[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 27, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H687]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             SEQUESTRATION

  (Mr. CROWLEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. CROWLEY. Starting Friday, careless and devastating across-the-
board spending cuts will hit America's economy and stifle our recovery. 
But the only thing my colleagues on the other side of the aisle can say 
is: It's about time.
  Do we need to address our Nation's deficit? Absolutely. But cutting 
750,000 American jobs, food safety inspections, and health care 
benefits for our 9/11 first responders isn't the right way to do it. 
The U.S. can't lead the world in medical research if we aren't funding 
the National Institutes of Health. We can't protect ourselves from 
cybersecurity threats if the very people who work on this issue are 
laid off. And we can't expect our children to compete in tomorrow's 
global economy if we deny them access to critical programs like Head 
Start today.
  It doesn't have to be this way. Democrats and President Obama have a 
solution. Our plan will put an end to the slash-and-burn cuts and 
replace it with reductions to our deficit through the closure of tax 
loopholes and an end to wasteful spending.
  So, Mr. Speaker, there's a way out. There's another path forward that 
will ensure we protect investments in our Nation's future.
  I will ask that tomorrow the Speaker ask unanimous consent to bring 
up H.R. 699, a balanced plan to reduce our deficit.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. As the Chair previously advised, such a 
request cannot be entertained absent appropriate clearance.

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