Restrain Wasteful Military Spending in 2012: Letter to Congress

Apr 8, 2011

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NATIONAL AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS CALL FOR RESPONSIBLE REDUCTIONS IN MILITARY SPENDING

Dear Senator/Representative,

As you complete the FY 2011 appropriations and consider the FY 2012 budget, we urge you to restrain excessive military spending.

This year budget debates are taking place in the midst of a struggling economy and concerns about the growing deficit and debt. Dramatic spending cuts and freezes are now being considered in every category except one: military spending. We believe that this unbalanced approach is fiscally irresponsible and does not align with our nation's values. Like any other department, the Pentagon must be held accountable and prove that its programs are a worthwhile use of our limited tax dollars.

Among the many vital domestic programs on the chopping block are education, health care, affordable housing, and energy assistance. Cuts to these programs will compound the strain already placed on our overburdened state and local budgets. Analysts warn that deep cuts will damage our fragile economy now and hinder our ability to compete globally in the future. We know that these cuts will have a devastating impact on those most vulnerable in our communities.

In the international arena cuts proposed to international organizations, humanitarian aid, and disaster relief would take away many of the security tools that defense experts, including Defense Secretary Robert Gates, say that we need. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton recently said that the proposed FY 2011 House cuts "will be devastating to our national security, will render us unable to respond to unanticipated disasters, and will damage our leadership in the world." Particularly in light of recent events in the world, many of these cuts are shortsighted.

Military spending for the Pentagon, the wars, and nuclear weapons comprises 56% of the discretionary spending requested in FY 2012. While all other discretionary spending is subject to cuts or spending caps, military spending would continue to grow. Simple arithmetic tells us that without cuts to this largest portion of discretionary spending even very deep cuts to domestic and international programs will not alleviate deficit spending and the rising debt. Thus, it is not surprising that the recent bi-partisan National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility and Reform called for "substantial defense reductions over the next 10 years." Furthermore, creating jobs is crucial to our economy and University of Massachusetts economists found that "public dollars invested in clean energy, health care, and education all create significantly more jobs within the U.S. economy than investing an equivalent amount in the military."

We believe budget decisions should reflect our nation's values and we can cut military spending without harming national security or undermining troops. Every dollar we spend on an unnecessary weapon designed to fight the wars of 30 years ago is a dollar we don't have to educate our future workforce or rebuild a crumbling bridge. As you face some of the most difficult budgeting challenges in our nation's history, we urge you to responsibly restrain military spending.

National Organizations
Americans for Democratic Action
Association of Farmworker Opportunity Programs
Black Women's Health Imperative
Blessed Virgin Mary Network for Women's Issues
Center for International Policy
Center of Concern
Church of the Brethren Global Partnerships
Coalition for Human Needs
Coalition of Labor Union Women
CODEPINK: Women for Peace
Community of Christ, Ecumenical and Interfaith Office
Conference of Major Superiors of Men
Democratic Socialists of America
Economists for Peace and Security
Foreign Policy in Focus
Friends Committee on National Legislation
Gender Action
Leadership Conference of Women Religious
Leadership Team, Franciscan Sisters of Little Falls
Mennonite Central Committee U.S.
Mothers Acting Up
National Congress of Black Women, Inc.
National Council of Jewish Women
National Council of Women's Organizations
National Organization for Women
National Priorities Project
NETWORK, A National Catholic Social Justice Lobby
Pax Christi USA
Peace Action & Peace Action Education Fund
Progressive States Network
September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows
Sisters of Bon Secours, USA
Sisters of Charity of Montreal, Grey Nuns Eco, Justice and Peace Committee
Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary Leadership Team
Sisters of Mercy of the Americas, Institute Justice Team
The Beatitudes Society
Turning Anger Into Change
U.S. Peace Council
U.S.Action/True Majority
Unitarian Universalist Association of Congregations
United Church of Christ, Justice and Witness Ministries
United Methodist General Board of Church and Society
Wider Opportunities for Women
Win Without War
Women's Institute for Freedom of the Press
World Rainforest Fund
9to5 National Association of Working Women

