Hoyer: Continuing Resolution Passed Today Does Nothing to Stop Sequester

WASHINGTON, DC – Today, Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) released the following statement in opposition to H.R. 933, a Continuing Resolution to fund the government, which passed the House this afternoon. Congressman Hoyer opposed the bill, which did nothing to address sequestration:

"The Continuing Resolution passed by the House today does nothing to address the irrational cuts imposed by sequestration, which could be very harmful to our economy, our local defense community, and our national security over the coming weeks and months. While I do not believe we should allow our government to shut down and I would have liked to have voted for the defense funding included in
the package, this legislation did not stop the sequester or address the need to invest in our priorities in a thoughtful way.

"Bills like the one voted on today are not the way that Congress should be conducting business. Instead, we should have appropriations bills that lay out our priorities, and we should also have a big, balanced deficit reduction plan that stops the negative impact of sequestration. Unfortunately, this CR did not do that.

"I continue to urge Congress to stop lurching from one manufactured crisis to the next and end the uncertainty that businesses and families in the Fifth District and around the country are facing. For their sake, we must work together to adopt a balanced fiscal plan to reduce the deficit and invest in the growth of our economy."