McConnell: Excuses Won't Fund the Troops
March 31, 2007
McConnell says CRS memo doesn’t excuse Democrat delay of troop funding
LOUISVILLE – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement Saturday regarding a Congressional Research Service (CRS) memo being used as an excuse for slowing funds to troops deployed in combat:
“I am a bit surprised that the Democrat leadership needed CRS to verify that if the Army and Marine Corps stopped training, repairing equipment and moving personnel, that the funds Congress appropriated for those activities would be available for other purposes. The simple fact is every day we don't fund our troops is a day their ability to fight this war is weakened."
“The only reason this report was issued is to try to paper over why congressional Democrats are taking a two-week break before finishing a funding bill—and insisting on adding a surrender date that they know will draw a veto—when our troops are in the field and need the funding. Excuses won’t fund the troops, and procrastination won’t be excused.”
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The CRS memo cited by Democrats explains why delaying funds for the troops is not in their best interest:
“The Army has suggested that these actions would disrupt its programs including facilities repair, depot maintenance, and training. In order to ensure that funding is available for the later months of the year, the Army may very well decide that it must slow down its non-war-related operations before money would run out by, for example, limiting facility maintenance and repairs, delaying equipment overhauls, restricting travel and meetings, and, perhaps slowing down training.”
And Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before Congress Thursday and made clear that the delays envisioned by congressional Democrats would hinder the military mission:
“[I]f we get to about the 15th of April, specifically for the United States Army, then the Army has told us that they will have to begin curtailing some training here at home for Guard, Reserve and for units, which means that the baseline for those units will be reduced as far as their capability and when they are called…Second, quality of life initiatives for the service will have to be reduced again past 15 April, because money that is allocated to that will have to be shifted to the funding of the war. Third, there will be some repair of equipment that is back here that will have to be reduced until we can get the funding.”
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LOUISVILLE – U.S. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell made the following statement Saturday regarding a Congressional Research Service (CRS) memo being used as an excuse for slowing funds to troops deployed in combat:
“I am a bit surprised that the Democrat leadership needed CRS to verify that if the Army and Marine Corps stopped training, repairing equipment and moving personnel, that the funds Congress appropriated for those activities would be available for other purposes. The simple fact is every day we don't fund our troops is a day their ability to fight this war is weakened."
“The only reason this report was issued is to try to paper over why congressional Democrats are taking a two-week break before finishing a funding bill—and insisting on adding a surrender date that they know will draw a veto—when our troops are in the field and need the funding. Excuses won’t fund the troops, and procrastination won’t be excused.”
* * *
The CRS memo cited by Democrats explains why delaying funds for the troops is not in their best interest:
“The Army has suggested that these actions would disrupt its programs including facilities repair, depot maintenance, and training. In order to ensure that funding is available for the later months of the year, the Army may very well decide that it must slow down its non-war-related operations before money would run out by, for example, limiting facility maintenance and repairs, delaying equipment overhauls, restricting travel and meetings, and, perhaps slowing down training.”
And Gen. Peter Pace, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, testified before Congress Thursday and made clear that the delays envisioned by congressional Democrats would hinder the military mission:
“[I]f we get to about the 15th of April, specifically for the United States Army, then the Army has told us that they will have to begin curtailing some training here at home for Guard, Reserve and for units, which means that the baseline for those units will be reduced as far as their capability and when they are called…Second, quality of life initiatives for the service will have to be reduced again past 15 April, because money that is allocated to that will have to be shifted to the funding of the war. Third, there will be some repair of equipment that is back here that will have to be reduced until we can get the funding.”
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