*Sequestration

“First of all, let me say, we don't know what the budget parameters and any agreement are going to be. We have heard rumors. You have written about them. We don't know their substance. 

A look at the first session of the 113^th Congress shows that the Republican-led House of Representatives has not made progress on issues important to the American people. With 8 legislative days remaining in this year, the Republican leadership is poised to leave a long to-do list of critical legislation unfinished. 

MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP

There are only 8 legislative days remaining before the end of the year, yet House Republicans wasted this week on bills that will not advance in the Senate, become law or address any of the time sensitive issues Congress must pass before the end of the year.I am disappointed that instead of taking action on critical legislation, including a budget agreement that replac

“Shutdown is unacceptable and certainly defaulting on our debt is unacceptable. We've had a long time to come to agreement. Republicans refused to go to conference. We are now in conference 

“Thank you very much Leader. Many of you have heard me say, but you know it as well – there are 8 legislative days left in 2013, according to the Republican Majority schedule. Two of those days, of course, are days in which we come in at 6:30. So that there is not much time to do the work of the American people.

“Mr. Speaker, we have ten days left in this session, this year's session, according to the schedule. We're supposed to adjourn on December 13 – somewhat ironically, Friday the 13th – and yet, Mr. Speaker, we see time is running out, and we're not addressing the critical issue and the critical responsibility of funding the government, of applying resources to our priorities.

With the House scheduled to be in session for just 11 days through the end of the year, time is running out to reach an agreement on the budget that replaces the reckless sequester, avoids another harmful and expensive government shutdown, and gives our economy and the American people the certainty they deserve.  

We’ve been saying it all along: it’s imperative that budget conferees work to finalize an agreement to put our nation on a fiscally sustainable path, replace the sequester, and prevent another shutdown – and we’re pleased that GOP appropriators agree. Today, Chairman Hal Rogers and 12 Subcommittee Chairs wrote to conferees and Speaker Boehner, urging them to step up the pace, report out an agreement sooner rather than later, and allow for new appropriations bills to replace the CR.