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Van Hollen: Violating the Defense Spending Caps Would Inject New Uncertainty into the Appropriations Process

Statement

Date: March 18, 2014
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Defense Government Budget and Spending

Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement on reports that Chairman Ryan may violate the defense spending caps for fiscal year 2015 that he negotiated with Senator Murray in the House Republican budget:

"Congressman Ryan and Senator Murray negotiated spending levels that they believed represented the best compromise -- those spending levels are now law. But, according to credible reports, Chairman Ryan may turn his back on that bipartisan agreement. This would not only be a gross violation of the bipartisan agreement, it would inject new uncertainty into the appropriations process. Moreover, if Chairman Ryan is serious about pursuing this path, it could ultimately lead to the possibility of another government shutdown. Undoing the progress made -- all to attract the 62 votes that the GOP lost when we passed this bipartisan agreement -- is simply irresponsible."


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