June, 08 2010, 02:26pm EDT
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Paul Kawika Martin, Peace Action, 951-217-7285, pmartin@peace-action.org
Charles Knight or Janet Picinich, 617-547-4474 or pda@comw.org
Debt, Deficits, & Defense - A Way Forward
A new report from the Sustainable Defense Task Force, formed by House
Financial Services Committee Chair Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) identifies
reductions in Pentagon spending while maintaining strong defense
capabilities as the best response to the nation's mounting fiscal
restraints. These options cover the full range of Pentagon expenditures
including procurement, R&D, personnel, operations and maintenance,
and infrastructure. They apply to strategic and conventional forces, as
well as command, support, and infrastructure.
WASHINGTON
A new report from the Sustainable Defense Task Force, formed by House
Financial Services Committee Chair Rep. Barney Frank (D-MA) identifies
reductions in Pentagon spending while maintaining strong defense
capabilities as the best response to the nation's mounting fiscal
restraints. These options cover the full range of Pentagon expenditures
including procurement, R&D, personnel, operations and maintenance,
and infrastructure. They apply to strategic and conventional forces, as
well as command, support, and infrastructure.
"Leaders from the left, right and center agree on two major policy
changes: the U.S. deficit must be reduced and the Pentagon budget can
reverse its exponential growth while keeping Americans safe," claimed
Paul Kawika Martin, policy and political director of Peace Action (the
nation's largest grassroots peace organization) and a member of the task
force.
WHAT: Chairman Barney Frank and other members of Congress address the
release of a new report that identifies options for reducing military
spending; outlines Pentagon contribution to cutting deficit
WHEN: 10 AM - 11 AM, Friday, June 11
10:00 Remarks by Congressman Barney Frank and other members of Congress
10:15 Panel
- Laura Peterson, senior policy analyst, Taxpayers for Common Sense
- Lawrence Korb, senior fellow, Center for American Progress
- Carl Conetta, Project on Defense Alternatives
- Chris Preble, director, Foreign Policy Studies, Cato Institute
10:30 - 11:00 AM: Questions & Answers
WHERE: U.S. Capitol. Visitors Center. Rm. HVC-215. Entrance at
intersection of First & East Capitol streets
WHO: The task force was formed in response to a request from
Representative Barney Frank (D-MA), working in cooperation with
Representative Walter B. Jones (R-NC), Representative Ron Paul (R-TX),
and Senator Ron Wyden (D-OR), to explore possible defense budget
contributions to deficit reduction efforts that would not compromise the
essential security of the United States. The report will be released at
a briefing on Capitol Hill on June 11th.
The Sustainable Defense Task Force
Benjamin Friedman - Cato Institute
William Hartung - New America Foundation
Christopher Hellman - National Priorities Project
Heather Hurlburt - National Security Network
Charles Knight - Project on Defense Alternatives
Paul Kawika Martin - Peace Action
Laicie Olson - Center for Arms Control & Non-Proliferation
Miriam Pemberton - Institute for Policy Studies
Prasannan Parthasarathi - Boston College
Winslow Wheeler - Center for Defense Information
Christopher Preble - Cato Institute
Carl Conetta - Project on Defense Alternatives
Lawrence Korb - Center for American Progress
Laura Peterson - Taxpayers for Common Sense
Affiliations are for identification purposes and do not imply
organizational endorsement of the Task Force findings.
Peace Action is the United States' largest peace and disarmament organization with over 100,000 members and nearly 100 chapters in 34 states, works to achieve the abolition of nuclear weapons, promote government spending priorities that support human needs and encourage real security through international cooperation and human rights.
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