Hoyer: Let's Have A Vote On A Balanced Alternative To The Sequester
WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) spoke on the House Floor this morning on the need for a balanced alternative to the sequester. Below are excerpts of his remarks and a link to the video:
Click here to watch the video.
“Mr. Speaker, as the sequester’s effects continue to place our economy and national security at risk, the news that 650,000 civilian defense workers will be forced to take unpaid leave ought to alarm all Americans who are concerned about our military readiness and national security. These furloughs will affect thousands who live in my district and thousands who live in the districts of every Member here.”
“After Congress voted earlier this month to end furloughs for air traffic controllers that had caused flight delays, one would have expected there would be a unanimous outcry for the rest of the sequester to be replaced. The best way to do that, of course, Mr. Speaker, is with a big and balanced agreement. But, instead, Republicans in this House don't seem interested.”
“It’s not just Democrats who are taken aback by their silence. Republican Senator and former presidential nominee of the Republican Party, John McCain, said on May 14, just a few days ago, about these furloughs for civilian defense employees – and I quote: ‘Nobody seems to care. It's amazing. It's one of the most amazing things I have seen in the years I’ve been in the Senate.’ So said John McCain.”
“The men and women who are hard at work supporting our troops and protecting our nation are said to be furloughed for 11 days this year. An unfair, unplanned, undeserved pay cut while, frankly, the leadership of this House sits idly by and takes no action to replace the sequester.”
“So, again, Mr. Speaker, we have only one reasonable option before us, and that is to work together, to set our differences aside for the good of our country and to achieve real compromise. A big, balanced, bipartisan approach that replaces the entire sequester is the only way to protect our defense workers against these furloughs and end the uncertainty that they and their families are facing.”