Ed believes that security through diplomacy will best strengthen the foundation for American leadership abroad.
Non-Proliferation
Since he was elected, Ed has worked to end the proliferation of nuclear weapons. He championed the movement to freeze nuclear warhead buildup. And last year, he introduced the Smarter Approach to Nuclear Expenditures (SANE) Act that would reduce our nuclear armament and cut the deficit by $100 billion over the next ten years.
Homeland Security
Ed Markey has taken aggressive action in Congress to make sure our country is safe from threats of the 21st Century.
The Implementing Recommendations of the 9/11 Commission Act of 2007 included Ed’s legislation, which mandated screening for 100 percent of air cargo on passenger planes. And he authored the bill to require 100 percent scanning for inbound maritime cargo, as recommended by the 9/11 Commission. In the Senate, Ed will fight to ensure that these important goals are met, to keep our ports and airports safe.
In response to concerns over safety at liquefied natural gas terminals, such as the one located in Everett, Ed authored a law that requires minimum standards for the location, construction, and operation of any new LNG facility.
Now, Ed is leading the charge to keep dangerous weapons off our airplanes following a rule change by the Transportation Security Administration that would permit passengers to carry knives onto planes. To make sure air travel as safe as possible for passengers, pilots, flight attendants and crew, Ed introduced the “No Knives Act” to prohibit passengers from carrying knives on planes.
In the 111th Congress, Ed authored the GRID Act to give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission authority to issue regulations combating known and potential cyber-vulnerabilities.
Safety at Home
Ed has spent his career making the people of Massachusetts and the nation safer and more secure. He is a staunch advocate for gun control and reducing gun violence and has supported commonsense gun reforms that preserve the Second Amendment and protect our children, our parents, and our friends. In 1994, Ed identified a deadly loophole enabling cheap Chinese semi-automatic assault weapons to flood into the U.S. He urged President Clinton to place an emergency moratorium on the importation of these military style assault weapons from China, including the SKS, MAK-90 and other similar weapons.
In the Senate, Ed will continue his commitment to ensuring the safety of all families in Massachusetts in their homes, communities and throughout the nation.
