Media

Beginning this week, hundreds of thousands of civilian defense employees in Maryland and across the country will experience furloughs as a result of Congresss inability to compromise on a balanced, responsible agreement to reduce the deficit. In addition to the non-defense federal employees in Maryland who have already taken furlough days, over 41,000 of our constituents who work at defense installations will begin furloughs this week, and we once again urge the House to take action to replace the sequester in its entirety with a balanced alternative and end these unnecessary furloughs.

Im pleased Greater Baden Medical Services and the Elaine Ellis Center of Health have received this important funding to help Maryland consumers seeking health care insurance understand their new health care options and gain coverage.

Mr. Speaker, beginning this week, literally hundreds of thousands of civilian workers are being furloughed, particularly at the defense installations in Marylands Fifth District, across the state, and around the country. That means, as of Monday, more than 650,000 hardworking, middle-class defense employees are being forced to take a 20% pay cut for the remainder of the fiscal year.

Today, I met with federal employees at Pax River to discuss the need to replace the irrational policy of sequester and end the furloughs that 46,000 civilian defense workers at Pax River and at military installations across Maryland are facing.

Good afternoon, and thank you all for being here today as we celebrate the work of the Judith P. Hoyer Foundation and recognize excellence at two Judy Centers that are making a real difference for the children and families they serve.

I am deeply disappointed that Congress failed to take action to prevent student loan interest rates from doubling from 3.4% to 6.8% by the July 1st deadline.

Mr. Speaker, tomorrow the Majority party is set to recess this House for a week, leaving in place the economy-stifling and irrational policy of sequester.