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Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023

Floor Speech

Date: June 1, 2023
Location: Washington, DC

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Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, I call up my amendment No. 125 and ask that it be reported by number.

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Mr. SULLIVAN. Madam President, the Fiscal Responsibility Act, unfortunately, does not meet the moment in terms of defending our Nation.

The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs and others have said we are now in the most dangerous period of any time since World War II. And yet this bill cuts defense spending in inflation-adjusted terms by approximately 3 percent this year and 5 percent next year.

By endorsing the President's defense budget, this bill shrinks the Navy, shrinks the Army, and shrinks the Marine Corps. Next year, it will take us below 3 percent of GDP spending for the first time in 25 years.

My amendment does what the Armed Services Committee and this Chamber have done in a broad bipartisan manner over the past 2 years. It significantly pluses up the inadequate defense budget submitted by the President. My amendment fully funds the Biden Pentagon's unfunded priorities list by----

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Mr. SULLIVAN. By $18 billion.
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Mr. SULLIVAN. And for fiscal year 2025, it raises the defense top line by 5 percent to simply keep pace with inflation. These increases are offset by rescinding the additional amounts from the President's $80 billion plus-up from the IRS.

So, my colleagues, the choice is clear: more Navy ships, soldiers, and marines to protect America or more IRS agents to harass Americans. I urge a ``yes'' vote on this important amendment.

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