[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 27, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H686]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             SEQUESTRATION

  (Mr. BARBER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BARBER. Mr. Speaker, we are now less than 48 hours from sweeping 
and irresponsible, across-the-board budget cuts that will go into 
effect on Friday. These cuts will weaken our military, harm our border 
security, undermine economic recovery, and hurt southern Arizona 
families.
  We must work together. We can, I am confident, craft a rational, 
bipartisan solution to reduce the debt so these cuts can be avoided.
  Last week I stood with officials from the University of Arizona, the 
city of Tucson, law enforcement, Border Patrol agents, civilian 
employees of the airbase and the garrison at Fort Huachuca, and local 
health care groups and community agencies to demand that we take action 
on sequestration.
  The critical services that these groups and individuals and countless 
others provide to Arizonans will be cut because Congress has not come 
together with a commonsense solution. In my districts, these cuts mean 
longer wait times at the border and ports of entry, and less security 
between them. This is absolutely unacceptable.
  Sequestration hurts the ability of returning veterans to find a job. 
This is also unacceptable.
  And as I've said before, I'm willing to work here with all of my 
colleagues to find a middle ground. We owe our communities a budget, 
one that balances new revenues, eliminates ineffective programs and 
allows vital services to continue.
  We should not recess tomorrow. We should stay here and do our job.

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