Lee Statement on FY2013 Continuing Resolution, Defense and Military Construction/VA Appropriations Bills
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2013
Contact: Carrie Adams (202) 225-2661
Washington, D.C.— Today, Congresswoman Lee released the following statement regarding the FY2013 Continuing Resolution, Defense and Military Construction/VA Appropriations Bills:
“As a member of both the Appropriations and Budget Committee, I rise in strong opposition to this Continuing Resolution.
Although the proposal includes much-needed increases to support the Department of Veteran Affairs and our Embassy Security operations, the funding package would not prevent sequestration for affected departments and agencies.
At a time when the Pentagon has enjoyed a decade of unchecked defense spending, this bill gives the Pentagon new flexibility to cushion the effects of sequestration. At the same time the bill ignores the impacts of these same devastating cuts on the American public.
These sequestration cuts would not only hurt low income families first, but hurt them the most—especially the millions of Americans who are still struggling to find a job.The sequester will impact my congressional district, my home State of California and every single household in America.
The funding package also includes over $87 billion dollars in war spending at a time when the American people overwhelmingly agree there is no military solution in Afghanistan, and it is past time that we bring our troops home.
This CR also underfunds vital programs that protect the public health and safety, promote and develop our workforce, and educate the next generation of Americans.
While all of us believe it is important to keep the government functioning, governing by Continuing Resolution is no way to run federal departments and agencies. We need to rein in Pentagon spending and spend our security dollars wisely on proven programs that can meet today’s national security goals.
The American people deserve better than this, and they expect Congress to create jobs, spend our defense dollars wisely, and strengthen our economy for all Americans.
Not only is this a fiscal disaster, it is morally wrong. I urge a no vote on this bill.”
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Congresswoman Lee is a member of the Appropriations and Budget Committees the Steering and Policy Committee, is a Senior Democratic Whip as well as the Whip of the Congressional Progressive Caucus(CPC), where she serves as the Co-Chair of the CPC Peace and Security Task Force.