[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 107 (Tuesday, July 17, 2012)]
[House]
[Pages H4871-H4872]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    SEQUESTRATION DEVASTATES DEFENSE

  (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, The Hill newspaper 
published a special report a few weeks ago, bringing more attention to 
the very real threat of defense sequestration.
  Many people are under the false impression that defense spending 
represents a significantly larger portion of the Federal budget than it 
truly does. The current budget of the Department of Defense represents 
15.1 percent of the Federal budget. This chart shows

[[Page H4872]]

that defense spending has declined over the last 20 years.
  Sequestration represents a $1.2 trillion cut. Half of the $1.2 
trillion comes from the defense budget. I do not believe that half of 
these cuts should come from 15.1 percent of the budget.
  Additionally, sequestration will affect all areas of our national 
economy. It is projected that sequestration could cost 1 million 
American jobs and cause the unemployment rate to rise by an entire 
percentage point. We should pass the bill by Armed Services Committee 
Chairman Buck McKeon, which addresses the issue without tax increases.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.
  Congratulations, Mary and Jerry Howard of Lexington, South Carolina, 
on your 50th anniversary.

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