Overseas Contingency Operations Must Withstand Sequestration

Floor Speech

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, last Thursday, the Pentagon confirmed House and Senate Republicans' concerns by finally acknowledging that the Overseas Contingency Operations, a fund used to support troops in combat, will be subject to the sequestration cuts.

The Office of Management and Budget's senior adviser and associate director for Communications and Strategic Planning, Kenneth Baer, understands that if the sequester ``were to take effect, it would be disastrous for our national security.''

House Republicans have always been aware of the impacts sequestration will have on our brave men and women serving in uniform and the impacts it will have on their families. Last month, House Republicans passed the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation package, which is legislation that reduces the spending for unnecessary programs used to promote the President's liberal agenda, in order to use those funds to provide for a strong national defense. I urge my colleagues in the Senate to take action immediately and pass this bill.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

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