Defense & Foreign Affairs
Strengthening Our Military and Helping Rhode Island Contribute to Our National Defense
As a graduate of West Point and a former infantry officer, Senator Reed knows the risks our Armed Forces face every day. Reed voted against the Iraq war and offered a plan to responsibly bring our troops home and refocus our efforts on the threats coming from Afghanistan and Pakistan. Through his work on the Armed Services and Appropriations Committees, he works tirelessly to ensure that America’s fighting men and women have the equipment they need and the benefits they deserve.
Senator Reed believes that the United States should also be engaged in diplomacy to support our allies and build stronger relationships with emerging nations. He has focused on arms control and non-proliferation efforts to keep weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists and continues to support expanding our development programs, which contribute to global security.
Reed has also secured hundreds of millions of dollars in federal funding to bolster Rhode Island’s defense industry, create more high-paying jobs, and expand opportunities for local businesses. Rhode Island’s 16,000 defense workers make a valuable contribution to our national security and generate more than $1.75 billion in local economic activity each year. Reed has worked hard not only to maintain the U.S. Navy’s presence in Rhode Island, but to expand it by bringing additional commands, institutions, and projects to Naval Station Newport, such as the Navy Supply Corps School, which was previously located in Athens, Georgia.
Read More »Key Priorities & Accomplishments
- Senator Reed was one of the first to call for better body armor and up-armored vehicles for our troops in the field.
- As the Chairman of the Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower, Reed helped secure $1.2-billion for the construction of the two second new Virginia-class submarines per year. The Virginia class submarine is a critical component of our national defense capabilities, and Rhode Island plays a vital role in its construction.
- Reed helped ratify the New START Treaty, an important agreement between the U.S. and Russia that reduces the number of strategic nuclear weapons, builds on previous treaties, and contributes to countering nuclear proliferation throughout the world.
- To ensure our troops have the best equipment, Senator Reed worked for over a decade to secure eight state-of-the-art C-130J cargo airplanes for the Rhode Island Air National Guard to replace the Guard’s aging fleet. These planes help the 143rd Airlift Wing transport troops, equipment, and supplies to combat and humanitarian missions around the world. Over the years, Senator Reed secured $37 million for the construction of a new maintenance hangar for the planes at Quonset Point.
The Latest
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Reed Travels to Afghanistan, Visits Troops
Last week, U.S. Senator Jack Reed visited troops in Afghanistan where he joined President Barack Obama and Afghan President Hamid Karzai at the presidential palace in Kabul as they signed the Strategic Partnership Agreement, which spells out the terms of U.S.-Afghanistan relations beyond the anticipated departure o...
Posted on 5/7/2012 | -
Reed Discusses Trip to Afghanistan on NBC-10
Posted on 5/1/2012 | -
Reed Discusses Military Operations in Afghanistan
Posted on 3/23/2012 | -
Reed Outlines Military Challenges In Syria
Posted on 3/8/2012 | -
Top Navy Officials Support Submarine Programs
Posted on 3/8/2012 | -
Reed Discusses Situation In Syria with Top Military Official
Posted on 3/6/2012 | -
Reed Concerned with Romney's Overheated Iran Rhetoric
Today, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), a senior member of the Armed Services Committee, released the following statement in response to Republican presidential primary candidate Mitt Romney’s misguided assertion that Iran will be able to develop nuclear weapons only if Pres...
Posted on 3/5/2012 |
