DeLauro Calls On House Majority to Stop Budget Cuts

Indiscriminate, Across-the-Board Cuts Go Into EffectFriday

WASHINGTON, DC—Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) took to theHouse floor today to call on the Republican Majority to pass a balanced plan toavert across-the-board spending cuts that will harm our economy and underminejob creation. Without congressional action, these cuts will go into effectFriday.

"The House Majority should bring legislation to the floorthat will prevent the across the board cuts to occur on Friday. Thesedangerous, indiscriminate cuts threaten our economy and vital services for ourchildren, seniors, small businesses, and our servicemembers inuniform.

"Today we are spending $12 billion less on Labor, HHS andEducation programs, in real terms, than we were in 2002. Because of thecuts we already made in the Budget Control Act, we will be spending $21 billionless on these programs in 2022. And yet, despite these already-made cuts,the sequester will gut Labor-HHS-Education programs by another nearly $7billion this year.

"As a result, among other things, over 10,000 fewer peoplein my state will get the assistance they need to find jobs, Over 1,500 fewerConnecticut children will receive vaccines for diseases. And 8,000disadvantaged students will lose access to educational services. This putsaround 120 teacher and aide jobs at risk, thereby raising unemployment.

"This is in addition to other cuts impacting everything fromfood safety inspections, to meals for seniors, to support for public safetyofficers and to keep air traffic controllers on the job.

"To avert this crisis, I ask for Unanimous Consent to bringup my colleague Mr. Van Hollen's Stop the Sequester Job Loss Now Act. Itreplaces sequestration with a balanced bipartisan approach to deficitreduction. It is our responsibility to pass a budget that protects themiddle-class, our seniors, and the most vulnerable, and we have to act."