Chairman Mike Turner (OH-10) of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces is currently leading a letter to President Donald J. Trump strongly urging his administration to uphold its commitment of $733 billion to restore our nation’s military as they complete the fiscal year 2020 President’s Budget. The letter, which currently has 70 signatures of House members, will be sent to the President at the end of next week.
“We are strongly urging the President to follow his original budget plan of $733 billion for the Department of Defense as he prepares his presidential budget for Fiscal Year 2020,” said Chairman Turner. “President Trump cannot claim he is rebuilding our military while cutting the funds necessary to do so. We’ve seen the devastating effects on readiness when our military is forced to make arbitrary cuts as our adversaries continue to aggressively invest in their national security operations.”
The full text of the letter and a list of its current signers is below.
President Donald J. Trump
The White House
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, DC 20500
Dear Mr. President,
We, the undersigned, strongly urge you to uphold your commitment of $733 billion to restore our nation’s military as you complete the fiscal year 2020 President’s Budget. Cuts to defense spending will have disastrous consequences for our military readiness, as was proven by sequestration. Recently, the Congressionally-directed Commission on the National Defense Strategy warned:
“America’s ability to defend its allies, its partners, and its own vital interests is increasingly in doubt. If the nation does not act promptly to remedy these circumstances, the consequences will be grave and lasting.”
This erosion of American military strength is a direct result of the Obama Administration’s sequestration. Since sequestration went into effect, dwindling resources have negatively affected our servicemembers and military readiness. Our military has shouldered the burden of this harmful and failed political budgetary tactic, and it has had severe consequences for our national security.
To remedy this, Congress authorized and appropriated $716 billion and $700 billion for the current and last fiscal years, respectively. We must continue to adequately fund the military and allow for responsible growth to protect our national interests at home and abroad.
A core tenant of your agenda has been renewing American’s military strength. In August, you remarked:
“The National Defense Authorization Act is the most significant investment in our military and our warfighters in modern history. We are going to strengthen our military like never ever before and that’s what we did.”
Furthermore, the National Security Strategy states:
“We are making historic investments in the United States military…The whole world is lifted by America’s renewal and the reemergence of American leadership.”
Our nation and the world are safer when America’s military is preeminent. We cannot afford to repeat past mistakes. We encourage you to join with us and build a stable future for our armed forces.
Current House members who have signed the letter:
- Chairman Mike Turner (OH-10) of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
- Rep. Ralph Abraham (LA-5)
- Rep. Mark Amodei (NV-2)
- Rep. Brian Babin (TX-36)
- Rep. Don Bacon (NE-2)
- Rep. Jim Banks (IN-3)
- Rep. Andy Barr (KY-6)
- Rep. Jack Bergman (MI-1)
- Rep. Rob Bishop (UT-1)
- Rep. Mike Bost (IL-12)
- Rep. Mo Brooks (AL-5)
- Rep. Larry Bucshon (IN-8)
- Rep. Bradley Byrne (AL-1)
- Rep. Liz Cheney (WY)
- Rep. Chris Collins (NY-27)
- Rep. Mike Conaway (TX-11)
- Rep. Paul Cook (CA-8)
- Rep. Rick Crawford (AK-1)
- Rep. Rodney Davis (IL-13)
- Rep. Scott DesJarlais (TN-4)
- Rep. Neal Dunn (FL-2)
- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (PA-8)
- Rep. Bill Flores (TX-17)
- Rep. Matt Gaetz (FL-1)
- Rep. Michael Gallagher (WI-8)
- Rep. Bob Gibbs (OH-7)
- Rep. Sam Graves (MO-6)
- Rep. Vicky Hartzler (MO-4)
- Rep. Jody Hice (GA-10)
- Rep. Clay Higgins (LA-3)
- Rep. Duncan Hunter (CA-50)
- Rep. Will Hurd (TX-23)
- Rep. Bill Johnson (OH-6)
- Rep. Mike Johnson (LA-4)
- Rep. John Katko (NY-24)
- Rep. Mike Kelly (PA-3)
- Rep. Trent Kelly (MS-1)
- Rep. Pete King (NY-2)
- Rep. Steve King (IA-4)
- Rep. Adam Kinzinger (IL-16)
- Rep. Steve Knight (CA-25)
- Rep. Doug Lamborn (CO-5)
- Rep. Debbie Lesko (AZ-8)
- Rep. Frank LoBiondo (NJ-2)
- Rep. Tom Marino (PA-10)
- Rep. Roger Marshall (KS-1)
- Rep. Brian Mast (FL-18)
- Rep. Martha McSally (AZ-2)
- Rep. Paul Mitchell (MI-10)
- Rep. John Moolenaar (MI-4)
- Rep. Dan Newhouse (WA-4)
- Rep. Tom O'Halleran (AZ-1)
- Rep. Pete Olson (TX-2)
- Rep. Bill Posey (FL-8)
- Rep. David Rouzer (NC-7)
- Rep. Steve Russell (OK-5)
- Rep. John Rutherford (FL-4)
- Rep. Austin Scott (GA-8)
- Rep. Bill Shuster (PA-9)
- Rep. Chris Smith (NJ-4)
- Rep. Elise Stefanik (NY-21)
- Rep. Chris Stewart (UT-2)
- Rep. Steve Stivers (OH-15)
- Rep. Jackie Walorski (IN-2)
- Rep. Brad Wenstrup (OH-2)
- Rep. Roger Williams (TX-25)
- Rep. Joe Wilson (SC-2)
- Rep. Rob Wittman (VA-1)
- Rep. Don Young (AK)