[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 79 (Wednesday, May 18, 2016)]
[House]
[Page H2712]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              RESTORE FUNDING TO THE OVERSEAS WAR ACCOUNT

  (Mr. GALLEGO asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. GALLEGO. Mr. Speaker, the annual defense bill before the House 
today removes $18 billion from the overseas war account to fund 
activities that are not related to war. It is unfortunate that the 
Republican majority, which claims to be fiscally responsible, is 
raiding OCO in order to blow past bipartisan spending agreements. This 
budget gimmick would require an $18 billion supplemental next April--
only halfway through the fiscal year--to restore overseas funding for 
America's troops.
  This is no way to govern the Pentagon, and it is doing a disservice 
to our men and women in uniform by pushing for this. Defense Secretary 
Ash Carter has said that removing overseas funding during wartime is 
``objectionable on the face of it.''
  It is my hope and the hope of many others on the committee that 
funding for the overseas account will be restored on the House floor 
before the bill is voted on.
  I urge my colleagues to oppose the defense bill until these funds are 
restored.

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