Wilson stated, “Today, House Republicans fulfilled our obligations and passed a responsible, balanced budget. With record unemployment of over eight percent for the past four years, nearly $17 trillion in national debt, and annual budget deficits of over $1 trillion dollars, Washington must change its policies to put our economy back on the path to prosperity. Balancing our budget, repealing Obamacare, and reforming our tax code will help small businesses create jobs and provide the economic certainty American families so desperately need.

“House Republicans have completed the task asked of us: control our spending and promote job creation through a balanced budget. Unfortunately, the Senate’s plan never attempts to balance and kicks the can further down the road with more spending paid for with higher taxes on American families. Higher taxes destroy jobs and takes money out of our hard-earned paychecks. Instead of ignoring our spending problem, the Senate must change course and find ways to give the American people what they deserve – a balanced budget.”

WASHINGTON— The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a hearing today for an Update on Military Suicide Prevention. Chairman Joe Wilson (SC) made the following opening statement as prepared for delivery:

Witness testimony can be found on the Committee Document Repository website as well as linked below. All witness testimony is as prepared for, and embargoed until delivery. 

“Today the Subcommittee meets to hear testimony on the efforts by the Department of Defense and the military services to prevent suicide by service members, family members and civilian employees.

“I want to preface my statement by recognizing the tremendous work the Department of Defense and the service leadership has done to respond to the disturbing trend of suicide in our armed forces.  This has not been an easy task and I thank you for your hard work.  Suicide by members of our Armed Forces is particularly distressing to me because I consider military service an opportunity.  I want service members to know they are talented people who are important and appreciated by the American people.  They can overcome challenges.

“Suicide is a difficult topic to discuss.  Last year 350 service members took their own lives. Every one of them is a tragedy; every one of them has a deeply personal story.  We cannot rest until we have created every opportunity to change such an awful statistic.

“Suicide is a multi-faceted phenomenon that is not unique to the military.  Unfortunately, in addition to the hardships of military service, our service members are subject to the same pressures that plague the rest of society today.  They are exposed to the same stressors that may lead to suicide by their civilian counterparts.  I am deeply concerned about how the uncertainty of sequestration and the coming budget challenges will affect our service members and their families.

“Each of the military services and the Department of Defense has adopted strategies to reduce suicide by our troops.  I would like to hear from our witnesses whether those strategies are working.  How do you determine whether your programs incorporate the latest research and information on suicide prevention?  I am also interested to know how Congress can further help and support your efforts.  Lastly, I am interested in learning how our civilian experts are tackling this problem across the Nation and how private organizations like Hidden Wounds of Colombia, South Carolina are assisting.”

Witnesses

Wilson stated, “Since 2012, President Obama has encouraged House Republicans to work with him to help make our federal workforce programs more beneficial for American workers.  With the passage of the SKILLS Act, House Republicans have done exactly what has been asked of us. Due to an abundance of regulations and restrictions, our government training programs are duplicative and fail to adequately train our nation’s workforce. With over 12 million unemployed Americans searching for a job, we must remove government barriers to help these individuals receive the training necessary to compete in a modern workforce. By making this system more effective, millions of hardworking Americans will be able to use the skill sets they have learned to seek employment. It is my hope that the Senate and President will begin to practice what they preach, and consider our legislation which will help put Americans back to work.”

WASHINGTON— The House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel held a hearing today on the Impact of the Continuing Resolution, Sequestration, and Declining Operations and Maintenance Budgets on Military Personnel and Family Related Programs. Chairman Joe Wilson (SC) made the following opening statement as prepared for delivery:

Witness testimony can be found on the Committee Document Repository website as well as linked below. All witness testimony is as prepared for, and embargoed until delivery.

“The hearing will come to order. The Subcommittee today will once again focus on the challenges of maintaining an all volunteer force in a budget constrained environment by looking at the impacts on military personnel and family related programs.

“These programs, such as Morale, Welfare and Recreation; Child Care; Military Exchanges; Commissaries; and Family Services which include DOD Schools, are vital to maintaining the readiness of the military. Since most of these programs are staffed by civilians, the furloughing of military civilian personnel has a huge impact on these programs, to include our medical treatment facilities. Although the Department and the services have made commitments to minimize the impact a continuing resolution and sequestration will have on these programs, especially those impacting wounded warriors and families; there will be reductions and it will affect the daily lives of our servicemembers and their families, to include retirees.

“The committee will hear from the witnesses on how the continuing resolution, sequestration and declining operations and maintenance accounts will impact the military personnel and family programs, which have been crucial for maintaining an all volunteer force during more than 10 years of war. Although the House has passed a Defense Appropriations bill for the remainder of Fiscal year 2013, the Senate has yet to do so and the threat of a year long CR is still there. It is a challenge for the services to manage these programs without a timely budget, and unfortunately CRs have become a norm.

“I would like to welcome our distinguished witnesses.”

