Fleming Efforts Encouraged Committee to Reverse President's Troop Cuts

Statement

Congressman John Fleming, M.D. released the following statement after the Military Personnel Subcommittee, under the House Armed Services Committee, rejected the President's proposed military cuts, and even reversed some of the cuts approved last year by increasing active-duty Army soldiers by 5,000.

"Every year for the past three years, the President has made cuts to our Army, for a total troop reduction of 570,000 to 475,000 soldiers. I have led the House Louisiana delegation in coordinating efforts to make sure these cuts would not hurt Fort Polk by writing to the Army, meeting with senior Army leadership and adding several amendments to the Defense Authorization Act. These amendments included putting a hold on Army efforts to downsize Bayne Jones Hospital at Fort Polk, and a requirement that the Secretary of Defense justify these harmful reductions to our military.

"Last year I offered an amendment to the Defense Authorization Act that would have prevented the President from cutting any more active-duty Army soldiers, but it was not included in the final bill, and the cuts were approved. This year's bill reverses course by increasing active-duty Army by 5,000 soldiers. I am pleased to see that House Armed Services Committee leadership has since recognized that the size of our Army is directly tied to how ready our troops are to go to into battle and that the President's cuts simply cannot be justified given the threats around the globe."

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