[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 1]
[House]
[Page 301]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




            SEQUESTRATION UNDERMINES PEACE THROUGH STRENGTH

  (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 Constitution gives 
Congress the responsibility of providing for a common defense. The 
defense cuts that occur in 2013 as a result of sequestration undermine 
this constitutional duty. General Ray Odierno, the Army Chief of Staff, 
has stated, ``Cuts of this magnitude would be catastrophic for the 
military.''
  Defense Secretary Leon Panetta has said that under sequestration, 
``We would have to reduce the size of the military sharply. Rough 
estimates indicate after 10 years of these cuts, we would have the 
smallest ground forces since 1940, the smallest number of ships since 
1915, and the smallest Air Force in our history.''
  With growing worldwide threats, the President last night praised our 
troops but actually is slashing the Army by 80,000 troops and cuts to 
Marines by 20,000.
  I urge my colleagues to support Chairman Bud McKeon and vote in favor 
of the Down Payment on National Security Act. This bill provides 
certainty for the military to promote peace through strength.
  In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget 
September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

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