[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 17 (Tuesday, February 5, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H354]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      THE DANGERS OF SEQUESTRATION

  (Mr. BERA of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BERA of California. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to caution again 
about the dangers of sequestration.
  In a few short weeks, automatic across-the-board spending cuts will 
take place. If allowed, they could forestall our economic recovery. Not 
only will these cuts cripple many effective programs, but across-the-
board cuts on top of already large budget reductions will impact the 
Department of Defense.
  Yes, we need to make strategic budget reductions, eliminate or reduce 
ineffective programs, and begin to bring our budget under control. But 
we need to do this in a responsible way, and automatic sequestration 
cuts are irresponsible.
  In my community, we will feel an immediate impact. If sequestration 
hits, programs that are essential to keeping our community safe and 
secure would face an automatic 8.2 percent cut. The COPS program in 
Sacramento would lose over $1.5 million in funding, which would hurt 
local law enforcement and impact our community safety.
  Yes, we need to get our budget under control. We need to reduce our 
deficit and begin paying down our debt. But irresponsible across-the-
board sequestration cuts are not the way to do it.

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