a greater threat, drug interdiction by law enforcement has escalated and crimes committed by illegal immigrants are making national headlines.

Just last week in Montgomery County, Maryland a sixth illegal immigrant has been detained on rape and child molestation by authorities in a locality that has designated itself as a "sanctuary" city. Sanctuary city policy is one that Representative Luria supports along with open borders but fails to acknowledge the direct impact of such policies that in fact make Americans "less safe and vulnerable".  Luria's views provide support and cover for local officials to restrict its law enforcement from working or collaborating with ICE or DHS with regard to illegal immigrant apprehension.

President Trump intents to divert 3.6 billion from from the appropriated 733 billion authorized by Congress for Defense. Of the 3.6 billion, 77 million of it was allocated for future project proposals in Virginia to include 10 million for a new cyber technology facility, 18.5 million and 22.5 million for warehousing in Norfolk and Portsmouth and 26.1 in Portsmouth for Maintenance Facilities.

With the possible exception of upgrading our cyber security, can Representative Luria expect Virginians to believe that they will actually be "less safe and vulnerable" because of diversion on non Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) spending?

It begs the question whether the diversion of funding is a debate over defense procurement or simply just another opportunity to oppose the President.

Representative Elaine Luria made it very clear during the summer debate over the 733 billion Defense Spending Appropriations Bill (DSA) her priorities:

1. Transgender recruits to per permitted to join the military
2.  Permit Transfer of Terror Detainees from Guantanomo Bay, Cuba to mainland USA
3. Restrict funding for Allies like Saudi Arabia in Yemen
4. Restrict Department of Defense Funding for use to house foreign detainees held by ICE/DHS

Furthermore, one Republican amendment to the DSA that Representative Luria rejected was a 4% pay raise for the military that was proposed by Rep. Mac Thornberry from Texas along with more funds for military training and readiness.

Representative Luria should be asked how many of these measures she supported or advocated for in the DSA actually do not make Americans "less safe and vulnerable". Her votes to restrict our support of Saudi Arabia in Yemen where the civil war there is permitting the Houthi to seize control of Yemen. The Houthi have professed to seek the destruction of Israel, the death of all Jews and death to America. If Yemen were permitted to become yet another terrorist or Iranian affiliate training haven would that not actually make America "less safe and vulnerable"?

Why is Luria supporting policies and "messaging" in the DSA that undermine our foreign policy and our allies in confronting evil and terror in the world and eliminating our funding for allies like Saudi Arabia or potentially Israel that are working with the United States to curb the rise of more terror networks that have pledge to kill Americans?

#Spanberger #Luria #NDAA #militaryspending #GITMO #DSA #vabeach #VA07 #VA02