National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2013

Floor Speech

Mr. RAHALL. Mr. Chair, today, I voted in favor of Representatives Barbara Lee's and Barney Frank's Amendment that would limit Defense spending in the coming fiscal year to the amount authorized in the Budget Control Act of 2011.
I am opposed to House Republican efforts to rewrite last summer's budget agreement, unfairly shifting the burden for deficit reduction to domestic programs while threatening yet another calamitous downgrade in the our Nation's credit rating.

A balanced approach is essential to achieving deficit reduction. I remain optimistic that the Congress can find savings in both domestic and defense programs. Certainly, I will continue fighting to ensure that cuts are not imposed that would harm our active-duty troops, military retirees, and veterans who have already sacrificed so much for our Nation.

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