We must never take our freedoms as Americans and as Oklahomans for granted, nor must we ever forget the debt we owe our sons and daughters in the armed forces who fight and die for that freedom.
Supporting the Defenders of Liberty
I support our men and women in uniform, wholeheartedly and without reservation. They are the guardians of our liberty, and they are more than that: they are ambassadors for freedom and democracy throughout the world.
As a Congresswoman, I will never let politics come in the way of supporting our troops, either home or abroad. I have visited our military men and women in Iraq and the wounded veterans in Oklahoma. I will continue to work to ensure that our troops receive the necessary support while deployed abroad, including funding for body armor and IED-resistant Humvees. When they return, I will do everying in my power to ensure they receive worldclass healthcare and help with job placement. The men and women who fight for our freedom should never be shortchanged by budget cuts or partisan politics, and I will work to make sure they never are.
Protecting Freedom Overseas
America is the only nation in world history that mobilized military power to free others. That's what sent our troops ashore at Normandy in 1944, and that is what motivates them today in Afghanistan and Iraq. Regardless of party affiliation on our views on foreign policy, we must never forget that we are the good guys.
In both Iraq and Afghanistan there have been a heartbreaking numbe rof men and women who have made the ultimate sacrifice to their nation. To ensure their sacrifice was not in vain, I believe we must complete our missions there. I will make it a priority in Congress to see that our troop have the equipment and the support they need to get the job done.
Defending Our Freedom at Home
Here at home, I will work to protect our nation from terrorists who resent our freedoms. To that end, I will continue to support strict enforcement of our immigration laws. We cannot keep our citizens safe if we cannot control our borders. In Congress, I have cosponsored multiple pieces of legislation to make our borders safer, including the construction of physical barriers, an increase in Border Patrol Agents and an influx of high tech surveillance technology.
I have also pushed Speaker Pelosi to give our intelligence communit the tools they need to keep Americans safe, and I will continue to demand that Congress reauthorize our surveillance programs on foreign terrorists.
I was Lieutenant Governor when the Oklahoma City bombing happeed n 1995. I saw the human cost of that despicable act. I did what I could in the long rebuilding and recovery process. Oklahomans know and undersnad the cost of terrorism, and we support measures to assure the safety of our nation.
Defending Our Constitution
I will continue to do all that I can to protect the basic freedoms assured by our Constitution, including speech, religion, assembly AND the right to keep and bear arms. The Constitutuion bestows these freedoms for a reason, and they must be defended against those who would threaten them.