Today, during a Defense Subcommittee hearing with military leaders, U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers (KY-05), Chairman of the House Appropriations Committee, shared his plan to support the Department of Defense budget in the midst of the President's looming sequestration. The Department of Defense is poised for the sequestration's greatest cuts, threatening at least 8% of its budget. Last year, the House voted twice to prevent the President's proposed sequestration and now Chairman Rogers says its time for our Commander in Chief to "put forward an acceptable alternative."

"Like many of my colleagues, I believe sequestration is both terrible politics and a terrible policy. It will have a devastating effect on important programs and services, most notably taking its toll on our service men and women and our defense capability. The President’s sequestration approach represents a haphazard, negligent, and indiscriminate approach to governing; an abdication of leadership. As you men know, leadership is about making choices, tough choices. Sequestration is about not making choices. I had hoped our Commander in Chief would have put forward an acceptable alternative to this near term disaster, but we are all still waiting. Last year, the House voted twice to resist these across-the-board cuts, only to have the White House criticize and disparage.

"These cuts will gravely impair the Defense Department’s mission capabilities, troop training, equipment and supply lines, research and development efforts, and our overall readiness. Today, it is my hope that we can have an honest and open dialogue to discuss the very real impacts of the pending sequestration, exactly where cuts will occur, and the forced steps the military is taking to mitigate these effects. No question cuts can be made to nearly each and every Department, but this approach will certainly lead to more costs, not less, and less 21^st Century security, not more."

--U.S. Rep. Harold "Hal" Rogers

Visit Congressman Rogers' YouTube channel to watch his entire speech during the Defense Subcommittee hearing on Tuesday, February 26, 2013.

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