Defense and National Security

One of the primary responsibilities of the United States government is to provide for the common defense, as established in the Constitution.

I believe we all owe a debt of gratitude to the men and women who are serving or who have served in the armed forces. As an American and a proud Army mom, I am dedicated to ensuring that our military is well equipped to keep our nation safe. Unfortunately, the state of our current military readiness is unacceptable and impacts our ability to respond to global crises ranging from geopolitical threats to cyber warfare to unconventional threats like terrorism. To better assist our armed forces and safeguard American interests, I am committed to authorizing defense programs that enable our military to properly plan operations and conduct missions necessary to our country's safety.

During my time in Congress, I have led the fight to secure funding for Growlers and Super Hornets, which are critical for Naval readiness. Last session, Missouri's F-18 Super Hornet production line faced a possible closure if no additional funding was provided. Both Growlers and Super Hornets are mission critical for our forces abroad. Growlers provide airborne electronic attacks which jam enemy radars in contested airspace. The Super Hornet continues to evolve to meet threats and complement the entire aircraft carrier air wing—including the F-35, EA-18G, and E-2D—as they operate together into the 2040s.

These fighter jets are also important for the St. Louis area, supporting over 5,000 regional jobs. I have enlisted over 100 colleagues to write letters pressing for additional funding to keep production lines open, testified before the House Appropriations Committee's Defense Subcommittee, and fought behind the scenes to ensure these assets receive robust funding in the National Defense Authorization Act and appropriations bills.