Witnesses

Lieutenant General Howard B. Bromberg , USA
Deputy Chief of Staff G-1, U.S. Army

Witness Truth in Testimony [PDF]
Witness Biography [PDF]

Lieutenant General Darrell D. Jones , USAF
Deputy Chief of Staff for Manpower, Personnel and Services, U.S. Air Force

Witness Truth in Testimony [PDF]
Witness Biography [PDF]

Lieutenant General Robert E. Milstead , USMC
Deputy Commandant, Manpower and Reserve Affairs, U.S. Marine Corps

Witness Truth in Testimony
Witness Biography [PDF]

Vice Admiral Scott R. Van Buskirk , USN
Deputy Chief of Naval Operations, Manpower, Personnel, Training, and Education, U.S. Navy

Witness Truth in Testimony [PDF]
Witness Biography [PDF]

Dr. Jonathan Woodson
Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs, Department of Defense

Witness Truth in Testimony [PDF]
Witness Biography [PDF]

The Honorable Jessica Wright
Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, Department of Defense

Witness Truth in Testimony [PDF]
Witness Biography [PDF]

###

Congress currently has nine months to agree upon and pass a budget including several separate appropriations bills, a news release from Wilson’s office noted.

“With an over $16 trillion national debt, we must institute policies that spend taxpayer dollars more efficiently,” Wilson said in the release. “Moving from a one-year to a two-year budget process will allow Congress to devote more time and attention to the wasteful programs and policies that need reform.”

The bill has five Republican cosponsors.

Wilson stated, “Although today’s jobs report provides some good news to the American people, it is also reflective of the fact that our economy has failed to put over 12 million people back to work. For the past four years, Americans have watched as the President and the Senate refused to tackle our annual trillion dollar deficits accompanied with an average unemployment rate of over eight percent. Last Congress, the House passed dozens of job-creating pieces of legislation, most with bipartisan support.  The Senate, due to lack of leadership from the President, ignored our efforts and failed to even negotiate with us. The gridlock in Washington must come to an end.  The American people deserve a Congress that can work together to pass legislation that will help our economy back on the path to prosperity. Over the coming months, it is my hope that the Senate will begin to change course and work with House Republicans on a solution, rather than continue down the broken path we are currently on.”

Wilson stated, “Washington has a spending problem and the only way we can begin to address this issue is by making wiser decisions regarding our federal budget. With an over $16 trillion national debt, we must institute policies that spend taxpayer dollars more efficiently.  Moving from a one-year to a two-year budget process will allow Congress to devote more time and attention to the wasteful programs and policies that need reform. Over the coming months, I look forward to working with members on both sides of the aisle to advance the Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act and help Congress meet its responsibility of providing accountability to those we proudly serve.”

With thousands of workers facing furloughs or layoffs beginning April 1, more than $100 million taken from the Department of Energy site’s contractors, and programs being mothballed, there has been anger from the elected.

Congressman Joe Wilson, R-S.C., testified Tuesday morning before the House Budget Committee, claiming SRS cuts are a “direct threat to our national security.”

He was requesting that appropriate funding levels be retained in the fiscal year 2014 budget for the Savannah River Site and Fort Jackson in Columbia. Wilson stated that both facilities are vital to national security.

“Sequestration has ravaged funding across the board at SRS,” Wilson said.

Wilson talked about the MOX Project, Environmental Management and the Savannah River National Lab, among other areas.

Gov. Nikki Haley joined in Wilson’s indignation as she attacked Washington for “abdicating” its responsibility.

“Washington should absolutely cut spending — and they should do it by more than $85 billion — but this is precisely why across-the-board cuts make zero sense,” said Haley spokesman Rob Godfrey. “Instead of cutting necessary funds — like those for the processing and storage of our nuclear waste — Washington should make smart, targeted cuts to programs that we don’t want and don’t need. But the leadership in Washington has abdicated its responsibility, and this is what we’re left with. It’s a shame.”

Wilson gave detailed testimony about those programs touted to be hurt most.

“The Environmental Management side of the Site alone will lose over $100 million in funds … From H-Canyon to the Tank Farms, environmental cleanup funds have been slashed,” Wilson said.

According to documents obtained by the Aiken Standard Tuesday, Environmental Management and the research arm of SRS, the SRNL will bear the brunt of the cuts, while facilities involved in maintaining nuclear weapons will not.

“A significant decrease in funding to SRNL poses a direct threat to our national security as the Laboratory is tasked with training all FBI forensic agents, is key in developing new military technologies implemented in the war on terror, and directly supports the environmental cleanup mission of legacy defense waste across the country,” he said.

Courtesy of Aikin Standard

Fort Jackson:

Wilson stated, “Fort Jackson serves as the Army’s largest initial entry training facility. Between fiscal years 07 to 12 the number of Soldiers who were trained at Fort Jackson ranged from 35,000 recruits to a maximum of 46,000. Due to the sequester, the Army has informed me that $75 million of funding will be cut from Fort Jackson. This facility provides basic training to our men and women who selflessly serve our nation and defend our freedoms, while spreading democracy around the world. These dedicated brave men and women in uniform should not be subjected to budgeting confusion. As you work to draft the Fiscal Year 2014 budget, please do everything in your power to secure the funds necessary to train our men and women at Fort Jackson.”

