National Security

A STRONG NATIONAL DEFENSE

Senator Coleman is committed to guarding America's security through a strong national defense. That means giving our servicemen and women the funding, equipment, and tools necessary for them to succeed. There is no  business more important in the Senate than making sure that the members of our military have the support they need and deserve.
 
Our military, including the National Guard and Reserve, are being called on to serve in record numbers, and Norm recognizes how crucial every advantage can be to their future success. That's why he's fought to give serving reservists health care, education and other important benefits. 
 
Senator Coleman has also successfully worked with colleagues from both parties to establish the first-ever national reintegration program for returning troops, based on Minnesota's Beyond the Yellow Ribbon program. The program will establish resources for soldiers and military family members to draw on throughout every phase of their deployment. It would make available counseling services, financial advising, educational opportunities, improved health care, and serve as an important support structure for our brave servicemen and women and their families.
 
Norm also supports a strong defense budget that funds the training and technological advancement that gives the American military an important advantage over our enemies. To address the contemporary military challenges that America faces, it is vital that our military continues to evolve into a mobile and adaptive fighting force capable of responding to new and emerging threats.
 
Senator Coleman works tirelessly to monitor the situation in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He constantly talks with concerned Minnesotans, our military and diplomatic leaders, and our troops on the ground in order to make informed decisions. Many of Minnesota's finest young men and women are currently serving overseas, and his first priority is to give the strongest support possible to them and their families.
 
Norm is proud of the American servicemen and women who are doing everything their country has asked of them to defend America's security and the ideals our nation was founded upon. They've made significant progress in Iraq, but it is increasingly evident that the Iraqis must assume responsibility for their own military security, and make progress towards political and diplomatic unification. While Norm believes military decisions should be guided by the judgment of commanders on the ground, he believes the goal should be to continue moving U.S. troops into a secondary support role, with Iraqis taking the lead role militarily. Additionally, Norm has been vocal in calling for the Iraqis to use their oil revenues to pay for a much larger share of their reconstruction costs and believes future U.S. assistance to Iraq for reconstruction costs should come in the form of loans, rather than grants, that the Iraqis will pay back.