‘It’s The Right Thing To Do’

‘The Right Thing’ For Our Servicemembers And Veterans: A ‘Vote For This Legislation Means Standing With Our Men And Women In Uniform’ And ‘It Means Standing With Our Veterans’

SECRETARY OF DEFENSE MARK ESPER: “$738 [billion] is a good number. We also have two years. We expect to see two years’ worth of numbers. To the degree we have predictability, to the degree we can avoid [continuing resolutions], those things allow us to plan and make more efficient use of our dollars.” (“Newly Installed SecDef: The Budget Deal Provides A ‘Good’ Number For Defense,” MilitaryTimes, 7/24/2019)

SEN. INHOFE: “Strong national security requires steady investment to meet threats now and in the future – which is simply not possible without stable funding. That’s why I was glad to see the administration reach a budget deal with Congress that prioritizes defense. I commend President Trump for doing what is best for our military, our veterans and American families – and now, I call on my colleagues to support this deal as well.” (Sen. Inhofe, Op-Ed, “Sen. Jim Inhofe: Budget Deal Is Good For Defense AND Conservative Values,” Fox News, 7/27/2019)

MICK MULVANEY, Acting White House Chief of Staff: “We did get more money for defense. We got more money for the VA and we protected a lot of the conservative Republican policies that are hardwired into these spending bills.” (CBS’ “Face the Nation,” 7/28/2019)

VFW Executive Director Robert E. Wallace: “On behalf of the more than 1.6 million members of the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States and its Auxiliary, … [w]e are encouraged … by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019, which would … ensure veterans have timely access to the care and benefits they have earned, and for defense programs to successfully implement the National Defense Strategy. The VFW urges the Senate to pass this vital budget deal.” (Robert E. Wallace, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Letter to Sens. McConnell and Schumer, 7/30/2019)

• “Failing to adjust the outdated defense BCA spending caps for FY 2020 and 2021 would take a massive toll on programs critical to our national security and the service members who wear our nation’s uniform…. The lack of a timely and fully funded defense budget would further hinder the Department of Defense’s ability to properly plan for our country’s defense, defeat our enemies abroad, and execute its most solemn duty –– to bring home our missing.” (Robert E. Wallace, Veterans of Foreign Wars, Letter to Sens. McConnell and Schumer, 7/30/2019)

‘The Right Thing’ For Our Economy: The Agreement Provides Stability And ‘Eliminates The Economic Risk’ Over The Debt Ceiling

“Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin informed congressional leaders on Friday that the government could run out of money in early September … Mr. Mnuchin, in a letter to leadership, said … that ‘there is a scenario in which we run out of cash in early September, before Congress reconvenes.’ ‘As such,’ Mr. Mnuchin wrote, ‘I request that Congress increase the debt ceiling before Congress leaves for summer recess.’” (“Government Could Breach Debt Ceiling in September, Mnuchin Warns,” The New York Times, 7/12/2019)

U.S. CHAMBER OF COMMERCE President Suzanne P. Clark: “The U.S. Chamber of Commerce supports H.R. 3877 the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2019 … This legislation provides a framework intended to restore some degree of order to the appropriations process for the next two years. The agreement should enable Congress to complete remaining appropriations bills in an expeditious manner this fall…. It also eliminates the economic risk in coming weeks over the timing of extending the debt ceiling.” (Suzanne Clark, U.S. Chamber of Commerce, Letter to senators, 7/30/2019)

‘The Right Thing’ For Conservative Policy Priorities: ‘Dozens Of House Democratic Attempts To Roll Back Trump Administration Policies Will Get Tossed Out Of Spending Bills’

MICK MULVANEY: “Democrats wanted to undo the protections we had had on life. They wanted to undo some of the things we were doing on the border for border security. They wanted to undo a lot of our regulatory, our deregulatory agenda and we prevented that from happening.” (CBS’ “Face the Nation,” 7/28/2019)

LARRY KUDLOW, National Economic Council Director: “We were able to keep out any restrictions on our deregulation efforts which is very important to us…. No restrictions on border activity.” (Reuters, 7/23/2019)

“Dozens of House Democratic attempts to roll back Trump administration policies will get tossed out of spending bills after congressional leaders agreed in their two-year, $2.7 trillion budget deal with the White House that they would avoid ‘poison pills.’” (“Democrats Lose A Weapon Against Trump In Ban On 'Poison Pills,'” Politico, 7/26/2019)

• “Democrats wanted to overturn a block on federal funding for abortion, limit Trump’s border security push and bar the administration from stripping out references to climate change in federal documents, among other things. But a handshake agreement wrapping in House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer and GOP leaders will only permit bipartisan policy riders in fiscal 2020 spending bills. Republican leaders are championing the concession as a major win that provides critical protection for conservative priorities.” (“Democrats Lose A Weapon Against Trump In Ban On 'Poison Pills,'” Politico, 7/26/2019)