Sens. Hutchison, Tester Lead Bipartisan Group of Senators Urging "Supercommittee" to Reduce Overseas Military Construction

Press Release

Today, U.S. Senators Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-TX) and Jon Tester (D-MT) were joined by Sens. Tom Coburn (R-OK), Saxby Chambliss (R-GA), Mark Begich (D-AK), and Ron Wyden (D-OR) in calling for the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (the "Supercommittee") to include reductions in the planned level of spending on overseas military construction projects. In a letter to all 12 members of the Supercommittee, the Senators suggested that military construction overseas could be "significantly reduced" with "minimal negative impact on our nation's readiness or ability to efficient respond to emerging threats."

"Without question, our Military Construction program should be both fiscally responsible and driven by the future security needs of U.S. forces," said Sen. Hutchison. "I urge the Joint Select Committee to adopt common sense reductions that bring our military training capabilities home, create American jobs in military construction, save taxpayer dollars and meet the security needs of U.S. forces and the American people."

"Decisions about our overseas military bases haven't kept pace with our technology. With our military's advanced capabilities, it's time for some responsible decisions about how best to secure our country while protecting American taxpayers from wasteful spending," Tester said. "This is a smart way to save taxpayer dollars and it's time we give our basing policies and our overseas construction budget a closer look as we look to cut spending and balance our budget."

"Investing billions of American taxpayer dollars in overseas military construction without accurate cost assessments and benefits to the American people would be fiscally irresponsible," Sen. Begich said. "I encourage the Joint Super Committee to support the proposed reduction. We must make thoughtful investments that promote jobs in the U.S., enhance our national security and support the readiness of the force."

"Overseas military construction programs are important to our national security and that of our allies," said Senator Wyden. "However, as we look for ways to reduce spending, singling out less critical construction projects overseas is one way to save taxpayer dollars with little impact to our nation's defense readiness. Our needs globally have changed and are changing. Taking a look at the overseas military construction budget as a way to save costs by creating a more efficient military will help us to regain our economic footing at home."