Fleming Supports Restoration of Military Funding

Statement

Congressman John Fleming, M.D., released the following statement after voting for the two-year budget agreement that passed the House of Representatives tonight:

"This is far from an ideal budget, but it is a step in the right direction and the best House Republicans can do as long as President Obama is in office. The president and Senate Democrats have zero interest in fixing Washington's fiscal woes. They only want to spend more, tax more, and pile any spending cuts on the military. This budget stops them in their tracks.

"In 2011 I opposed the Budget Control Act because it would impose arbitrary and disproportionate cuts on our military, and it has. Defense spending was slashed by more than $40 billion this year, and our Armed Forces were bracing for cuts of nearly $55 billion in 2014. Just last month the Chief of Staff of the Army, General Ray Odierno, said that because of those cuts, "the Army will be forced to make significant reductions in force structure and end strength.' Air Force Chief of Staff, General Mark Welsh III, said that the cuts are causing a real problem for readiness and "putting our ability to modernize over time at risk.' Out of a deep concern for military readiness, and for the future of our missions at Fort Polk and Barksdale AFB, I voted for a budget that will restore $22 billion to the military, and make the impact of the cuts less severe.

"Today's agreement reduces mandatory spending and brings Congress back to a stable budgeting process. These are small steps, but they are in the right direction."

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