Congressman Tom Price (R-GA) issued the following statement regarding the supplemental appropriations bill debated in the House of Representatives today.

“Liberals in Washington insist on giving terrorists a timetable for our withdrawal from Afghanistan, but they are unable to stick to a timetable for funding our troops in harm’s way,” said Congressman Price. “This funding was requested months ago, and the Pentagon made perfectly clear that delaying it beyond July 4th would disrupt military operations. But instead of looking after our men and women in uniform, Democrats have continually stalled consideration of this vital legislation. They have wasted precious time deliberating amongst themselves how to add billions more in un-related funding to what should be a clean, targeted package of resources for those who are defending our nation. This is sadly par for the course under the current majority. Last year, Democrats larded up a war supplemental with Cash for Clunkers and $5 billion for the IMF to bailout other countries. “Republicans understand that our military deserves better, and the President could sign this defense funding into law tomorrow if not for the irresponsible actions of the majority. It is a failure of leadership by Congressional Democrats that has allowed this money for our troops to be held hostage to further deficit expanding bailouts. That is unacceptable.”

Note: On June 16, Politico reported that, “Funding for the Navy and Marine Corps will begin to run out in July, forcing the Pentagon to disrupt other programs. And by early to mid-August, the military may have to start furloughing civilians and might not be able to pay members of the active-duty military. ‘We begin to have to do stupid things if the supplemental is not passed by July 4,’ [Secretary of Defense Robert] Gates said during a wideranging Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee hearing that provided him with an opportunity to press for supplemental funding.”