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To all U.S. Senators and Representatives,
We write to you with grave concern regarding President Biden's request of more than $813,000,000,000 in Pentagon spending as part of the federal budget for fiscal year 2023. This funding request, if approved by Congress, will be the highest level of defense funding sought in history. As women state legislators who believe deeply in the necessity of demilitarizing U.S. foreign and domestic policy, we ask that you reject the urge to increase the exorbitant Pentagon budget and boost spending for domestic investments that will help low and middle-income families become economically sound.
We have been watching the somber tragedy unfolding in Ukraine, and condemn, in the strongest terms, Russia's violent and unprovoked attacks on the Ukrainian people. We grieve with the people of Ukraine and sympathize with the pain and uncertainty that they face. The gross reach for power on display by President Vladimir Putin requires a response, and we firmly support the use of non-military actions, including sharp multilateral sanctions, that increase the cost of war to Russia and open space for peace negotiations.
At the same time, Russia's war in Ukraine does not necessitate additional U.S. military spending. We already have extraordinary military capabilities in Europe, and our European allies are rapidly changing their own military policies in response to the war. The U.S. has contributed more than $1 billion in security assistance to Ukraine in the past year, and authorized another $1 billion in new military aid just in the past few weeks. Additionally, the large spending package recently passed by Congress included $13.6 billion in emergency aid to Ukraine that will go to support urgent military and humanitarian needs.
We cannot ignore the many people in our own country who are struggling to make ends meet. We are heartened by your stated commitments to addressing systemic and racial inequalities as we believe that policy solutions that center poor and low-income people create a more equitable, just, and effective society for everyone. And while we were also disappointed in last year's Pentagon budget request, we were pleased with last year's overall budget request that increased nondefense spending by 16 percent, allowing for much needed investments in our states.
As our country continues to climb out of the economic downturn brought on by the coronavirus pandemic, it is imperative to reduce Pentagon spending and invest taxpayer dollars in programs that will help families. The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) rightly pointed out that the nation has severely underinvested in core public services over the past 10 years, the consequences of which we are seeing today: reductions in food and nutrition assistance left many families struggling to afford adequate food and cutbacks in housing assistance left many individuals and families struggling to afford adequate housing.
Militarism and war have an impact on the whole world, with a disproportionate effect on poor and low-income families. With more resources for domestic priorities, we could provide critical services for poor and low-income families such as affordable housing, education, and child care. We must start by setting the example that having a strong national security does not mean spending billions of dollars on weapons and destruction, but rather investments in our people and social infrastructure are key to our nation's strength, security, and long-lasting prosperity.
Sincerely,
The Undersigned State Legislators