Eric Swalwell: “I thank the gentleman from Washington. First, I also want to thank my friend, Congressman Pat Meehan, for cosponsoring…”

“I thank the gentleman from Washington. First, I also want to thank my friend, Congressman Pat Meehan, for cosponsoring my amendment. Due to sequestration, the Department of Defense has not been allowing military bands to perform at community events, even when the sponsoring community organization pays for all associated expenses, because the Department of Defense is saying that the reimbursement is never credited to the proper account. Well, this is hard to believe. First, because it's been going on before, where community events have reimbursed the Department of Defense and there have not been any problems that we've been aware of. But since sequestration, they're now saying it cannot be done. Well, this is a civilian force of over 700,000 people. I'm sure that we can find a way to make this work and support our community events. My amendment is simple. It will allow military bands to perform at community events when the hosting organization fully funds the band's expenditures by ensuring that the money from the hosting organization is returned to the relevant department's accounts. This issue came to my attention when a Marine Corps veteran from my district in Pleasanton, California, Brooks Wilson, informed me that at this year's 148th Scottish Gathering and Games in Pleasanton, the Marine Corps band wouldn't be able to perform, even though his organization would fully fund the band's expenditure just as they have always done previously.…”