WBAL Radio: Ruppersberger Tours Middle East Ahead Of Budget Fight
Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger is back from a week-long tour of the Middle East, where he visited troops, leaders and refugees, his office announced.
The Baltimore County Democrat, a member of the House appropriations committee’s subcommittee on defense, was joined by appropriations Chairman Rep. Rodney Frelinghuysen, a New Jersey Republican. They went to Iraq, Turkey and Lebanon.
“I was in the Middle East to hear directly from military and diplomatic leaders about what’s working and what’s not,” Ruppersberger said in a statement. “One thing is clear: The Department of Defense needs a full 2017 budget, and not another continuing resolution. We must fully equip our troops and maintain our diplomatic efforts. We never want our soldiers to walk into an unfair fight.”