Jane Harman: “I yield myself 2 minutes. My colleagues, the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Menendez] and the gentleman from…”

“I yield myself 2 minutes. My colleagues, the gentleman from New Jersey [Mr. Menendez] and the gentleman from Massachusetts [Mr. Meehan] and I are offering an amendment today that every deficit hawk should love. Balanced budget supporters should unite around it because it would strike a section of this bill, title 3, which would establish an Advisory Commission on National Security Revitalization that we simply do not need. Let me make three quick points: First, the commission is a waste of money. Even if we reprogram the money, its timetable is absurdly short, and its $1.5 million estimated budget wastes taxpayer funds that could be better spent on readiness or quality of life for our troops and their families. In comparison to other Government expenditures, $1.5 million is not much. However, the challenge is for all of us in this economic environment to reduce wasteful Government expenditures, not increase them. If we are serious about balancing the budget, this money must not be spent. Second, the commission usurps the responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and the congressional defense committees. Defense Secretary Perry emphatically stated that, "the proposed commission usurps the responsibilities of the Secretary of Defense." At the same time this independent commission would interfere with the ability of the Committee on National Security to fulfill its responsibilities.”