Jones Votes Against Bill to Borrow Millions from Russia to Protect Europe from . . . the Russian | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

    WASHINGTON, D.C.     Yesterday, Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) voted against legislation that would, among other things, borrow millions of dollars from Russia and China in order to build a missile defense system in Poland to protect Europe from the Russians. The bill – H.R. 2028 – is the first appropriations bill produced under a recently-passed congressional budget which allows roughly $40 billion in new deficit spending above and beyond spending caps in existing law, so long as that spending is funneled through an off-budget, debt-financed account dubbed “Overseas Contingency Operations.” That account has traditionally been used to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but is now being abused to increase federal spending in other areas and fund items formerly funded through regular on-budget accounts. The bill includes over $500 million in debt-financed construction projects in foreign countries. In addition to $200 million for the Polish missile system, the bill includes $100 million for facilities in Italy, $40 million for a fuel storage facility in East Africa, and another $50 million for a base in West Africa. The bill passed the House and now goes to the Senate for further consideration.

    “Borrowing money from Russia to protect Europe from the Russians is one of the crazier things I’ve seen in Washington for some time,” said Congressman Jones. “My colleagues in Washington are bankrupting this country. It’s compromising our economic and national security, and it’s got to stop. You’re either a part of the problem, or part of the solution. By adding half a billion dollars to America’s debt to fund more foreign projects, this bill just adds to the problem. The sad thing is, there were a lot of good things in this bill, particularly for veterans. But jeopardizing veterans’ benefits tomorrow by growing the debt for more overseas projects today is just wrong.”

    Maria Jeffrey
      Communications Director

    Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3)

     2333 Rayburn House Office Building
     Washington, DC 20515

     Maria.Jeffrey@mail.house.gov  •  (202) 225-3415