STATEMENT OF ADMINISTRATION POLICY
H.R. 5293 – Department of Defense Appropriations Act, 2017
(Rep. Rogers, R-KY)
The
Administration strongly opposes House passage of H.R. 5293, making
appropriations for the Department of Defense for the fiscal year (FY)
ending September 30, 2017, and for other purposes.
While
the Administration appreciates the Committee's support for certain
investments in our national defense, H.R. 5293 fails to provide our
troops with the resources needed to keep our Nation safe. At a time
when ISIL continues to threaten the homeland and our allies, the bill
does not fully fund wartime operations such as INHERENT RESOLVE.
Instead the bill would redirect $16 billion of Overseas Contingency
Operations (OCO) funds toward base budget programs that the Department
of Defense (DOD) did not request, shortchanging funding for ongoing
wartime operations midway through the year. Not only is this approach
dangerous but it is also wasteful. The bill would buy excess force
structure without the money to sustain it, effectively creating a hollow
force structure that would undermine DOD's efforts to restore
readiness. Furthermore, the bill's funding approach attempts to unravel
the dollar-for-dollar balance of defense and non-defense funding
increases provided by the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2015 (BBA),
threatening future steps needed to reverse over $100 billion of future
sequestration cuts to DOD. By gambling with warfighting funds, the bill
risks the safety of our men and women fighting to keep America safe,
undercuts stable planning and efficient use of taxpayer dollars,
dispirits troops and their families, baffles our allies, and emboldens
our enemies.
In
addition, H.R. 5293 would impose other unneeded costs, constraining
DOD's ability to balance military capability, capacity, and readiness.
The Administration's defense strategy depends on investing every dollar
where it will have the greatest effect. The Administration's FY 2017
proposals would accomplish this by continuing and expanding critical
reforms that divest unneeded force structure, balance growth in military
compensation, modernize military health care, and reduce wasteful
overhead. The bill fails to adopt many of these reforms, including
through measures prohibiting the use of funds to propose or plan for a
new Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) round. The bill also continues
unwarranted restrictions regarding detainees at Guantanamo Bay that
threaten to interfere with the Executive Branch's ability to determine
the appropriate disposition of detainees and its flexibility to
determine when and where to prosecute Guantanamo detainees based on the
facts and circumstances of each case and our national security
interests.
In
October 2015, the President worked with congressional leaders from both
parties to secure the BBA, which partially reversed harmful
sequestration cuts slated for FY 2017. By providing fully-paid-for
equal dollar increases for defense and non-defense spending, the BBA allows
for investments in FY 2017 that create jobs, support middle-class
families, contribute to long-term growth, and safeguard national
security. The Administration looks forward to working with the Congress
to enact appropriations that are consistent with that agreement, and
fully support economic growth, opportunity, and our national
security priorities. However, the bill is inconsistent with the BBA,
and the Administration strongly objects to the inclusion of problematic
ideological provisions that are beyond the scope of funding
legislation. If the President were presented with H.R. 5293, the President's senior advisors would recommend that he veto the bill.
The Administration would like to take this opportunity to share additional views regarding the Committee's version of the bill.
Click here for more information on H.R. 5293.
H.R. 5053 – Preventing IRS Abuse and Protecting Free Speech Act
(Rep. Roskam, R-IL, and 25 cosponsors)
The
Administration opposes H.R. 5053, the Preventing IRS Abuse and
Protecting Free Speech Act, which would constrain the Internal Revenue
Service's (IRS) ability to enforce tax laws and reduce transparency.
Current
IRS rules generally require tax-exempt organizations, including section
501(c) organizations, to report the names and addresses of substantial
donors (generally, donors of $5,000 or more) as part of their tax
returns. In addition, section 501(c)(3) private foundations and section
527 political organizations are required to make this contributor
information publicly available.
H.R.
5053 would prohibit the IRS from requiring section 501(c) organizations
to report this information with limited exceptions. By permanently
preventing the IRS from requiring reporting of donor information by
501(c) organizations, H.R. 5053 would constrain the IRS in enforcing tax
laws and reduce the transparency of private foundations.
Source: Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget
