Sen. Mike DeWine's Record on National Security

Senator Mike DeWine – A Proven Fighter for Stronger National Security

Senator DeWine has fought to strengthen our national security by authoring legislation to provide enhanced tools for our intelligence and law enforcement agencies in the Global War on Terror, and by supporting our troops around the world and at home. Congressman Brown, on the other hand, has voted to slash intelligence funding, cut funding for troops and the military, and to deny essential tools to law enforcement agencies charged with preventing terrorist attacks.

Our troops deserve nothing less than full support in Congress, and Senator DeWine has led the way on their behalf by helping secure over $2 billion for up-armored humvees, voting for over $2.3 billion for body armor, and expanding TRICARE eligibility for Guard and Reserve members to before and after their deployments. Senator DeWine has been recognized by the National Military Family Association (NMFA) for his efforts on behalf of our service members, and recently received the “Freedom Award for 2006” from the Military Coalition.

Congressman Brown has voted consistently against funding for our troops in harm’s way. He voted against the $87 billion emergency defense bill in 2003, which included resources to armor over 1,000 humvees and purchase needed body armor. More than 80 Democrats and 200 Republicans supported this vital legislation in the House of Representatives; however Congressman Brown again chose to sit on the sidelines rather than find solutions by voting no. Combined with four of his other recent votes against military funding bills, Congressman Brown has voted against over $580 million for body armor for our troops.

In the last 10 years, Congressman Brown has voted against 15 defense appropriations and authorization conference reports containing funding for troops. In many of these votes, Brown is in the minority of his own party in voting against the military – one of many factors that has led the nonpartisan National Journal to rank his voting record in “the fringe” and caused other independent observers to call him “ultraliberal” and “overly partisan.”

As a member of the Senate Intelligence Committee, Senator DeWine helped write the PATRIOT Act, which has provided law enforcement agencies with tools to help detect terrorist cells, disrupt terrorist plots, and keep Americans safe. For over a decade, Senator DeWine has been working to upgrade our national intelligence capabilities and has authored legislation, passed by the Senate Judiciary Committee in September, 2006, authorizing a key program to intercept terrorist communications.

Congressman Brown has voted not once, but twice against the PATRIOT Act, which passed in the House with over 350 votes and passed in the Senate 98-1. He has voted more than 10 times to slash intelligence funding and even voted against essential intelligence programs following the September 11th terrorist attacks. Each of these votes shows just far Rep. Brown is outside of the mainstream.

Senator DeWine has helped fight for passage of numerous policy recommendations made by the bipartisan 9/11 Commission for stronger homeland security. He has voted for increased port security funding, interoperable radio communications for first responders, risk-based homeland security grant funding, reforms in national intelligence programs, enhanced border security and identification standards, and increased transit security funding. While much work remains, each of these initiatives has helped make our Nation more secure.

Congressman Brown claims to support the recommendations of for enhanced homeland security; however he has routinely opposed bills implementing these recommendations. He voted against creating the Department of Homeland Security. He voted against billions of dollars for key 9/11 Commission priorities, including $5.2 billion for the Transportation Security Administration, $439 million for explosive detection systems at airports, $100 million for strengthening cockpit doors, $240 million for port security programs, and $6.1 billion for the Coast Guard in 2003 alone. He even voted against risk-based homeland security grant funding and against the REAL ID Act, which implemented 9/11 Commission recommendations on secure identifications and strengthened border entry and exit programs.

Senator DeWine also has played a leading role in providing for strengthened homeland security. Together with Democrat Senator Chris Dodd (D-CT), he wrote the FIRE Act program, which has provided over $3 billion to fire and emergency medical services departments throughout the country since 2000. Senator DeWine also has voted to provide first responders with interoperable communications funding and authored a law that has helped provide hundreds of millions of dollars for local law enforcement agencies throughout the country for technology upgrades and better criminal records sharing systems. Reflecting his superior commitment to working hand-in-hand with first responders, Senator DeWine is endorsed for re-election by the Fraternal Order of Police and Ohio fire fighters unions.

Congressman Brown has voted against or missed votes on over $6.4 billion in funding for fire and EMS departments in the last four years and has voted against more than $16.2 billion for local law enforcement since 1999.