Tom Harkin: “as a U.S. Senator, I have no greater responsibility than to work to ensure our Nation's security. In that regard, I…”

“as a U.S. Senator, I have no greater responsibility than to work to ensure our Nation's security. In that regard, I believe our Armed Forces must have all the tools they need to keep our country safe. That is why I support the vast majority of the provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act. The bill takes some small steps towards reining in runaway defense spending, which has nearly doubled in the past decade. This bill authorizes $26.6 billion less than requested at the beginning of the year, providing more than enough to defend our interests, while chipping away at the Pentagon's nonstop growth. It also lays the groundwork for reevaluating outdated Cold War-era overseas deployments in Europe and the Pacific that are both costly and increasingly unnecessary. All of these provisions I support and believe are important. However, because I believe this bill infringes on critical constitutional values, I must oppose final passage. I believe we can do a better job of protecting our national security without compromising these important values. This Nation has long been a beacon of liberty and a champion of rights throughout the world. Yet, since 9/11, in the name of security, we have repeatedly betrayed our highest principles. The past administration believed it could eavesdrop on Americans without a warrant or court order. It utilized interrogation techniques long considered immoral, ineffective, and illegal, regardless of laws and treaties.…”