Contact: Carley Towne | CODEPINK National Co-Director | [email protected] | (909)-809-8104
Washington, D.C. —October 18, 2021 — In response to the $22 billion increase in military spending approved by the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, which is $10 billion more than the Pentagon requested, CODEPINK released the following statement:
Today’s decision by the Senate Defense Appropriation Committee to approve a $22 billion increase to military spending in “defense” appropriations is unacceptable and a slap in the face to thousands of activists who have been tirelessly demonstrating in Washington D.C. for a federal budget that would adequately address the biggest threat to the future of our planet: climate change.
CODEPINK National Co-Director Carley Towne said, “Approving a $22 billion increase in military spending is not only outrageous, it’s dangerous and seriously threatens the future of life on our planet. The Pentagon emits more greenhouse gas pollution than up to 140 nations. We can not address a problem like climate change which requires global cooperation by continuing to fund destructive U.S. militarism at the expense of people and the planet.”
This decision by the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee comes just days after the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office released a report detailing how to cut $1 Trillion from Pentagon spending over the next ten years.
CODEPINK National Co-Director Carley Towne said, “Today’s decision by the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee shows they’re not only out of touch with working people in this country, but with even moderate attempts to cut wasteful spending from the Pentagon budget. That’s not a surprise given that Senator Tester, chair of the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee, has taken thousands in campaign cash from war profiteers.”
While Senators wring their hands about spending $350 billion annually on healthcare, education, and green jobs funded in the Build Back Better agenda, we have yet to hear why handing the Pentagon over $740 billion annually is not “fiscal insanity,” as Senator Manchin called the reconciliation bill.
Even more outrageous, there has been no discussion from representatives who say we “can’t afford” spending $350 billion annually on healthcare, education, and green jobs about why they don’t support Representative Barbara Lee’s House Resolution 476, which calls to cut the Pentagon budget by $350 billion and could easily pay for the entire Build Back Better agenda.
This decision by the Senate Defense Appropriations Committee is another wake-up call for anyone who cares about social justice. As climate change and the historic pandemic continue to ravage the world, we need to take matters into our own hands. That's why on September 12, 2021, CODEPINK and over 70 coalition partners launched a new national campaign to Cut the Pentagon for people, planet, peace, and a future. While war profiteers might have the money, we have the people power. Join the movement here.
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