Republican Plan to Replace Sequestration Makes America Less Prepared for a 21st Century Economy
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz, a senior member of the House Budget Committee, issued the following statement today on the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives.
As prepared for delivery:
“The federal budget is about choices, and the choices we make matter. Do we chose to protect our seniors, to grow our middle class, and to make smart investments in our economy—or not.
“Republicans have made their choices, their priorities, and their values very clear.
“Once again, they are wasting America’s time playing politics instead of working to find common ground.
“Sequestration was put in place to force Congress to work together on a bipartisan, balanced approach to deficit reduction. But today’s legislation does not move us any closer to achieving that goal.
“We know we must reduce the nation’s deficit in a balanced and fiscally responsible manner. That means spending cuts and requiring greater efficiency and effectiveness from all sectors of government must be balanced with increased revenue in order to build economic growth for the future.
“Republicans in Congress have rejected this balanced approach.
“In doing so, they have made it clear that they are not serious about deficit reduction. They are, in fact, willing to add $800 billion to our deficit with tax breaks for the wealthiest few and $2 trillion more on defense spending than the Pentagon said it needs. And, they are willing to do this at the expense of our middle class, our seniors, and our economic recovery.
“The Republican approach to replacing the sequester means we are less prepared for the 21st century economy. Now is not the time to make drastic cuts to transportation and infrastructure, to innovation and clean energy, or to education and health care.
“The Republican plan creates false and unfair choices for the American people.
“Democrats have a real plan to prevent and replace sequestration. The Democratic plan takes a balanced approach to deficit reduction, it makes spending cuts and raises revenue, it makes targeted investments to grow our economy, and it enables us to meet our obligations to our seniors, our children, and our nation’s future.
“I urge my colleagues to oppose this legislation and work to find real solutions to deficit reduction and economic growth.”