WASHINGTON, DC – Today, U.S. Representative Mark Pocan (WI-02), a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, released the following statement on President Biden’s fiscal year 2023 budget request:
“Just two weeks ago, Congress enacted the fiscal year 2022 spending package that overwhelmingly put working families first. This morning’s budget request continues that trend with a 9.5% increase in non-defense spending, including a boost in funding for health, manufacturing, and environmental programs. I thank the president for this budget, which invests in our future, lowers costs on everyday families, and increases workers’ paychecks. His budget also takes steps to ensure the wealthiest Americans pay their fair share in taxes which will, in turn, reduce the national deficit.
“However, now more than ever, I am convinced that we spend too much on defense contractors and not enough on national defense. Pandemics, climate change, and cyber-attacks are real threats to our national security, yet little of the Pentagon’s budget goes to these important items. Instead, we still operate on an old-fashioned model of enriching defense contractors in the guise of protecting jobs. We need a modern paradigm that protects Americans from real threats, not just the bottom lines of unaccountable defense contractors.
“I look forward to beginning the appropriations process and working with President Biden to uphold these vital programs while reducing our bloated defense budget.”
