Contact: Josh Holly, 202.226.3988
Washington, D.C. – Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA), senior Republican on the House Armed Services Committee, today called on his congressional defense committee counterparts to expedite funding for critical force protection vehicles. On Wednesday, the Pentagon requested that the congressional defense committees allow them to transfer more than $1.165 billion to speed the production and fielding of the Mine-Resistant, Ambush-Protected (MRAP) vehicle.
Hunter’s statement follows:
“It’s incumbent upon Congress to fast-track the Pentagon’s request. MRAP’s are critical for force protection and are already saving American lives in Iraq. Every moment Congress wastes in approving this request delays the arrival of more MRAP’s into Iraq and needless puts American lives in danger.
“I approved the request late yesterday, and I would like to encourage my counterparts on the other defense committees to do the same.
“Our diligence will not stop there though. We will continue to work with the Pentagon and the defense industrial base to speed up MRAP production and get these critical vehicles to Iraq in the most expeditious manner possible.”
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