Civilian Response Corps Will Help Bring Stability

It’s painfully clear by now that though our military is the best in the world, our ability to rebuild and stabilize countries is not. Helping nations recover from conflict or collapse takes a complex combination of political, diplomatic, development and military efforts, all in the immediate aftermath of crisis. Iraq is not the first time the U.S. has run into problems in reconstruction operations, but we can learn something from our efforts this time around.

Last week, Rep. Jim Saxton (R-N.J.) and I introduced the “Reconstruction and Stabilization Civilian Management Act,” H.R. 1084, and I call on my colleagues from both sides of the aisle to join me in supporting it. Senator Dick Lugar has introduced the companion bill, S. 613, on the Senate side.

Our bill authorizes a civilian response corps that would quickly bring the expertise of law enforcement, health care providers, transportation and agricultural professionals into critical rebuilding situations. Our Armed Forces have been serving as default bankers, lawyers and road-planners for long enough. It’s time for the State Department to help fill the expertise void by creating a civilian force, drawing from all of our federal agencies, to take over once the military has stabilized a war torn country.

With more congressional support, we can start putting the enormous knowledge base within our government to good use in responding to some of the most important and pressing security threats of our time.

For more information please see my press release.