Washington, D.C. – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) released the following statement after voting in favor of the FY16 House Budget resolution (H. Con. Res. 27) introduced by Budget Committee Chairman Tom Price (GA-6):
“Our nation faces a number of serious challenges, but few are as daunting or threatening as our current fiscal crisis. Congress has a responsibility to address this crisis and provide some degree of fiscal certainty by returning to a regular process of funding our federal government. I supported this budget because it provides a way forward for debating these critical issues and a framework for a return to regular order in the annual budgeting and appropriations process.
“This budget calls for significantly reduced discretionary spending and taxes, as well as a full repeal of the president’s costly health care overhaul. It proposes a balanced budget in fewer than 10 years and acknowledges the severe fiscal threats caused by mandatory spending programs. The plan also demands leadership from our elected leaders by asking members of Congress to cut their own pay, benefits, and office budgets as part of an effort to reduce our debt and get our nation’s fiscal house in order.
“I also have a duty as a member of Congress, as laid out in Article 1, Section 8 of our Constitution, to provide for the common defense. And as Chairman of the House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee, I am fully committed to ensuring that our servicemen and women are trained, equipped, and resourced to accomplish their missions successfully and return home safely.
“Our military’s leaders have repeatedly made clear how disastrous the impending defense cuts known as sequestration would be for our military. As we view rising threats around the world, we cannot ignore these warnings. I have been a consistent voice in battling these arbitrary, senseless defense funding reductions, and throughout this budget process I have argued for a funding level consistent with the reality of the challenges our nation faces. Strategy, not numbers, must define our budget decisions.
“As leaders, we must anticipate future challenges and ensure that our military is able to face them. The impending funding constraints represent one of those challenges, and this particular budget provided the best option today to address them. While I do not believe that funding base budget operations through a contingency fund is the ideal mechanism, this budget does provide enough flexibility to ensure our men and women in uniform are effectively resourced.
“I will continue to work tirelessly to restore the readiness our military has lost and to ensure that it remains more than capable of defending the American people and our interests abroad. The disastrous effects of sequestration will continue to be felt until it is set aside, and I urge congressional leadership to schedule a vote to eliminate this catastrophic provision and provide certainty to our men and women in uniform.”
Congressman Rob Wittman represents the 1st District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee, where he is Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee.
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