From Everett's Website:
Remarkably, as signs of real progress in Iraq are emerging, top Congressional Democrats remain defiant in providing clear funding for the war on terror. In February, President Bush requested $178 billion in supplemental funding for the war on terror. Since then, the House has repeatedly attempted to pass a limited war funding bill that also calls for troop withdrawals. The liberal-led Congress's intentional failure to provide sufficient resources to our troops has tied the hands of our military leadership and forced the Department of Defense to begin to cannibalize its own operations in order to pay for the war.
The liberal congressional leadership's stubborn refusal to provide additional funding for the war on terror is forcing the Pentagon to shift its stateside operations and personnel funding over to the war effort. Thus, Defense Department civilian employee jobs at military bases around the country could be scaled back as the military has to draw funds from its operational accounts to adequately support our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Unless additional money is approved soon by Congress, up to 200,000 civilian military workers could be handed pink slips. According to Pentagon news releases, some Army civilian employees may get layoff notices before Christmas. Possible furloughs would not occur until after the beginning of 2008, but the law requires advance notification just in time for the Holidays.
It's too early to determine the impact of the Democrat budget cuts on Fort Rucker and other Alabama military installations, but our nation is at war. I have been in touch with Fort Rucker officials and have been informed that they are already making contingency plans in the event the liberal Congress fails to provide timely funding.
It is irresponsible for the Congress to hold hostage the funding for our military service personnel and civilian employees in an attempt to force the passage of its political agenda. As a senior member of the House Armed Services Committee, I have always stood behind our men and women in uniform at home and overseas. I have supported and continue to support full funding for the military for both operational needs and the war on terror. We simply cannot defend our nation and win the war with our hands tied.
Whether funding is approved in time to avoid military furloughs is strictly up to the Democrat leadership of Congress. I stand ready to vote for adequate war funding that would enable our military to continue to build on their momentum in Iraq and elsewhere.