Ruppersberger Stresses Making Smart Spending Cuts

Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger understands this nation is in an economic crisis.

The Maryland Democratic congressman is the first to admit that the U.S. has to control spending and reduce the national deficit.

However, Ruppersberger also stresses that broad spending cuts are not the answer. He wants those in the federal governemnt to go over the budget with a fine-tooth comb and examine areas where spending can be reduced without impacting crucial programs that care for national security and infrastructure.

Since his Second District contains Aberdeen Proving Ground and Fort George G. Meade, as well as thousands of miles of shoreline, wetlands and other vulnerable environmentally sensitive areas, his committee assignments are important assets to Maryland.

As the new Congress was seated in January, Ruppersberger now serves as the ranking member of the Intelligence Committee. 

It's clear when speaking with the former Baltimore County executive that he is passionate on wanting to educate the public on how subjects such as national security, cyber-terrorism and the Base Realignment and Closure program impacts  our daily lives, and the potential repercussion cutting spending in these areas could have on the United States maintaining its role as a world leader.

“Our first priority is protecting the American people," said Ruppersberger in a recent statement. " Good intelligence is our best defense against terrorism.  We must ensure our men and women in the intelligence community have the resources they need to keep us safe. 

"Al-Qaeda is still out there – organizing and plotting to harm Americans.  We must do all we can to prevent additional attacks from Al-Qaeda and other terrorist organizations."

One agency that has, and will continue, to play a huge role in the war on terrorism is the Fort George G. Meade-based National Security Agency. The NSA and Fort Meade will be home to even more security-related jobs in the years to come, thanks to the transfer of thousands of positions due to BRAC.

Ruppersberger is frustrated over the federal government's lack of action in helping Maryland prepare its infrastructure for the influx of people coming to the region.

Maryland has already spent $135 million in BRAC-related transportation improvements not only around Fort Meade, but around Aberdeen Proving Ground in Harford County as well. A recent independent report Ruppersberger requested says about $786 million is needed to accommodate 22,000 additional workers arriving at Fort Meade and NSA.

"Getting the jobs here was the easy part," Ruppersberger said. "The trouble is when they come here, how are we going to handle the additional stress on our infrastructure?

"We don't need people that are responsible for our national security spending hours upon hours stuck in traffic and unable to get to work in a timely matter. They won't be able to work efficiently and their minds won't be as sharp because they'll be tired from horrible commutes."

Ruppersberger has also questioned President Obama's recent decision to cancel the United States' plans to return astronauts to the moon by 2020.  This move, Ruppersberger said, jeopardizes an $11.5 billion investment, puts thousands of skilled scientists out of work, and shakes the very heart of the space industrial base. 

At the same time, the congressman added, China and Russia are nipping at our country's heels.  China is pumping money into its space plan, subsidizing private investments in space technology and setting its sights on a moon landing by 2020.

Ruppersberger said improving America’s space industry, including both manned vehicles and satellites, will also boost America’s national security and military operations, as we use satellites and their images to track suspected terrorists around the world.

"America needs a new plan to reinvigorate our space industry, get our young people excited about space and other sciences, and inspire people of all ages to dream about reaching for the stars...," said Ruppersberger in a recent statement.

“In 1962, President John F. Kennedy so famously said, ‘We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things, not because they are easy, but because they are hard.’ We must do what is hard and necessary to stay ahead in this space race."

Essex-Middle River Patch Editor Ron Snyder contributed to this column.