Granger and Calvert on Defense Spending

WASHINGTON – Today, the Full Committee met to consider the fiscal year 2020 Defense Subcommittee appropriations bill.

Top Appropriations Committee Republican Kay Granger (R-TX) said, "Funding our nation's defense is one of the most important responsibilities of Congress.
 
"While the Majority worked to include many of our priorities in this bill, it does not adequately address growing global threats, and it is less than requested, halting the progress we have made in improving military readiness and setting us on an unsustainable path.
 
"Congress and the White House must take steps to come together on a budget framework that will stop sequestration going into effect – $70 billion in cuts below current levels – that would devastate our military capabilities and weaken our ability to secure the homeland and assist our partners and allies around the world.
 
"I want to work with my colleagues as the bill moves through the process to address these concerns and develop a fiscally responsible plan that prioritizes national security."
 
Subcommittee Ranking Member Ken Calvert (R-CA) added, "Ultimately, I am greatly concerned that the Committee is marking up this and other bills without an agreement on topline spending levels that the President will also support.

"The bill was crafted without acknowledging the reality that if we cannot reach agreement on a budget caps deal, we face sequestration in the coming year.

"If we fail to strike a deal, and are forced to endure sequestration, the impacts to our military readiness and modernization would be dire. We need all parties to come to the table now and make the tough but critical budget decisions necessary to protect our national security."

Backing their commitment to conservative polices, Committee Republicans offered amendments to: