Today, Rep. John Carter (R-TX-31), Chairman of the Army Caucus, spoke on the House floor in regards to the Army’s announcement yesterday regarding force structure and stationing decisions. To view the video clip, please visit http://mediacenter.tveyes.com/downloadgateway.aspx?UserID=228118&MDID=5020687&MDSeed=1084&Type=Media.

Text of Rep. Carter’s floor speech, as prepared:

“Mr. Chairman I rise to address the House for One minute:

I have long opposed reductions to our military and I continue to believe that our Nation should maintain a robust land force.  The announcement to reduce our Army by 40,000 troops sends the worst possible message to our nation’s adversaries.  Cuts that extend into heavy armored combat units go even further to weaken our national defense and put us at greater risk.

I am especially disappointed about the Army’s plan to cut so heavily from Fort Hood and the state of Texas.  The Army’s decision to implement a roughly nine percent reduction at the Great Place is outrageous.  I have serious concerns about the logic and analysis that went in to the decision to reduce so many troops from Texas.

Perhaps the most sickening part of this whole matter however, is the damage these cuts will do to the Soldiers and their families who will be asked to leave the Army after a decade of sacrifice in time of war.  In the coming days, I will be pressing the Army for clarification of their analysis and justification for their decisions. This nation can do better.”

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