For months Congress has been debating how to deal with the economic questions surrounding an increase in our national debt. At a time when foreign nations own nearly $4.5 trillion of our $14.2 trillion debt -- proposed cuts in the recently passed deal could have serious implications for our national security. As the Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, which oversees our nuclear posture, space programs, and intelligence organizations within the military, this is an issue of much concern for both me and our community, where Wright-Patterson Air Force Base continues to be an economic engine for our region. That's why I was concerned that national security funding would be subject to an initial $175 billion cut in the final version of the Budget Control Act of 2011 that has been passed by Congress and signed by the President. I voted against this bill because I could not support a process which circumvents the normal legislative process and gambles with our national security. Throughout this debate I have advocated for our government to cut current spending and cap it at a responsible level so that we may balance our budget. This is a critical moment for both our nation and our armed forces. Our men and women in uniform are not only being asked to make further sacrifices with additional deployments, but in some cases they're relying on equipment which is often older than they are. Our military remains strong and morale among servicemembers ...
