U.S. Reps. Jerry Carl (R-AL01) and Barry Moore (R-AL02) as well as U.S. Senators Tommy Tuberville (R-Alabama) and Richard Shelby (R-Alabama) all released statements highly critical of President Joseph R. Biden’s (D) FY2023 budget request, which dramatically increases social spending. They also questioned why, with Russia currently embroiled in an invasion of Ukraine, Biden’s defense budget is increasing at less than the rate of inflation.
“The world is less safe now than it was a year ago, and threats to the security of the United States are continuing to increase,” Carl said. “Between Vladimir Putin’s global aggression and his invasion of Ukraine, China expanding its nuclear capabilities and having the largest army and navy in the world, and Iran continuing to promote terrorism in the Middle East, there are simply too many growing threats on the global stage for the United States to fall behind.
“The United States – and the entire world – are safer and more secure when the United States is properly equipped to address these threats. Unfortunately, President Biden is allowing our defense funding to fall behind due to the record-high inflation his terrible economic policies have caused. Just like last year, I will work with Congressman Mike Rogers and my Armed Services colleagues to ensure we are fully funding our armed forces and giving our men and women in uniform the tools and equipment they need to meet our nation’s defense needs.”
Moore felt the debt resulting from the proposed budget will gravely impact future generations.
“President Biden's budget will spend $73 trillion over the next decade, which would grow America’s debt to a shocking $45 trillion by 2032,” Moore said. “Let's get this clear - President Biden will continue to spend money that we don't have, strapping our children and grandchildren with unthinkable debt that they cannot afford to please the left-socialist wing.”
Last week, ahead of Biden’s budget announcement, Tuberville joined his fellow Republican members on the House and Senate Armed Services Committees urging Biden to include a 5% increase above inflation for defense spending in his fiscal year 2023 budget request.
“Our nation faces grave threats at home and abroad, none of which are adequately addressed in President Biden’s budget,” said Tuberville. “The world tests our resolve every day as Russia continues its war in Ukraine, China eyes Taiwan, and malign actors from North Korea to Iran race to expand their arsenals. Yet President Biden’s budget ignores reality and shortchanges our men and women in uniform. The president’s budget proposal, accounting for inflation, cuts our defense budget at a time when real growth is needed. We cannot ask our military to choose between maintenance and modernization or investment and deterrence. But that’s exactly what the president’s budget proposal does.
“This budget is equally problematic on the domestic front. Gimmicks and smoke screens are used to hide the true cost of expanding social programs and prioritizing clean energy policies that will continue to strain Americans’ bank accounts and fuel inflation. New taxes will offshore American jobs and investment. At a time when Americans are paying more for almost everything and our economy is struggling, we need a budget that seriously addresses inflation – this does not. It's clear that the Biden administration would rather dramatically expand social programs, champion so-called climate justice, and add taxes on the backs of job creators than support our defense and address surging inflation.”
Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Alabama), who formerly chaired the Senate Appropriations Committee, also criticized the Biden budget.
"We live in an increasingly dangerous world," Shelby said in a statement. "Today's security environment demands a level of investment that will meet and defeat the threat. It's time for the Administration to get serious about addressing the threat posed by Russian aggression and the growing worldwide ambitions of the People's Republic of China.”
Congress is unlikely to pass the Biden budget, or any budget, and will likely continue to fund the government with continuing resolutions and debt ceiling increases.
The national debt is nearly $30.4 trillion, which is up from $26 trillion just two years ago.
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