Elise Stefanik: “With the top-line of $735 billion, this bill would cut personnel accounts; limit programs that deter against great power…”

“With the top-line of $735 billion, this bill would cut personnel accounts; limit programs that deter against great power competition, such as Russia and China; and severely regress all the efforts we have put in to recover readiness from the devastating blow of sequestration. While I support portions of this bill, and I supported this bill in committee, I am deeply concerned that it is moving in the wrong direction as this comes to the floor, that it fails to support the needs of our men and women in uniform, and that it does not reflect longstanding bipartisan tradition. Mr. Chair, I look forward to a full and fair debate on these issues, and I urge my colleagues to consider this lack of bipartisan support as they decide their vote on the final passage.”