On the recordMarch 24, 2015
I am a little surprised the gentleman from Indiana brought up what is called the OCO funding. These are the funds in the overseas contingency operations account for overseas contingencies, like wars and other contingencies that come up. The reality is that what the Republican budget does here is create a slush fund out of the overseas contingency account. It sends a signal that we are confused about how we are going to fund our defense obligations, and it is in total violation of what the Budget Committee itself stood for for years. I want to read, Mr. Chairman, from the 2015 Republican budget. It is just a year ago, but we have got real amnesia among our Republican colleagues. Here is what they said in their report: Abuse of the OCO cap adjustment is a backdoor loophole that undermines the integrity of the budget process; The Budget Committee will exercise its oversight responsibilities with respect to the use of the OCO; The Budget Committee will oppose increases above the levels the administration and our military commanders say are needed to carry out operations unless it can be clearly demonstrated that such amounts are war-related. I didn't write that. Our Republican colleagues put it in their report. It is like, ooh, didn't mean it. So I am really baffled that our colleagues keep bringing this up. It is a total violation of what the Budget Committee has always stood for on a bipartisan basis.…
