Charles Skelton: “I need to share with the Members of this body the testimony we received at our Armed Services Committee hearing just…”

“I need to share with the Members of this body the testimony we received at our Armed Services Committee hearing just yesterday. David Walker, the Comptroller General of the United States, told us we face a large and growing structural deficit. He testified as follows: ``Continuing on this path will gradually erode, if not suddenly damage, our economy, our standards of living, and ultimately our national security.'' Mr. Chairman, we have been warned. That is why I rise today in support of the Democratic alternative budget. The Spratt alternative begins to put us on a sane fiscal path which will protect our national security. Furthermore, it provides funding for our critical national security needs that were left out of the President's and the majority's budgets. The Spratt alternative would fully fund the end strength, the number of people, in the National Guard. If one supports the National Guard, one should vote for the Spratt alternative. It reverses the cut to the Cooperative Threat Reduction Program. If one supports keeping weapons of mass destruction out of the hands of terrorists, one should vote for the Spratt alternative. It rejects the TRICARE fee increases proposed by the President. If you oppose tripling the fees charged to military retirees, one should vote for the Spratt amendment. It increases funding for family support centers. If one supports military families when mom or dad is deployed overseas, one should vote for the Spratt alternative.…”