WASHINGTON, D.C. - U.S. Sen. Jim Inhofe (R-Okla.), ranking member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today released the following statement after voting against the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2014 (H.R. 3547). The bill passed by a 72 to 26 vote.

“Today I voted no on the omnibus appropriations bill because it continues the disproportionate cuts that are decimating our national security. Further, the agreement fails to fully restore the earned retirement benefits of our military men and women that were recklessly cut in last year’s budget deal.  I’m going to continue my fight to ensure the men and women who volunteer to defend this country receive the benefits they rightfully earned. 

“The bill fails to recognize the dire situation of our military readiness and capabilities. Operation and maintenance accounts were cut by $15 billion, further degrading the readiness of our combat forces which are already at 50-year lows and will accelerate the hollowing of our Armed Forces.  Additionally, it slashes $1.7 billion from missile defense and cuts nearly every aircraft modernization and procurement program, including over $400 million from the F-35, $20 million from the KC-10 modernization program, and another $20 million from the Long Range Strike bomber program. Even more troubling, this bill siphons hundreds of millions of dollars from essential defense accounts to programs that have nothing to do with the national security of the United States, including health research and programs to further President Obama’s domestic green energy agenda. It’s time Congress remembers its Constitutional responsibility to provide for the nation’s common defense rather than use it as a piggy bank to fuel its out-of-control domestic spending."

On Jan. 16, Inhofe cosponsored an amendment offered by Sen. Kelly Ayotte (R-N.H.) to the Omnibus appropriations bill that would repeal Section 403 of the Murray-Ryan Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013. Section 403 penalizes current and future military retirees by subtracting a full percentage point each year from their Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) for those under the age of 62 and who retire at the 20-year point. The Ayotte amendment would pay for the provision by instead requiring that filers have Social Security numbers in order to qualify for the Additional Child Tax Credit (ACTC). 

###