Supporting Our Missions Abroad 
The freedoms we enjoy are protected and preserved through the courageous efforts of our Armed Forces; we must never forget the contributions they have made to protect our way of life.  Throughout my time in Congress, I have championed legislation that would provide better pay, benefits, equipment, and medical care to all those who have honorably served our nation.  With America at war, it is critical that we continue to stand with America’s heroes.

I have consistently made the protection of our troops the first priority of our missions overseas, voting for additional funding for the tools that our troops need, such as Mine Resistant Ambush Protected Vehicles (MRAPs), body armor, and explosive jammers.  I also advanced an initiative to require the Defense Department to reimburse service members for the cost of any protective, safety, or health equipment purchased by them or their families.

Nevada's Military Bases
I have been a strong supporter of the National Guard and have fought to ensure that Nevada's Guardsmen have the necessary resources to fulfill their missions.  I worked hard to prevent the C-130s operated by the Nevada Air National Guard from being relocated to a base in Arkansas. 

At my request, the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Commissioners visited and observed the work of the Nevada National Guard and the Hawthorne Army Depot.  As a result of this visit, the Commission overturned a previous recommendation by the Pentagon to transfer the C-130s to Arkansas and close the Depot.  I was pleased that the Commission realized the importance of keeping the Nevada Air National Guard base in Reno.  In addition to their military importance, Nevada relies on these aircraft for Homeland Security operations like fighting wildfires and preparing for potential natural disasters.

Additionally, the missions at Nellis and Creech Air Force Bases have grown, bringing new jobs, improved infrastructure, and increased economic impact to the Las Vegas Valley.  In the upcoming years, Nellis Air Force Base will also house the Air Force’s latest fighter aircraft – the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter.  In Elko County, the Nevada National Guard has acquired the former Fire Sciences Academy in Carlin, which is home to a new armory.  This 410-acre site is also comprised of facilities to support training for National Guard units across the nation.  These important additions to Nevada’s military installations ensure the state is on the cutting edge of efforts to protect our homeland well into the future. 

The Nevada National Security Site
I ensured that the Fiscal Year 2010 Defense Authorization bill included an amendment to change the name and redefine the mission of the Nevada Test Site.  Changing the site's name to the Nevada National Security Site, or N2S2, reflects the unique opportunities to use the site for detecting dangerous weapons, treaty verification, fighting terrorism and nuclear smuggling, and training first responders.  The Nevada National Security Site is the ideal facility to do this work.  It is uniquely secure, and close to Nevadans who are eager to get back to work.  I have also worked to increase funding for the site and add new missions that will ensure that it remains a vital and vibrant part of our national security infrastructure. 

Wounded Warriors
Under my leadership, the Senate passed the Dignified Treatment of Wounded Warriors Act, which established a comprehensive policy on the treatment and management of wounded warriors.  The policy helps ensure a seamless transition in medical care and support for servicemen and women as they move from the Department of Defense payroll to the Department of Veterans Affairs' roster, as well as from military service to civilian life, and to facilitate and improve wounded service members' care and rehabilitation.

I also worked to establish the Wounded Warrior Resource Center for service members, which required the Secretary of Defense and Secretary of Veterans Affairs to develop a comprehensive policy on the care and management of service members, including the development of interoperable electronic health records, and most importantly, required a comprehensive policy to address traumatic brain injury, post-traumatic stress disorder, other mental health conditions, and military eye injuries.  Since then, I have supported annual legislation to fully fund these programs.

Military Pay and Benefits
Throughout my time in Congress, I have supported annual measures to provide pay raises for members of our Armed Services.  Under my leadership, the Senate has passed a pay raise equal to or greater than cost-of-living increases, helping the military close the gap between service member and private sector compensation.  I will work to ensure that the Congress's steadfast support for our troops continues.  As we continue to send tens of thousands of troops to fight in Afghanistan, our service members deserve no less. 

I have worked tirelessly to protect and improve TRICARE beneficiaries’ access to care while keeping payments low. For example, I worked to mandate that the future growth rate for TRICARE enrollment fees not exceed the military retirement cost-of-living adjustment. In addition, the Fiscal Year 2013 National Defense Authorization Act rejected dramatic increases in TRICARE enrollment fees and restored an estimated savings of $452 million in TRICARE reductions proposed in the Fiscal Year 2013 budget.  I also fought to cap future increases for pharmacy co-pays to the annual cost-of-living adjustment.  Furthermore, I helped pass legislation extending current TRICARE physician reimbursement rates, allowing VA doctors to continue to see new patients, conduct outreach to rural areas, and allow them to make needed improvements to their practices in order to continue giving the best care possible.  Please be assured that I will continue fighting to preserve the unique role of TRICARE in our nation’s healthcare system.

Protecting the Homeland from Terrorist Threats
While our troops serve abroad, our police back home need adequate resources to identify and combat domestic threats.  Through Department of Homeland Security grants, I was able to secure federal funding for the construction and operation of the Southern Nevada Counter-Terrorism Center.  Completed in 2007, the Center is headed by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police department and houses more than 70 employees and officials from the Las Vegas, North Las Vegas and Henderson police departments, the Nevada Department of Public Safety, the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security, and other local, state, federal, and tribal entities.  The Center maintains a 24/7 watch capability and acts as a centralized, comprehensive intelligence fusion center, specifically designed to coordinate the exchange of criminal intelligence on a regional/statewide basis.  It is also home to the All Hazards Regional Multi-Agency Operations and Response (ARMOR) Detail, which is the region's response, detection, and identification unit for chemical, biological, nuclear, radiological, and explosive threats.  This state-of-the-art facility improves interagency cooperation, allowing public safety agencies to better protect southern Nevada from terrorist attacks.