*Sequestration
Beginning this week, civilian employees in the Department of Defense will be furloughed for a total of 11 days from now through the end of the fiscal year as a result of sequestration. Because of House Republicans’ refusal to work towards a big and balanced deficit reduction agreement that ends the sequester and puts us on a long-term, fiscally sustainable path, middle-class workers across the country will see their pay reduced, face job insecurity, and will contribute less to local economies.
“Mr. Speaker, beginning this week, literally hundreds of thousands of civilian workers are being furloughed, particularly at the defense installations in Maryland’s Fifth District, across the state, and around the country.
“Starting today, as a result of Congress’s failure to achieve a big and balanced solution to deficits, our national security and military readiness will be weakened as civilian workers are prevented from carrying out their important work because of furloughs.
As Congress returns to session this week, the hard-working civilians in the Department of Defense who keep our country safe are facing the beginning of furloughs as a result of the sequester. For those Republicans who’ve forgotten about the sequester or say it doesn’t have an impact, here’s a refresher of what it means to thousands of Americans:
First week back from the 4th of July district work period, and what are Republicans doing?
“Today marks the 100th day since the Senate passed its budget resolution, providing Speaker Boehner with the opportunity to follow regular order and appoint House Republican conferees to begin negotiations on a final version of the budget for FY2014.
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
This week, the United States Senate passed comprehensive immigration reform that takes an important step towards fixing our nation’s broken immigration system. I applaud the Senate for their bipartisan legislation, which creates a reasonable pathway to citizenship for 11 million people already in our country, while also ensuring the security of our borders. It is now time for the House to take action, and I will co
“As I have said repeatedly since the House passed its budget nearly 100 days ago, Speaker Boehner has no excuse for his refusal to finish our work on a budget – a goal Republicans once shared.
“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. We talked about the greatest generation. I fear that this generation's going to be the greediest generation – is not going to leave our children the great economy that was left to us but will leave an economy that is limping because of policies that we pursued and the debt that we have incurred.
After House Republicans’ deep divisions led to the failure of the Farm bill last week, Congress has less than one week remaining before the July 4th district work period to address several crucial issues. Here’s a look at legislation that the Republican leadership should bring to the House Floor for consideration, but instead continues to ignore: