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Last Updated on June 20, 2014.

June 20, 2014

Win Without War’s coalition coordinator, Stephen Miles, released the following statement on the passage of  H.R.4870, the fiscal year 2015 Department of Defense Appropriations Act.

“Today, the House passed a defense spending bill that fails to put the needs of our troops and our country above lawmakers’ parochial self-interests. The House passed a bill loaded with billions of dollars in pet projects that the military does not want or need. At the same time this bill prevents the Pentagon from implementing common-sense spending reforms that would save taxpayers billions and ensure our troops are prepared for the challenges that lie before them.

“Perhaps the most egregious piece of waste is the continuation of the Pentagon’s Overseas Contingency Operations (OCO) slush fund. Over the past few years, the Pentagon has used this slush fund to completely abandon any fiscal responsibility. Even worse, by filling the OCO slush fund with wasteful spending, they have created the perverse reality that even though our troops are coming home from war, our tax dollars are not. 

“It is up to Congress to ensure that our tax dollars are being spent effectively on defense programs we actually need. With this vote the House has proven once again it is not up the task”

June 20, 2014