Congressman Fong in The Bakersfield Californian Community Voices: 'California’s 20th District is essential to America’s national security'

BAKERSFIELD, Calif. - This weekend, Congressman Vince Fong (CA-20)publishedan op-ed in The Bakersfield Californian Community Voices: "California's 20th District is essential to America's national security."

Read the full text below:

"At the Reagan National Defense Forum last weekend, I met with senior military, national security and homeland security leaders to assess the challenges facing our nation. Their message was unmistakable: America's edge in strength and innovation endures, and communities like ours are essential to sustaining it.

Our region is home to irreplaceable military installations: NAS Lemoore is the Navy's premier strike-fighter base, hosting the F/A-18 and F-35 communities. China Lake drives weapons development and testing that maintain U.S. technological superiority. Edwards AFB, headquarters of the Air Force Test Center, leads cutting-edge research and tests that ensure America's decisive edge in the skies. The Fresno National Guard Base enables rapid-response homeland defense missions that protect millions of Americans every day.

These installations and their service members are the key to ensuring our Armed Forces can win against near-peer adversaries such as China.

The reality is that the threats we face today are more formidable than at any point in the last 20 years. To overcome them, we must strengthen our defense innovation ecosystem and give our warfighters every advantage on the battlefield.

That's why I voted for the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) this week in Congress.

This legislation is part of a generational investment in America's national defense, providing $900.6 billion for national defense programs this fiscal year to maintain our capable, lethal fighting force, deter our adversaries and protect our homeland.

It fundamentally reforms defense acquisition by eliminating burdensome red tape, authorizes a 3.8% pay increase for all service members, improves housing, education and access to childcare for military families, and accelerates innovation by prioritizing cutting-edge capabilities like hypersonics and autonomous technologies.

Within this legislation, I worked to secure authorization for nearly $98 million for projects at NAS Lemoore and NAWS China Lake in this bill, as well as critical assessments at Edwards AFB. In total, these provisions will provide advanced training facilities for Navy personnel to safely handle and load ordinance on Strike Fighter aircraft, pave the way for a new F-35 Aircraft Maintenance Hangar, and establish a new Child Development Center, replacing an outdated facility and providing Navy families with a safer, modern space to meet growing childcare needs. Our focus is to recruit and retain the best and brightest to answer the call to defend our country.

As a new member of the House Homeland Security Committee, I will continue working to strengthen our homeland security capabilities. The threats we face are real - from international criminal organizations to drug cartels that prey on the most vulnerable in our communities.

A recent Homeland Security Committee hearing underscored a reality we cannot ignore: violence against law enforcement is rising. Reckless anti-police rhetoric and destructive policies - including those coming out of California - are driving officers away, undermining recruitment, and making our communities less safe.

We must stand firmly with the men and women who protect us, not tear them down. That is why ensuring our federal, state and local law enforcement have the resources and equipment they need is essential.

We must also confront Governor Newsom's energy crisis, which is undermining our military readiness, and protect California's 20th District's role as a strategic asset in our nation's defense.

It is an honor to represent a community that makes such vital contributions to America's security. I am committed to ensuring our men and women in uniform - and the families who serve alongside them - have the resources they need to carry out their mission and a quality-of-life worthy of their service and sacrifice."