*Sequestration
“[N]otwithstanding the fact that Republicans have been talking about regular order for years and years and years, notwithstanding the fact that they demanded that the Senate pass a budget, which of course the Senate has done… they have refused in both the Senate and the House to go to conference.
“Thank you, Congresswoman Lee. I appreciate your leadership on the issue of combating poverty in our country and for chairing the Democratic Whip Task Force on Poverty and Opportunity.
WASHINGTON, DC- Today, House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) and Congresswoman Barbara Lee (CA) will hold a press call to discuss the Half in Ten Act of 2013 at 11 a.m.
“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.
In April, the sequester that had flown under the radar for most Americans at last entered the public spotlight. As cuts led to furloughs for air traffic controllers and other FAA personnel, flight delays frustrated passengers across the country.
MESSAGE FROM THE DEMOCRATIC WHIP
Today, I was proud to join President Barack Obama in Baltimore, Maryland on his Middle Class Jobs and Opportunity Tour. As part of the tour, President Obama visited Moravia Park Elementary School, a Judy Center – named in tribute to my wife, Judith Hoyer, who was an early childhood educator – to highlight the importance of early childhood education.
"Mr. Speaker, apparently the Republicans are opposed to Obamacare. I know that comes as a shock to America, so we need to tell them one more time, or 37 times, or maybe a 38th or 39th or 40th or 100th time. I don't know how many times we have to replay the election.
“Mr. Speaker, this week the House will be voting for the 37th time to repeal the Affordable Care Act.
“The sequestration is an irrational, stupid policy that's having an adverse effect on our economy and on our national security.
"Because of Congress's failure to reach a balanced agreement on deficits, hundreds of thousands of our nation's civilian defense employees will be furloughed for up to eleven days this year, resulting in an unmerited pay cut to those who are hard at work keeping our country safe and making sure our troops have the tools they need to carry out their missions.