[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 167 (Thursday, November 3, 2011)]
[House]
[Page H7269]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




           DEFENSE CUTS INCREASING UNEMPLOYMENT BY 1 PERCENT

  (Mr. WILSON of South Carolina asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Defense Secretary Leon 
Panetta recently warned Congress that if the deficit reduction process 
does not succeed, the Department of Defense could be cut by $1 
trillion. These cuts will threaten the effectiveness of the world's 
greatest Armed Forces which provide peace through strength. According 
to Secretary Panetta, these cuts would increase America's unemployment 
rate by 1 percent, nearly 1.5 million workers. Drastic cuts will limit 
advanced equipment that is essential to protect our servicemembers who 
are defeating terrorists overseas.
  For the United States to successfully continue to protect its 
families, Congress should not further cut the defense budget, which 
destroys jobs and undermines our manufacturing base. Yesterday in Roll 
Call, Army Secretary John McHugh, our former colleague, advised, ``We 
can't break faith with the men and women who fought for us during the 
past decade.''
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

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