U.S. Representative Rick Larsen (WA-02), a member of the House Budget and Armed Services Committees, delivered the following remarks today at a Budget Committee markup of the budget resolution for the next fiscal year.
“Mr. Chairman, earlier this year, Congress passed and President Obama signed into law the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. This legislation is already creating jobs, building a foundation for future growth, and helping those getting hit the hardest in today’s economy.
“This budget resolution will continue to move our country in the right direction by investing in renewable energy, education, and health care. It is a key step in making President Obama’s plan to invest in our nation's priorities a reality.
“I will focus my remarks on this budget’s investment in national security. This budget resolution provides a 3.8% funding increase for the Department of Defense to keep our country safe and support our service members and their families.
“And for the first time, the President’s Budget includes an honest, transparent accounting of the cost of sustaining our wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
“Secretary Gates applauded President Obama’s investment national defense, saying “I'm confident that this funding level will allow the department to meet its long term institutional priorities of taking care of the troops and their families, rebalancing our capabilities for conventional and irregular warfare, completing the growth of the Army and Marine Corps, and preserving essential modernization programs.”
“Even with the budget increase we are considering today, Secretary Gates has said the Department of Defense cannot buy everything and do everything. The previous Administration left us with defense spending plans that are unrealistic and unsustainable, and we need to make tough choices in the coming years. As a member of the House Armed Services Committee, I know we will be up to the task.
“The Administration and Congress must also work to ensure responsible investments in national security by making acquisition reform a top priority. Last week, the Government Accountability Office testified that the Department of Defense’s 95 major weapons programs were $295 billion over budget and on average 21 months behind schedule. This is unacceptable and must be fixed.
“This Committee and the House Armed Services Committee will provide the oversight and accountability that our nation’s taxpayers deserve over each taxpayer dollar, even those that go to the Pentagon.
“Thank you for the opportunity to speak today, and I yield back the balance of my time.”