Chairman Wicker Says CR Defense Spending Inadequate

U.S. Senator Roger Wicker, R-Miss., the Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, has offered his perspective on the need for additional defense spending to account for the continuing resolution’s (CR) inadequate funding for the military.

In his remarks, Wicker noted that even a CR with significant anomalies cannot make up for a real decrease in military spending. The Chairman added that frequent long-term CRs are not a sustainable way to do business in the most dangerous threat environment since World War II.

He closed by stating the Senate budget resolution’s $150 billion for the military will have to increase to meet our defense needs. A combination of growth in defense discretionary spending and defense reconciliation spending will be necessary to achieve President Trump’s military rebuild.

Excerpts from his speech:

“Let me say this about the CR: We repeatedly say – House and Senate, Republican and Democrat – that we never need to do this again, and for some reason, something comes up. Some group is unwilling to compromise and look at the long picture. And we find ourselves in in this position.

“I will say this about the fact that this is the first year-long CR for the Department