Last evening the House of Representatives voted to freeze Pentagon spending at last year’s level, approving an amendment to the defense appropriations bill co-sponsored by Rep. Mulvaney (R-S.C.) and Rep. Frank (D-Mass.). The vote is significant in that it showed a willingness by Members of Congress to consider cuts to the military, something that has been hotly debated in the deficit reduction discussions. The Mulvaney-Frank amendment cut $1.1 billion from the House proposal.
Unfortunately, several other amendments which would have made even more significant cuts, were voted down. Even with the Mulvaney-Frank trim, the Pentagon budget is still $6 billion over the caps allowed in last year’s Budget Control Act. A vote to bring the funding levels in line with the caps failed 243-171. Another amendment, to cut $19.2 billion, failed 326-87.
To view how your representative voted on these amendments, click here:
- Mulvaney-Frank amendment, cutting $1.1 billion to freeze spending at last year’s level
- Lee-Van Hollen-Smith amendment to cut $7.6 billion to keep spending in line with Budget Control Act caps
- Lee amendment to cut $19.2 billion
Read more about MCC’s work on military spending.
