CONGRESSMAN MO BROOKS VOTES FOR INCREASED DEFENSE SPENDING AND UKRAINE MILITARY AND HUMANITARIAN AID

Statement

Today, Congressman Mo Brooks (AL-05) voted for substantially increasing national security spending.

Congressman Brooks said, "As an overview, it insults Americans that debt junkie Democrats and Republicans alike give Congress less than 24 hours to vote on a combined 2,741 page $1.5 trillion spending package-- leaving scant time for proper scrutiny. I'm sickened every time this happens. It is even more troubling that these bipartisan 'leaders' continue to insist on Congress spending $1.5 trillion America does not have, has to borrow to get, and cannot afford to pay back. As is so often the case, our bipartisan, debt-junkie 'leaders' require Congress to approve spending bills that are full of pet projects, pork barrel earmarks, and bloated government programs days before a funding deadline. The choice is to vote for bills laden with bad things or force an also bad government shutdown. This 'damned if you do, damned if you don't' process corrupts the public policy debate, drives inflation, increasingly risks a national insolvency, and abuses the intelligence and patience of the American people."

Brooks continued, "While I have serious misgivings about the processes by which the House considers this national security bill, I voted "Yes' on the defense spending bill for a number of reasons. First, it is better to be in debt than dead. Hence, I am willing to risk deficit spending to better prepare America to defend against terrorists and aggressor nations. In particular, this bill spends billions supporting Ukraine's efforts to defend itself from an unprovoked and heinous invasion by Putin's Russia. Given the international threat posed by Putin and Russia, the least America can do is help properly equip Ukraine in their fight against dictatorship and for freedom and liberty. For this and other reasons, and as I have consistently done during my 11 years in Congress, I voted 'yes' on significantly increasing national security spending."

Source