Savannah River Site:

Wilson stated, “About an hour southwest of Columbia lies the Department of Energy’s Savannah River Site. This site is a national security asset, which disposes of weapons grade nuclear materials, conducts cutting edge research, and supports our country’s nuclear weapons missions. Sequestration has had a tremendous impact on the Site, causing over $100 million in funds to be cut and over 2,000 possible furloughs. That being said, there are concerns about cutting funding for the Mixed Oxide Fuel Fabrication Facility (MFFF) currently under construction at SRS. This facility, also called MOX for the Mixed Oxide Fuel it will create, is in line to be our country’s means to honor our nuclear non-proliferation agreement with Russia. In the agreement made in the year 2000, each of our countries agreed to dispose of 34 metric tons of excess military grade plutonium. That equates to over 17,000 nuclear bombs being removed from the world. Even more, the Facility will convert the military grade plutonium into commercial nuclear power rods which will power homes and businesses across the United States. The Project is over 60% completed and currently employs 2,300 workers with another 2,000 ancillary jobs associated with the Project. In addition to the hardworking and dedicated employees at the Facility, finishing MOX is imperative for a multitude of national security reasons. Slade Gordon, a member of the 9/11 Commission, stated ‘Every dollar diverted (from the MOX Facility) delays the effort to get rid of plutonium, and every delay provides more time for the material to be stolen.’ If we default on our end of the Agreement, Russia will have no incentive to dispose of their own excess weapons grade plutonium. I share Mr. Gordon’s concerns. It is in our mutual interest for America and Russia to continue working together.

Apart from the future funding of the MOX Project, sequestration has ravaged funding across the board at SRS. The Environmental Management side of the Site alone will lose over $100 million in funds and contractors expect to furlough over 2,000 employees starting April 1st. Please keep in mind, these are completely separate of the aforementioned MOX workers. From H-Canyon to the Tank Farms, environmental cleanup funds have been slashed. Moreover, the Savannah River National Laboratory (SRNL) cannot benefit monetarily from its inventions and does not possess a line item within the Budget, making it heavily reliant upon trickle down funding from other facilities within the DOE Nuclear Complex. A significant decrease in funding to SRNL poses a direct threat to our national security as the Laboratory is tasked with training all FBI forensic agents, is key in developing new military technologies implemented in the war on terror, and directly supports the environmental cleanup mission of legacy defense waste across the country.”

Closing Statement:

Wilson stated, “Your Committee has some extremely tough choices ahead. I fully understand. I simply ask that as you go through the budgetary process, you fully consider the critical national security missions being carried out at both Fort Jackson as well as the Savannah River Site. The individuals at both installations are dedicated to serving their country and putting the national interest of the United States before themselves. Please give them the tools they need to get the job done for nuclear non-proliferation and environmental cleanup while keeping us safe here at home.”

“The brave men and women in our Armed Forces dedicate their lives to serve this great nation and often times put themselves in harms way to protect the freedoms and liberties all Americans are able to enjoy. The recent Department of Defense decision to rank the Distinguished Warfare Medal higher in precedence than the Bronze Star and Purple Heart does a disservice to our service members and veterans who have severed overseas in hostile and austere conditions. It is my hope that Secretary Hagel will change the Department’s decision so that our veterans who have earned the Bronze Star and Purple Heart will receive the appropriate recognition they deserve.”

In addition to Congressman Wilson, the following Members of Congress co-signed the letter to Secretary Hagel:

Rep. Susan Davis (D-CA)

Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA)

Rep. Mike McIntyre (D-NC)

Rep. Mike Turner (R-OH)

Rep. Rob Andrews (D-NJ)

Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA)

Rep. Joe Courtney (D-CT)

Rep. Martha Roby (R-AL)

Del. Madeleine Bordallo (D-Guam)

Rep. Jeff Miller (R-FL)

Rep. Robert A. Brady (D-PA)

Rep. Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ)

Rep. Bill Enyart (D-IL)

Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ)

Rep. Tammy Duckworth (D-IL)

Rep. Mike Conaway (R-TX)

Rep. Tulsi Gabbard (D-HI)

Rep. Joe Heck (R-NV)

Rep. Jim Cooper (D-TN)

Rep. Scott Rigell (R-VA)

Rep. Jon Runyan (R-NJ)

Rep. Steven Palazzo (R-MS)

Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)

Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA)

Rep. Rodney Davis (R-IL)

Rep. Bill Flores (R-TX)

Rep. Rick Crawford (R-AR)

Rep. Tim Ryan (D-OH)

Rep. Tom Reed (R-NY)

Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN)

Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-NC)

Rep. Pete Olson (R-TX)

Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-SC)

Rep. Paul Cook (R-CA)

Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-OK)

Rep. Keith Rothfus (R-PA)

Rep. Alan Nunnelee (R-MS)

Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA)

Rep. John Duncan (R-TN)

Rep. Chris Smith (R-NJ)

Rep. Tim Griffin (R-AR)

Rep. Mick Mulvaney (R-SC)

Rep. John Fleming (R-LA)

Rep. Colleen Hanabusa (D-HI)

Rep. Timothy Walz (D-MN)

Rep. Ron Barber (D-AZ)

Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-KS)

Rep. Lee Terry (R-NE)