[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 160 (Wednesday, December 12, 2012)]
[House]
[Page H6713]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SEQUESTRATION IMPACT ON ENVIRONMENT
(Ms. CHU asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Ms. CHU. Sequestration wasn't written to be good fiscal policy. It
was never intended to be policy, period. These automatic cuts would
deeply hurt our environment. This Congress has already tried to roll
back our strongest environmental laws. Now we're on the verge of
setting a new low.
Sequestration could force the national parks and forests to turn away
visitors. Our Forest Service, which fights wildfires, might not have
enough money to put out all the flames. Agencies protecting us from
harmful toxic waste may have difficulty going after our worst
polluters. This is no solution to our deficit problems.
Now is the time for both sides to work toward a responsible
compromise. As I said before, sequestration was never intended to
happen, so let's not let it.
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