[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 29 (Thursday, February 28, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E231]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       STATEMENT ON SEQUESTRATION

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. YVETTE D. CLARKE

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, February 28, 2013

  Ms. CLARKE. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my disappointment 
with the budget sequester that seems almost certain to occur. These 
automatic budget cuts will become effective tomorrow, Friday, March 1, 
2013 unless Congress acts immediately. Many of my Democratic colleagues 
have proposed serious alternatives to the cuts, which I fully support.
  Since the start of the 113th Congress, House Republicans have failed 
to bring a single bill to the floor that would prevent the cuts. The 
sequester will harm every American, especially the constituents of my 
district.
  Estimates from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities demonstrate 
that the Women, Infant and Children nutrition program will be unable to 
assist between 600,000 and 775,000 individuals. Low income families 
depend on food assistance programs. Too many children in my district 
come to school hungry, which leads to the inability to focus on their 
schoolwork.
  Sequestration will also undermine federally-funded programs that 
provide low income, underinsured, and uninsured women access to breast 
and cervical cancer screening and diagnostic testing. The women in my 
community need these programs to receive proper treatment.
  Layoffs and furloughs to the Social Security Administration will slow 
the processing of Social Security applications. Many of my constituents 
who are retired or have disabilities depend on Social Security. 
Americans have worked for their Social Security benefits, and have the 
right to expect service.
  As a member of the Homeland Security Committee, I am concerned about 
cuts to airport security. This issue has enormous importance to me and 
my fellow New Yorkers, many of whom work in airport security at JFK and 
LaGuardia airports. The cuts present serious risks to the workers at 
these airports and to our national security. These men and women have 
dedicated their lives to serving this country to keep it safe. A 
reduction in security workers will increase complications in air travel 
and increase the possibility of danger to this nation and its people.
  The sequester will also harm small businesses, by reducing support 
for loan programs administered by the Small Business Administration as 
well as government contracts, and training program for small 
businesses. I am extremely sensitive to the plight of small businesses, 
as a member of the Small Business Committee.
  I urge my colleagues to prevent these cuts to important programs. Our 
constituents want us to compromise to prevent these drastic cuts. In 
the words of Mohandas Gandhi, ``The best way to find yourself is to 
lose yourself in the service of others.'' We swore an oath to defend, 
protect and serve this country. Americans are depending on us to make 
the right decision. We should not delay a vote. We need to come 
together, make a decision and protect the interests of the people we 
represent.

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