Press Releases

WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) today voted in favor of legislation to stave off looming cuts to defense spending. The Budget Control Act, passed in August of 2011, charged the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction, also known as the “super committee,” with finding at least $1.2 trillion in spending cuts from FY2012 to FY2021. The super committee failed in its duty to accomplish this, setting off a trigger known as “sequestration,” a set of automatic spending cuts worth $1.2 trillion that will take effect in January of 2013. It is expected that defense cuts will make up 10% of these reductions in 2013 and 50% from FY14 through FY2021, if Congress and the President do not take action.

The House today approved a plan to avoid sequestration by replacing the first year’s cuts with incremental reforms to mandatory spending programs.

Wittman released the following statement:

“The proposal passed today is so critical for the future of our nation’s defense, to avoid looming cuts that would jeopardize our national security. I am outraged the “super committee” failed to carry out its charge and make the tough decisions to avoid sequestration.  We must get our spending under control in a responsible way. This bill passed today avoids additional defense cuts while making responsible choices to eliminate waste, fraud, and abuse in government programs.”

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the First District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee where he is the Chairman of the Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee.

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