Vicky Hartzler: “Thank you for your leadership. As a member of the Budget Committee and the Armed Services Committee, I am proud to…”

“Thank you for your leadership. As a member of the Budget Committee and the Armed Services Committee, I am proud to support a balanced budget that stops spending money we don't have. It provides regulatory relief and promotes for a strong defense. Our Federal debt tops an astonishing $17 trillion. This is unacceptable. It is irresponsible to take more money from hard-working families just to spend more here in Washington. Our Path to Prosperity budget balances in 10 years by cutting wasteful spending and reforming government. Just as importantly, this budget gets our priorities right again by providing for the common defense. It replaces $274 billion in scheduled defense cuts to ensure the American people have a bright, safe future. It is imperative we do so because, since taking office, President Obama has directed over $1 trillion in cuts to our military. Under the President's budget, which cuts $75 billion over the next 2 years, with deeper cuts expected if sequestration returns in fiscal year 2016, Secretary of Defense Hagel and other senior defense and military officials acknowledge that these budget choices will create additional risk to our Nation. We can't allow this to happen. While we cut nearly one-fifth of our defense resources, Russia and China are arming at an alarming rate. Russia's military spending is up roughly 30 percent, and China's has more than doubled in recent years.…”