Representatives Lee, Pocan, and Bush Urge Congressional Leadership to Exclude Defense Spending from American Jobs Plan Reconciliation Package
Washington, D.C. – Today, Representatives Barbara Lee (CA-13), Mark Pocan (WI-02), and Cori Bush (MO-01) led 21 members of the House in urging Speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, and Senate Majority Leader, Chuck Schumer, to exclude funding for the Department of Defense in the upcoming reconciliation package as part of the American Jobs Plan. The letter alternatively calls for investments to exclusively invest in building an economy that prioritizes the needs of people and invest in good-paying jobs, health care, clean energy, and education.
“While we do not deny that in some cases the need for military infrastructure modernization exists, funding for these projects should be debated and determined through the regular defense budgeting process, as it is every year,” the lawmakers wrote in their letter. “Given that spending on the Pentagon is already at one of its highest levels since World War II, there should be ample funding within the Department’s budget to address any issues with military facilities by cutting waste and eliminating unnecessary weapons systems, without tapping into the administration’s infrastructure plan.
“The American Jobs Plan can lay the foundation for a revitalized, green, people-centered economy,” the lawmakers continued. “With this bill, we have a critical opportunity to prioritize good-paying, union jobs, especially for Black, Indigenous, and other communities of color whose needs have long been ignored in favor of corporate profits.”
Congresswoman Lee is the Co-Chair of the Congressional Defense Spending Reduction Caucus and regularly advocates for reducing America’s bloated defense budget.
For a link to the full letter, click here.