Jim Matheson Votes To Cut Funding Intended For Combat Troops Fighting Terrorists

June 14, 2013

FYI, a similar version of this release below went out to the following districts: John Garamendi (CA-03), Ami Bera (CA-07), Jim Costa (CA-16), Lois Capps (CA-24), Julia Brownley (CA-26), Scott Peters (CA-52), Jim Himes (CT-04), Elizabeth Esty (CT-05), Patrick Murphy (FL-18), Lois Frankel (FL-22), Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23), Joe Garcia (FL-26), Bill Foster (IL-11), Bill Enyart (IL-12), John Tierney (MA-06), Bill Keating (MA-09), Tim Walz (MN-01), Rick Nolan (MN-08), Steven Horsford (NV-04), Ann McLane Kuster (NH-02), Tim Bishop (NY-01), Steve Israel (NY-03), Dan Maffei (NY-24), Louise Slaughter (NY-25), Peter DeFazio (OR-04), Kurt Schrader (OR-05), and Suzan DelBene (WA-01).Congressman Jim Matheson (D-UT) today voted to cut funding intended for combat troops currently fighting terrorists overseas, on the 238^th birthday of the United States Army. Matheson supported the Van Hollen amendment to the FY2014 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), which would cut the authorized Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) funding level in the bill by over $5 billion. The OCO funding in the NDAA is authorized specifically to support operations in Afghanistan and the global war on terrorism, replenishes readiness accounts used in prior years to cover underfunded war costs and goes directly to combat troops on the ground for military equipment operation and maintenance.

“Jim Matheson’s reckless vote to cut funding intended for our combat troops fighting terrorists overseas is disturbing and indefensible,” said NRCC Communications Director Andrea Bozek. “Jim Matheson cannot be trusted in Washington when he votes to cut funding for equipment like body armor for our military men and women serving our country in the world’s most dangerous places.”

Jim Matheson votes to cut the authorized level of funding for Overseas Contingency Operations in the FY2014 National Defense Authorization Act, funding intended for combat troops fighting terrorism.

(H.R. 1960, Roll Call #240, 6/14/2013)

U.S. Army Celebrates 238^th Birthday. (Alex Dixon, “Army Celebrates 238^th birthday in Pentagon ceremony,” U.S. Army, 6/14/2013))

The overseas contingency operations budget in the FY2014 NDAA is $5 billion more than the president’s request in order to replenish readiness accounts used in prior years to cover underfunded war costs. (CQ House Action Report, Fact Sheet No. 113-7, HR 1960, 6/11/2013)

Operations and Maintenance (O&M) includes funding for training, supplies and equipment maintenance, is considered the department’s “readiness” account, it also includes funds for the Defense Department’s administrative functions, environmental restoration, cooperative threat-reduction efforts and humanitarian assistance, as well as many other programs. (CQ House Action Report, Fact Sheet No. 113-7, HR 1960, 6/11/2013)