Garamendi focuses on defense spending and military programs, returning to oversight of specific weapons systems — here arguing the Sentinel missile replacement is unnecessary and that the existing Minuteman suffices. He tends to support his case with concrete figures, listing budget totals and infrastructure funding amounts, and pairs his criticism with named specific asks rather than only general objections. He criticizes the administration and majority spending directly and forcefully, sometimes stating conclusions such as “outrageous and dangerously irresponsible” spending with less explanation of the reasoning behind them, while also crediting members of both parties and the committee staff by name at the start of his remarks.Written by AI from their statements. Updated .
“We should not spend billions of dollars on the Sentinel nuclear missile. We do not need it because our current Minuteman missiles work well enough.”
“I haven’t even gotten to my favorite issue, the Sentinel and the programs of our nuclear arsenal. Again, why? We don’t need the Sentinel. We don’t need to spend billions on it. We can get along quite well with the existing Minuteman.”
Official Congressional Record
I haven’t even gotten to my favorite issue, the Sentinel and the programs of our nuclear arsenal. Again, why? We don’t need the Sentinel. We don’t need to spend billions on it. We can get along quite well with the existing Minuteman.
“I will vote against this defense bill. It spends far too much money on the military while cutting healthcare and food programs for children. It also lets the president misuse our military to fight immigration and wage war in Iran.”
“Mr. Chair, I begin by honoring those members of the military that lost their lives recently in the Iran conflict. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership. It has also been a pleasure to work with Chairman Bergman. He is a great partner. I also thank the Readiness Subcommittee, both on the majority and minority sides. I am proud of what we were able to accomplish this year, authorizing over $2 billion for new barracks and dormitories and other critical infrastructure projects. The bill includes positive provisions, including servicemember pay raises, protections for civilian workers, right-to-repair authorities, and transparency on military operations in the Middle East. Good provisions do not cure the larger problems this bill faces. I voted against this bill in committee and will on the floor. This bill cannot continue to increase military spending while the administration unilaterally misuses our Armed Forces at home and abroad, as they intend to fight immigration and Iran. This bill also authorizes more than $1.5 trillion, plus another $300 billion in the reconciliation bill, which apparently will be with us soon, plus another $80 billion or $90 billion to pay for the Iran war. This is an outrageous and dangerously irresponsible amount of spending. Increasing the budget is not a strategy. Without discipline and oversight, it rewards programs that are over budget, behind schedule, and failing to deliver. How is all this paid for? It is paid for with cuts to healthcare. Medicaid is eviscerated in the upcoming months ahead. The children’s food programs, in schools and out, are not there. They will go hungry. Several hundred billion dollars in healthcare is gone, and it goes on and on. This could not possibly be in our interest.”
Official Congressional Record
Mr. Chair, I begin by honoring those members of the military that lost their lives recently in the Iran conflict. Mr. Chair, I thank Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith for their leadership. It has also been a pleasure to work with Chairman Bergman. He is a great partner. I also thank the Readiness Subcommittee, both on the majority and minority sides. I am proud of what we were able to accomplish this year, authorizing over $2 billion for new barracks and dormitories and other critical infrastructure projects. The bill includes positive provisions, including servicemember pay raises, protections for civilian workers, right-to-repair authorities, and transparency on military operations in the Middle East. Good provisions do not cure the larger problems this bill faces. I voted against this bill in committee and will on the floor. This bill cannot continue to increase military spending while the administration unilaterally misuses our Armed Forces at home and abroad, as they intend to fight immigration and Iran. This bill also authorizes more than $1.5 trillion, plus another $300 billion in the reconciliation bill, which apparently will be with us soon, plus another $80 billion or $90 billion to pay for the Iran war. This is an outrageous and dangerously irresponsible amount of spending. Increasing the budget is not a strategy. Without discipline and oversight, it rewards programs that are over budget, behind schedule, and failing to deliver. How is all this paid for? It is paid for with cuts to healthcare. Medicaid is eviscerated in the upcoming months ahead. The children’s food programs, in schools and out, are not there. They will go hungry. Several hundred billion dollars in healthcare is gone, and it goes on and on. This could not possibly be in our interest.
