Strengthening National Security

As a former Lieutenant Commander in the U.S. Navy Reserve, Gary understands our country is facing critical national security challenges. Whether it’s preventing domestic terrorism and extremism or securing both our Northern and Southern borders, Gary is committed to keeping Michiganders and the American people safe and secure against these threats.

As Chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, Gary has worked extensively on national security efforts. He has led legislation to address staffing shortages at ports of entry across the country by hiring more Customs and Border Patrol Officers, and his bipartisan bill to hire more agricultural inspectors at our borders was signed into law. He also led a bipartisan measure enacted into law to increase safety and security at our airports.

As we live in an increasingly interconnected society, cyber-attacks and threats have become increasingly commonplace and pose dangers to our national security, infrastructure, small businesses and financial institutions. Bad actors will always attack through the path of least resistance, and Gary is focused on ensuring that our federal, state, and local governments – and the private sector – all have the resources and tools to respond to cyber-attacks. Gary has led legislation on this issue: whether it’s increasing coordination between the Department of Homeland Security and state and local governments, strengthening the federal government’s cybersecurity workforce or improving cybersecurity protections for K-12 educational institutions across the country.

Our nation faces an evolving number of threats. It is critical – now more than ever– that our nation stands with our allies in confronting our adversaries. As a member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, Gary has worked to strengthen partnerships with our allies. He passed legislation into law improving U.S.-Israel tunnel defense research to confront a challenge both our nations face, and has introduced bipartisan legislation improving technology coordination between the Department of Defense and their Israeli counterparts. Gary has been a strong supporter of programs like the State Partnership Program, which connects National Guards with other allied countries for joint trainings and exercises. Michigan’s National Guard has a close partnership with the Latvian military.  

Michigan is home to the CCDC Ground Vehicle Systems Center, the U.S. Army’s premier research and technological facility on ground vehicles. The research and innovation happening there will save warfighters lives while adapting to the changing battlefield landscape. Gary has advocated for and secured additional resources that will build on existing military research efforts in Michigan. Gary will also continue working to support our state’s growing footprint as a hub for defense manufacturing and innovation, ensuring our servicemembers have the best equipment and vehicles.