Letter to Hon. Joseph Biden, President of the United States - Sen. Cramer, SASC Colleagues Press Biden to Boost Defense Budget by 5% Above Inflation

Letter

U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK), House Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Mike Rogers (R-AL), and Republican members of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees in urging President Biden to include a 5% increase above inflation for the defense spending in his fiscal year 2023 budget request. The members encouraged the President to reject progressives' push to cut or freeze defense spending, to target investments in programs that will "modernize the force and fill ongoing readiness gaps," and to ensure that rate of growth outpaces current record levels of inflation.

"As you prepare your fiscal year 2023 budget for submission to Congress, we strongly encourage you to reject the approach you took last year when you proposed to cut defense spending below the rate of inflation," the members wrote. "Over the last year, the threats to our national security have grown exponentially."

"This is a crucial period for our national security," the letter continued. "If we do not make the investments our military needs today, we will not be able to defend our nation or our allies in the future. The security of the free world depends on a credible American military. We must work together to ensure the men and women of our Armed Services have the resources and support they need to successfully carry out their missions now and for decades to come."