DeLauro Statement on Department Of Defense Funding Legislation

Reluctantly Opposes Bill, Calls for More BalancedApproach to the Budget

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) releasedthe following statement on the Defense Department funding bill before the Houseof Representatives today.

"I am a strong supporter of the defense budget, includingspending in this bill to support national security and Connecticut's defensemanufacturing base. However I am not a supporter of making defense whole, so tospeak, while shredding our domestic programs, as the House Majority's budgetdoes. Congress can and should be funding both adequately. We need both tobe a strong, prosperous country.

"Less than two years ago we had a bipartisan compromise andpassed spending bills to meet both our security and non-security needs. Sincethat time unemployment has decreased and the deficit has shrunk by nearly $400billion. We can and should be able to reach a balanced, bipartisan budgetagreement once again."