{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-hasc-republicans-stress-need-maintain-national-defense-letter", "Scott, HASC Republicans Stress Need to Maintain National Defense in Letter to Budget Conference", "2013-10-25", "2013", "2013-10", "Republican", "House", "GA", "Austin Scott", "S001189", "austinscott.house.gov", null, null, "legacy", "WASHINGTON  U.S. Congressman Austin Scott (GA-08) joined House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Republicans in sending a letter to FY14 Budget conferees, Chairman Paul Ryan and Chairman Patty Murray, highlighting the need to maintain national defense at the House budget level. The letter describes the impacts of defense cuts both to the overall force and readiness, while urging support for entitlement reform in lieu of cuts to our military.  Time and time again over the last 24 months, the committee has received testimony that sequestration will be devastating to our Armed Forces, their family members, and the defense industrial base, as well as local communities and the economy, stated HASC Republicans in their letter.  The members of this committee believe that everything should be on the table in order to address our Nation's deficit spending. However, while defense represents only 17 percent of our national budget, our military has absorbed 50 percent of the cuts to date.  In closing, we look forward to working with you and the members of the Conference on the Budget to construct a budget plan that reflects our commitment to meet emerging threats and secures our national defense.  The letter serves as a companion to the formal Views and Estimates the HASC sent to the Budget Committee in March. The letter included an attachment with testimony we've received at the HASC from the service chiefs and others.  A pdf version of the letter is available here, and the following HASC members joined Rep. Scott in signing on to the letter:  Chairman Howard \"Buck\" McKeon, California  Vice Chairman Mac Thornberry, Texas  Rep. Randy Forbes, Virginia  Rep. Jeff Miller, Florida  Rep. Joe Wilson, South Carolina  Rep. Frank LoBiondo, New Jersey  Rep. Rob Bishop, Utah  Rep. Mike Turner, Ohio  Rep. John Kline, Minnesota  Rep. Mike Rogers, Alabama  Rep. Trent Franks, Arizona  Rep. Bill Shuster, Pennsylvania  Rep. Mike Conaway, Texas  Rep. Doug Lamborn, Colorado  Rep. Rob Wittman, Virginia  Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, California  Rep. John C. Fleming, Louisiana  Rep. Scott Rigell, Virginia  Rep. Chris Gibson, New York  Rep. Vicky Hartzler, Missouri  Rep. Joe Heck, Nevada  Rep. Jon Runyan, New Jersey  Rep. Austin Scott, Georgia  Rep. Steven Palazzo, Mississippi  Rep. Martha Roby, Alabama  Rep. Mo Brooks, Alabama  Rep.Paul Cook, California  Rep. Jim Bridenstine, Oklahoma  Rep. Brad Wenstrup, Ohio  Rep. Jackie Walorski, Indiana      ###", 1, "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z", "2026-03-30T12:14:52Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://austinscott.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/scott-hasc-republicans-stress-need-maintain-national-defense-letter"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 1.4849461149424314, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}