Earl Blumenauer: “I couldn't disagree more with my distinguished colleague who just spoke. Even with 1,500 proposed amendments to the…”

“I couldn't disagree more with my distinguished colleague who just spoke. Even with 1,500 proposed amendments to the National Defense Authorization Act, it remains a disgrace. The majority talks big about cutting money, but they fail on some of the most fundamental opportunities. They reject commonsense solutions and have failed to support meaningful cost-saving reforms. They have held the global economy hostage over spending levels, but I hope they will take advantage yet to make some adjustments, including my amendment with Representatives McGovern and Garamendi to end the wasteful funding of the outdated, ineffective B83-1 bomber that the 2022 defense posture laid out. It was unnecessary and wasteful. If they wanted to get serious about addressing spending levels, we should stop wasting taxpayer dollars on weapons that don't work, on ships the Navy doesn't want, and nuclear weapons that are outdated and increasingly costly to maintain. Adding even more money to an all-time record defense spending regime does nothing to improve American security or strengthen our allies, including the valiant Ukrainians in a fight for their very survival. At a time of renewed security threats to the United States, a war raging in Ukraine, tensions in Asia and the Pacific, so much controversy over government spending, this legislation falls so painfully short of the mark.…”