House Republicans Fight to Stop Arbitrary Cuts to Military Forces

Statement

House Republican Policy Committee Chairman Tom Price, M.D. (R-GA) issued the following statement as the House of Representatives considered the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act.

"Today we are having a debate over whether to eliminate wasteful, duplicative spending, and unnecessary, flawed federal programs or to let the current sequester law disarm our military, disrupt their operational capabilities, and shrink America's fighting force," said Chairman Price. "Do we really want to have the men and women of our military pay the price for Washington's fiscal irresponsibility? Of course not which is why the sequester currently in place is unacceptable. We all know that, and therefore we ought to do something about it. House Republicans are taking specific action on a responsible plan that protects our national security while ensuring we continue to cut spending in Washington.

"Far more must be done to eliminate the very real threat our debt poses to America's national security. House Republicans have taken this threat seriously and put forth a long-term budget to get the nation's fiscal house in order. For three years, there's been no such budget from the Democrat-led, Do-Nothing Senate. As the president campaigns around the country, he ought to take a moment and ask his allies in the Senate why they refuse to budget. At the very least, he should ask them to support the positive, sensible plan we have proposed today that protects the nation's fighting men and women while saving taxpayer dollars."

According to the House Armed Services Committee, under the current sequestration law, the cuts to the nation's defense capabilities would result in:
The smallest ground force since 1940.
The smallest fleet of ships since 1915.
The smallest tactical fighter force in the history of the Air Force.

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