Defense Cuts Increasing Unemployment by 1 Percent

Floor Speech

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, Defense Secretary Leon Panetta recently warned Congress that if the deficit reduction process does not succeed, the Department of Defense could be cut by $1 trillion. These cuts will threaten the effectiveness of the world's greatest Armed Forces which provide peace through strength. According to Secretary Panetta, these cuts would increase America's unemployment rate by 1 percent, nearly 1.5 million workers. Drastic cuts will limit advanced equipment that is essential to protect our servicemembers who are defeating terrorists overseas.

For the United States to successfully continue to protect its families, Congress should not further cut the defense budget, which destroys jobs and undermines our manufacturing base. Yesterday in Roll Call, Army Secretary John McHugh, our former colleague, advised, ``We can't break faith with the men and women who fought for us during the past decade.''

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

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