On the recordMay 18, 2016
The annual defense bill before the House today removes $18 billion from the overseas war account to fund activities that are not related to war. It is unfortunate that the Republican majority, which claims to be fiscally responsible, is raiding OCO in order to blow past bipartisan spending agreements. This budget gimmick would require an $18 billion supplemental next April-- only halfway through the fiscal year--to restore overseas funding for America's troops. This is no way to govern the Pentagon, and it is doing a disservice to our men and women in uniform by pushing for this. Defense Secretary Ash Carter has said that removing overseas funding during wartime is ``objectionable on the face of it.'' It is my hope and the hope of many others on the committee that funding for the overseas account will be restored on the House floor before the bill is voted on. I urge my colleagues to oppose the defense bill until these funds are restored. ____________________
