On the recordJuly 19, 2012
I'm very proud to join with my colleague from California (Ms. Lee) and Mr. Smith, the ranking member on the Armed Services Committee, in support of this amendment. This amendment is, in fact, different than every other amendment that has been offered on this bill. This amendment is very simple and very clear in its purpose: it's to make sure that this Congress complies with the Budget Control Act agreement that was set by this body on a bipartisan vote just last year. I would just refer my colleagues to the Budget Control Act and refer them to section 302, Enforcement of Budget Goals. It's right there in plain English what the 050 number will be, the Defense appropriation number will be. That was the Budget Control Act that was supported and voted on by the chairman of the Budget Committee, by the chairman of the Armed Services Committee, by the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, and by the chairman and the ranking member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee. In fact, the chairman of the Appropriations Committee, Mr. Rogers, said last year, when we passed it: Tough choices will have to be made, particularly when it comes to defense and national security priorities, but shared sacrifice will bring shared results. He went on to say: The Appropriations Committee has already started making tough decisions on spending and will continue to under the spending limits and guidelines provided in this bill--meaning the Budget Control Act.…
