Congressman Walter Jones Takes Action | Eastern North Carolina Now

News Release:

Jones Blasts Obama Request For $500 Million In Aid To Syrian Rebels

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) released the following statement in opposition to President Barack Obama's request for $500 million to train and arm Syrian rebels:

    "Spending $500 million to aid 'moderate' Syrian rebels is an ill-advised plan reminiscent of past U.S. failures overseas – failures that cost American taxpayers billions of dollars and thousands of American service members their lives," said Congressman Jones. "How quickly the president and his advisors have forgotten that the United States just spent over seven years and $25 billion training and equipping the Iraqi military, only to see it disintegrate in the face of opposition from ISIS. There is little reason to believe that training and equipping 'moderate' Syrian rebels – to the extent we could even credibly discern who they are – would turn out any better. In fact, the CIA has already doing been doing so with little to show for it. Furthermore, pursuing this strategy runs the risk of putting arms and knowledge in the hands of those who, sooner or later, may use them against American troops, interests, or allies."

    "Furthermore, the cost of President Obama's request in both money and potential American lives is too great to ignore. The $500 million would consist entirely of funds borrowed from foreign governments such as China and Russia. At a time when the United States is $17 trillion in debt, we simply cannot afford more deficit spending. It would be the height of irresponsibility to drive our country further into debt merely to funnel our borrowed money overseas to rebel groups that have yet to prove they have our best interests in mind. Most importantly, any time our military is involved in training foreign fighters in a hostile environment, the chances are high that U.S. lives will be lost and that the situation may escalate. As commander in chief, the president should understand that we cannot risk spilling further American blood in yet another unnecessary foreign intervention."

    "For each of these reasons, I stand in firm opposition to congressional authorization of the $500 million in aid. I call on my fellow members of the House and Senate to join me in exercising our constitutional right to deny the president's funding request, and I believe that the decision to do so would be in the best interest of our nation."

Jones Announces Creation Of 56 Jobs At Elizabeth City Coast Guard Facility

    WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3) is pleased to announce the creation of 56 new jobs at the United States Coast Guard facility in Elizabeth City, North Carolina. The Coast Guard has confirmed to Congressman Jones that these positions will be available at a new Asset Project Office, which will be established to facilitate the integration of 14 C-27-J aircraft that the Coast Guard will be receiving from the Air Force. This acquisition was authorized by the 2014 National Defense Authorization Act.

    "I am thrilled to announce the creation of these 56 new jobs in Elizabeth City," said Congressman Jones. "This is a positive sign of growth in the local economy, and I am confident that the hard-working individuals in the Elizabeth City community are well-equipped to support the Coast Guard in the acquisition of its new aircraft."


    Sarah Howard
      Communications Director

    Congressman Walter B. Jones (NC-3)

     2333 Rayburn House Office Building
     Washington, DC 20515

     sarah.howard@mail.house.gov  •  (202) 225-3415