Senator Jim Webb: “Humanitarian Interventions” Must Have Congressional Approval!

FYI - This is a piece of legislation that EVERYONE, regardless of political affiliation CAN and SHOULD get behind.  Please read the below post, and contact your senators and representative today!  Ask that they support Senator Webb's new bill.

-ADY "A Regular Guy On The Issues"

From The Office of Senator Webb.

May 10, 2012 Stay Connected: http://webb.senate.gov/

“Humanitarian Interventions” Must Have Congressional Approval The most important constitutional challenge facing the balance of power between the Presidency and the Congress in modern times   This week I announced new legislation to require Congressional approval before the President could take military action for so-called “humanitarian interventions,” where U.S. armed forces might respond to crises abroad but American interests are not directly threatened. The legislation would require the President to obtain formal approval by the Congress before committing the military into such situations, and would also require that debate begin within days of such a request and that a vote must proceed in a timely manner. Year by year, skirmish by skirmish, the role of the Congress in determining where the U.S. military would operate, and when the awesome power of our weapon systems would be unleashed has diminished. In the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, especially with the advent of special operations forces and remote bombing capabilities, the Congress seems to have faded into operational irrelevance. We have now reached the point that the unprecedented - and quite frankly contorted - Constitutional logic used by this Administration to intervene in Libya on the basis of what can most kindly be called a United Nations standard of "humanitarian intervention," was not even subject to full debate or a vote on the Senate floor. This is not a political issue. We would be facing the exact same Constitutional challenges no matter the party of the President. In fact, unless we resolve this matter, there is no doubt that we someday will. My new legislation will address this loophole in the interpretation of our Constitution. It will serve as a necessary safety net to protect the integrity and the intent of the Constitution, itself. It will ensure that the Congress lives up not only to its prerogatives, which were so carefully laid out by our founding fathers, but also to its responsibilities. Full text of my recent speech on the Senate floor is available here. Video of my speech is available here. Share on your Profile Share on Facebook Send to a Friend E-mail:

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My Letter To Senator Webb (D-Va) Concerning The Proposed Cuts To Military And Veterans' Benefits.

I ask that you contact your elected officials concerning these proposed cuts.  Our service members and veterans deserve only the very best!

-ADY "A Regular Guy On The Issues"

____________________________________________________________________________________

FROM THE DESK OF AARON D. YEARGAN

aaron.yeargan@gmail.com

November 25, 2010

The Hon. James Webb
United States Senate
144 Russell Senate Office Bldg.
Washington, DC 20510.

Subject: The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform's Proposed Cuts to Military and Veterans' Benefits.

Dear Mr. Senator:

Good afternoon Sir. I hope this letter finds you doing well and having a happy Thanksgiving. I wanted to take some time and write to you concerning your recent statements on the military and defense budget and the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform's proposed cuts to military and veterans' benefits.  I am a fellow Democrat and a 28 year old husband, father and college student.  I am pursuing my degree in Nursing with the goal of eventually becoming a Mental Health Nurse Practitioner so that I can better help our service members and veterans.  I am also a former Marine and four-tour Iraq War veteran.  Currently, I am serving as a medic in the Army Reserve.  With all of that being said, as a libertarian minded Democrat, I applaud the President for forming this commission in order to get rid of wasteful spending and unnecessary programs.  I also applaud your honest assessment of possible hard choices facing the Department of Defense and Veterans Administration concerning their budget and benefit programs.  I truly believe there are numerous wastful, unecesary programs that can and should be cut in order to reduce the deficit and ease the burden placed on taxpayers.  However, a cut in military personell strength and benefits is not the answer.  

As you know, some of the proposed cuts include a basic pay and housing allowance freeze, a reduction in the Cost of Living Allowance, elimination of the 20 year military retirement and/or postponement until the age of 60 for actual retirement pension payments, as well as an increase in TRICARE premiums and co-pays.  As a husband and father of a 20 month old son, my wife and I benefit greatly from our access to TRICARE health insurance.  

While trying to fight two wars, as well as defend against and remain vigilant of numerous other threats around the world, proposing cuts to troop strength and military and veteran benefits is incomprehensible to me.  Not only is a high personnel level necessary for an adequate defense, allowing people to join and stay in the military helps combat unemployment.  Cutting benefits would leave many service members without an incentive to remain in the military, and frankly, it angers me and feels like a slap in the face.  It sends the message that the very people that rely on and expect our service think us undeserving of a rightly earned salary and benefits.  To lump us in with and think of the services that we provide in the same way that one may view those of civilian government agencies and employees is disrespectful.

Mr. Senator, I believe that you are an American hero, and I am very thankful for your service to our country.  If anyone knows the sacrifices made daily by our military and their families, it's you.  Just as you have done for so many years, I ask that you keep fighting for our men and women in uniform.  We can never fully repay the debt of gratitude we owe to the brave men and women who serve our country, but we must always try. We must respect and honor that service by providing them with the best possible pay, benefits, and health care.

In closing, I ask that, as a fellow veteran, a United States Senator and member of the Senate Armed Services and Veterans' Affairs Committees, that you never support or vote to approve any cuts to troop strength levels or military and veterans benefits.  Thank you for your time, and please feel free to contact me regarding this letter.  I hope to hear from you soon.  Semper Fidelis.

Respectfully,

Aaron D. Yeargan      

CC:  The Office of the President

        The Office of the Vice President

        The Office of the Senate Majority Leader

        The Office of the Senate Minority Leader

        The Office of the Speaker of the House of Representatives

        The Office of the House Minority Leader

        The Senate Armed Services Committee

        The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee

        The Senate Appropriations Committee

        The House Armed Services Committee

        The House Veterans' Affairs Committee

        The House Appropriations Committee

        The Office of the Secretary of Defense

        The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense (Comptroller)

        The Office of the Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness

        The Office of the Secretary of Veterans' Affairs

        The Office of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

        The Office of the Senior Enlisted Advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

        The Office of the Commandant of the Marine Corps

        The Office of the Sergeant Major of the Marine Corps

        The Office of the Chief of Staff of the Army

        The Office of the Command Sergeant Major of the Army

        The Office of the Chief of Staff of the Air Force

        The Office of the Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force

        The Office of the Chief of Naval Operations

        The Office of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Navy

        The Office of the Commandant of the Coast Guard

        The Office of the Master Chief Petty Officer of the Coast Guard

        The National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform

        Mr. Paul Rieckhoff, Executive Director, Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America

        The Hon. Kay Hagan (D-NC)

        The Hon. Richard Burr (R-NC)