1. United States
2. Iowa
3. Letter

Will We Stand With NATO and Ukraine Before This War Spreads Any Further? I am asking you to renew America's commitment to NATO and Ukraine and to act now, before Russia's war grows into a direct conflict with the West, one I fear could become World War III. Romania's Defense Ministry counts at least 23 Russian drone violations of its airspace through mid-August this year, more than the 18 recorded from 2022 through 2025 combined. In May, a Russian drone carrying explosives crashed in Galati, Romania, injuring two people and setting an apartment block on fire. On September 10, 2025, at least 19 Russian drones entered Poland, and NATO fighters engaged them in allied airspace for the first time in the alliance's history. This concern crosses party lines. The 2026 defense authorization law, which passed the House 312-112 and the Senate 77-20, set a 76,000-troop floor for Europe. Yet NBC News reported on September 17 that the Pentagon is weighing withdrawals of 25,000 to 40,000 troops. We must keep our troops in Europe, because Europe cannot yet fill that gap. This month, the International Institute for Strategic Studies warned that its shortfalls in air defense, artillery and ammunition are unlikely to close before the end of the decade. Ukraine is the front line holding Russia back, and abandoning it would invite Moscow to test NATO next. I think about the people in that Galati apartment block, living ordinary lives until a war they did not start hit their building. One miscalculation could send Americans to fight a nuclear-armed power, and I refuse to accept that dread as normal. I am asking you to: - Vote for the FY2027 defense authorization (S. 4784), which extends Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative funding through 2029 at $750 million and requires 120 days' notice before troop reductions in any NATO country. - Block the withdrawal of the 25,000 troops the Pentagon is considering pulling from Europe, and demand public hearings before its review ends. - Reaffirm publicly that America will honor Article 5 and stand with Ukraine. So will we stand with NATO and Ukraine before this war spreads any further? Yes, and I urge you to make that America's answer. With the Pentagon's final recommendation expected in early November, the time to act is now. Thank you for your time and your service.