Regional/State/Local Organizations
Arkansas WAND (AR)
Arkansas Community Organizations (AR)
OMNI Center for Peace, Justice & Equality (AR)
End the War Coalition (AZ)
CODEPINK Arizona Women AZ
Justice Promoters, Dominican Sisters of Mission (CA)
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom (WILPF) San Diego (CA)
St. Mark Presbyterian Church Peace and Justice Commission (CA)
Women for Genuine Security (CA)
The Sisters of the Holy Family (CA)
Beacon Presbyterian Fellowship (CA)
Tri-Valley CAREs (CA)
Loretto Community (CO)
The Church and Society Network of the Rocky Mountain Conference of The United Methodist Church (CO, UT, and half of WY)
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom DC branch (DC)
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, Congregation Leadership Team (DC)
Sisters of St. Joseph of Peace, Congregation Leadership Team (DC)
Pax Christi Northeast Florida (FL)
Tools for Peace, Culture and Education, Inc. (FL)
Central Florida Veterans for Peace, Chapter #136 (FL)
Gainesville Chapter of CODEPINK (FL)
Georgia WAND (GA)
State of Black Gay America Summit (GA)
Georgia Rural Urban Summit (GA)
Early Edgewood-Candler Park BiRacial History Project (GA)
Metro Atlanta Democratic Socialists of America (GA)
Foundation for Global Community (GA)
Food Not Bombs (GA)
Leadership Team, Sisters of St. Francis in Clinton (IA)
Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Francis in Dubuque (IA)
North Suburban Peace Initiative (IL)
Justice & Witness Committee, Church of the Good Shepherd United Church of Christ (IL)
Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters, Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Commission (IL)
Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office Wheaton Franciscans (IL)
Northern Indiana WAND (IN)
Sisters of Providence of St. Mary-of-the-Woods (IN)
Sisters of St. Francis, Justice, Peace and Integrity of Creation Office (IN)
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Indiana (IN)
National Action Network, Kansas Chapter (KS)
Dominican Sisters of Peace, Leadership Team (KS)
Central Kentucky Council for Peace & Justice (KY)
Building a United Interfaith Lexington by Direct Action (BUILD) (KY)
Watertown Citizens for Environmental Safety (MA)
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Boston (MA)
Massachusetts Peace Action (MA)
North Shore Coalition for Peace and Justice (MA)
Merrimack Valley People for Peace (MA)
Metro-West Peace Action (MA)
Peace Action Montgomery (MD)
Waterville Area Bridges for Peace & Justice (ME)
Hancock County Transition Towns (ME)
CODEPINK Maine (ME)
Bring Our War $$ Home (ME)
Southeast Michigan WAND (MI)
Coalition of Labor Union Women, Metro-Detroit Chapter (MI)
Onyx Educational Cultural Foundation Inc. (MI)
11th Hour for Peace (MI)
Detroit Democratic Socialists of America (MI)
Interfaith Council for Peace and Justice (MI)
Sisters, Servants of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, Leadership Council (MI)
Citizens for Peace (MI)
Tri-City Action for Peace (MI)
Pax Christi Michigan (MI)
Peace Action Michigan (MI)
Sisters of St. Paul de Chartres (MI)
Home for Peace and Justice (MI)
Women Against Military Madness (MN)
Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Advisory Committee, Franciscan Sisters (MN)
St. Paul's Monastery, Justice and Peace Committee (MN)
St. Charles Democratic Alliance (MO)
Sisters of St. Francis of Savannah (MO)
Western North Carolina Physicians for Social Responsibility (NC)
New Hampshire Peace Action (NH)
Nevada Nuclear Waste Task Force (NV)
Genesse Valley Citizens for Peace (NY)
Institute for Rational Urban Mobility (NY)
Sisters of St. Francis of Penance and Christian Charity, Holy Name Province (NY)
Pax Christi Metro New York (NY)
Peace Action of Staten Island (NY)
Justice, Peace & Integrity of Creation Commission of the Daughters of Wisdom (NY)
Community Organizing Center (OH)
It Takes a Village (OH)
Justice Committee of the Sisters of St. Francis (OH)
Sisters of the Precious Blood, Leadership Council (OH)
Columbus Campaign for Arms Control (OH)
Social Justice Committee of the Sisters of Notre Dame (OH)
Cleveland Peace Action (OH)
Over the Top Peaceworks, LLC (OR)
Oregon PeaceWorks (OR)
Oregon WAND (OR)
Safe Schools Working Group (OR)
Community Alliance of Lane County (OR)
Taxes for Peace Not War (OR)
Women's International League for Peace and Freedom, Portland Branch (OR)
Eugene City of Peace (OR)
Veterans for Peace Chapter 132 (OR)
Eugene Friends Meeting (OR)
Benedictine Sisters, LCWR (PA)
The Sisters of Divine Providence of the Marie de la Roche Province (PA)
Sisters of St. Joseph NW PA (PA)
Sisters of St. Francis of the Providence of God-Generalate (PA)
Bryn Mawr Peace Coalition (PA)
Leadership Team of the Sisters of St. Francis of Philadelphia (PA)
Hilton Head for Peace Hilton Head (SC)
Sustainable Energy & Economic Development Coalition (TX)
Southend Neighbors for Peace and Justice (WA)
Congregation of Sisters of St. Agnes (WI)
Sisters of St. Joseph of the Third Order of St. Francis (WI)
Sisters of the Divine Savior, Provincial Leadership Team (WI)
Justice Outreach Office of Racine Dominican Sisters (WI)
The Congregation of the Sisters of St Francis of Assisi (WI)