While most eyes are on the Presidential Primaries this year, our votes count far more in the Congressional Elections. Regardless of who wins the top office in the land, it is Congress that approves the Budget, including the Department of Defense Budget. We need a Congress that will stand up for Our National Defense:
"As a career Army Officer with 20 years in the Army Reserve there will be no better advocate for our men and women in uniform than I. We can never return to the days of a hollow force where the Congress forced our military to just “make do”.
"Our military must be prepared to go after Al Qaeda while also being trained and equipped to fight a conventional battle against any country that attacks us. If we have learned anything from 9-11 it was that we cannot short change our military in time of war, nor be short sighted in time of peace." Stephen Labate for Congress
Labate is a Veteran of the War in Iraq:
Over the course of his 18 year Army Reserve career, he rose to the rank of Lt. Colonel and deployed to Balad, Iraq. Steve served in Iraq from September 2004 to October 2005 as the 301st Force Protection Officer. Moreover in support of Operation "Noble Eagle II" Steve had the distinct honor to Command the Soldiers of the 306th MP Battalion (Detachment 5) in a yearlong mission where the Soldiers under his command were deployed in support of Operation "Noble Eagle II". Lt Col. Labate’s awards include two Meritorious Service Medals, two Army Commendation Medals, three Army Achievement Medals, a Meritorious Unit Citation for outstanding service during combat operations, HQDA Staff Badge, a Parachutist Badge, and multiple campaign medals.
He is a member of the American Legion, the Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Reserve Officers Association, the Knights of Columbus, and the National Rifle Association. Combat Veterans for Congress
I would like to see LTC Labate's specific platform on DoD Manning and Spending.
His opponent is Steve Israel, head of the DNC Congressional Campaign Committee, as appointed by Nancy Pelosi:
On National Security Steve Israel states:
"To bring our troops home successfully and safely from Iraq and Afghanistan depends on both smart military strategy and smart diplomatic efforts to keep terrorists from regaining ground."
It appears that Steve Israel supports the Obama Administration cuts of National Defense.
Stephen Labate on raising revenue by charging Veterans for their own retirement benefits.