Hoyer Statement on House Passage of DoD Appropriations for FY 2019
Press Types
Press Release
For Immediate Release:
June 28, 2018
Contact Info:
Mariel Saez 202-225-3130
WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on House passage of the Department of Defense appropriations bill for Fiscal Year 2019:
“Today, Democrats and Republicans in the House came together to fund our military for the next year, a sign of our common commitment to a strong national defense. While there are provisions in this bill that I believe could be made better, overall it represents a bipartisan compromise and adheres to the budget caps. Congress must continue to meet its responsibilities to those who serve our nation in uniform and provide, as the Constitution requires, for our common defense.
“I remain concerned that the fiscal policies pursued by this Republican-led Congress are undermining our national security and military readiness over the long term. As a result of the tax law they passed in December, Republicans added $1.8 trillion in new deficits over the next ten years and set our country on a path toward more debt and more difficulty affording our investments in the years ahead. If we cannot afford our national security investments in the coming decades, because of interest payments on our debt crowding out discretionary spending, we will be unable to compete with China and other rising powers and protect our interests around the world. I hope that Democrats and Republicans can work together to pursue more responsible fiscal policies in the months and years ahead in order to ensure we can afford our investments in both a strong national defense and a strong economy for our people.”
“Today, Democrats and Republicans in the House came together to fund our military for the next year, a sign of our common commitment to a strong national defense. While there are provisions in this bill that I believe could be made better, overall it represents a bipartisan compromise and adheres to the budget caps. Congress must continue to meet its responsibilities to those who serve our nation in uniform and provide, as the Constitution requires, for our common defense.
“I remain concerned that the fiscal policies pursued by this Republican-led Congress are undermining our national security and military readiness over the long term. As a result of the tax law they passed in December, Republicans added $1.8 trillion in new deficits over the next ten years and set our country on a path toward more debt and more difficulty affording our investments in the years ahead. If we cannot afford our national security investments in the coming decades, because of interest payments on our debt crowding out discretionary spending, we will be unable to compete with China and other rising powers and protect our interests around the world. I hope that Democrats and Republicans can work together to pursue more responsible fiscal policies in the months and years ahead in order to ensure we can afford our investments in both a strong national defense and a strong economy for our people.”