RYAN-MURRAY BUDGET DEAL MISSES MARK ON SECURITY OPPORTUNITIES
Washington DC – December 11, 2013– News Release – The Ryan-Murray budget plan announced last night continues to miss opportunities to enhance American national security by reshaping the Pentagon to meet 21st century needs.
However, the short term deal has already won the support of President Obama and a host of senior bipartisan policymakers.
“The deal increases funding for a series of critical international and domestic programs,” said Laicie Heeley, the Center’s Director of Defense Policy. “Tragically, the new deal still pours wasted billions into programs that do not enhance the security of the United States or our allies.”
The two-year deal negotiated by the bipartisan, bicameral group led by House Budget Chairman Paul Ryan (R-WI) and Senate Budget Chairman Patty Murray (D-WA) will undo much of the front-end sequester cuts to Pentagon spending.
“Congress is still kicking the can down the road with this deal, and this time it‘s for two years instead of three months,” added Heeley.
The Center’s chairman, Lt. General Robert Gard has routinely written on this issue including two pieces for CNN and The Hill. Both General Gard and Heeley are available for comment or media interview by contacting James Lewis.
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The Center for Arms Control and Non-Proliferation is a Washington-based non-profit think tank working to reduce the number of nuclear weapons stockpiled across the globe, increase international nonproliferation programs targeted at preventing the further proliferation of nuclear weapons and nuclear terrorism, redirect U.S. military spending to address 21st century security threats and halt the proliferation of biological and chemical weapons. www.armscontrolcenter.org
