Hoyer: House Republicans’ National Security Plan Is Same Old Ideas Repackaged with New Rhetoric

"Today, House Republicans unveiled a national security plan that, much like their new poverty agenda, simply recycles old ideas and repackages them with new platitudes and rhetoric.  Once again, Republicans provide very few specifics, choosing instead to criticize the Obama Administration while proposing exactly those things the President is already doing.  The few Republican proposals that deviate from the President's current actions would actually make America less safe and would recklessly put American forces in harm’s way.  At the same time, Speaker Ryan and House Republicans have embraced a presidential nominee whose responses to our national security challenges include calling for an end to critical alliances and to allow more countries to acquire nuclear weapons.  

"Furthermore, House Republicans continue to be inconsistent with their own rhetoric, speaking in generalities about keeping Americans safe while simultaneously gambling with our nation's security by attaching partisan amendments to must-pass defense bills and undermining efforts to reduce the debt that military leaders have identified as a critical long-term threat.  Furthermore, their insertion into this year’s defense authorization bill of a provision that would cut off funding for our troops mid-mission directly endangers the safety of our men and women in uniform on the front lines of the war against terror. 

“We must not play partisan games with our military.  Ensuring our common defense ought to be an area where Democrats and Republicans always set partisanship aside and work together to give our troops the tools they need to complete their missions safely and effectively.  The plan released today is yet another example of House Republicans’ misguided and partisan ‘Wrong Way’ agenda, which will not make us safer from threats overseas.”