Nita Lowey: “I rise in strong opposition to the Mulvaney amendment. It would make indiscriminate across-the-board cuts, it would…”

“I rise in strong opposition to the Mulvaney amendment. It would make indiscriminate across-the-board cuts, it would create a $2.1 billion shortfall in military pay, take $529 million from military health care and $1.4 billion support for our troops in Afghanistan. Even before the Mulvaney amendment, the Joint Chiefs of Staff say we are on the brink of creating a hollow force. It would also cut care for wounded warriors after they come home, reducing veterans' medical services by more than $800 million. And here at home the amendment would eliminate $650 million in funds to repair, rebuild, and expand highways and bridges. It would cut more than 139,000 low-income pregnant women, infants and young children from the WIC program. It would take $500 million from the National Institutes of Health for research and cures for diseases like cancer, diabetes, and Alzheimer's. On many occasions, Democrats and Republicans came together to meet these urgent needs caused by major disasters in all parts of the Nation. We didn't say we must first cut support for armed forces and veterans and reduce investments in research. Let's not do that now.”