Two Republican members of the Alabama congressional delegation, who also sit on the House Armed Services Committee, are criticizing President Biden’s defense budget.
U.S. Reps. Mike Rogers (R-Saks) and Mo Brooks (R-Huntsville) joined their Republican colleagues on the committee in putting out a press release today denouncing the proposed defense budget for fiscal year 2023.
Biden released his $5.8 trillion proposed budget last week, which includes $813 billion in defense spending. The president said it was “one of the largest investments in our national security in history.”
The Republican members argue that the proposal is inadequate considering the current threats to national security.
Rogers, the ranking Republican of the House Armed Services Committee, said Biden’s proposed increase isn’t enough.
“Our nation faces unprecedented threats from China and Russia and it’s unconscionable that President Biden has chosen to once again shortchange our warfighters,” Rogers said in the press release. “By failing to account for inflation President Biden’s budget request would leave America weakened and vulnerable.”
He also warned about the looming threats from China.
“In China, Xi Jinping is watching as President Biden continues to falter,” Rogers continued. “In fact, while China has the largest navy in the world and is rapidly expanding their nuclear arsenal – President Biden’s budget request would decommission 24 U.S. Navy ships and cut funding for our own nuclear capabilities.”
The ranking Republican member praised his fellow House colleagues who joined him in calling out the president’s proposal.
“Luckily, Congress calls the shots when it comes to funding our military,” Rogers said. ” I am glad that all Republicans on the House Armed Services Committee are dedicated to fighting for a higher defense topline in the FY23 NDAA that accounts for inflation and ensures our warfighters have what they need to succeed in combat. I look forward to hearing from Secretary Austin and General Milley about the needs of our warfighters, the threats we face, and how Congress can fix President Biden’s inadequate defense budget.”
Brooks concurred with the other members and said the budget just reveals Biden’s misplaced priorities.
“Joe Biden would rather pay too many Americans to live off welfare and mooch off the labors of hard-working American families, or pay illegal aliens to break our laws, than adequately fund America’s national security, the federal government’s #1 duty,” Brooks said in the release. “Biden’s proposed $773 billion defense budget is at least a 4% cut in real dollar spending power (after adjusting for “the official” 8% inflation rate). Hence, Biden’s proposed defense cuts encourage America’s geo-political foes to engage in nefarious military attacks around the world, thereby risking war. Biden’s poorly thought out real dollar defense spending cuts must be stopped.”
The Huntsville congressman put out a statement on Twitter as well, saying, “I’m extremely perturbed that Biden would rather pay Americans to live off welfare or pay illegal aliens to break our laws than adequately fund America’s national security. Biden’s real dollar defense cuts must be stopped.”
As a @HASCRepublicans member, I’m extremely perturbed that Biden would rather pay Americans to live off welfare or pay illegal aliens to break our laws than adequately fund America’s national security. Biden’s real dollar defense cuts must be stopped. https://t.co/GGlFVENjJ8
— Mo Brooks (@RepMoBrooks) April 4, 2022
Yaffee is a contributing writer to Yellowhammer News and hosts “The Yaffee Program” Weekdays 9-11am on WVNN. You can follow him on Twitter @Yaffee
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