[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 31 (Tuesday, March 5, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H957]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  SEQUESTRATION CUTS ARE TAKING EFFECT

  (Mr. KILDEE asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KILDEE. Mr. Speaker, it's now March 5, and sequestration cuts are 
starting to take effect. Instead of working together to find a 
compromise that would avoid these automatic spending cuts, House 
Republicans stood by and watched the March 1 deadline come and go.
  Now, $85 billion in deep, indiscriminate cuts that will eliminate 
31,000 Michigan jobs are upon us. These cuts will harm Michigan 
families and slash programs that my constituents rely on every day. And 
many of the most dire consequences of the sequester won't be felt 
immediately. The truth is, due to Republican inaction, the wheels are 
now in motion, and we are on a course that has real negative impacts on 
millions of Americans.
  Congress should be working to find a bipartisan solution to avoid 
these indiscriminate cuts. Democrats put forth a plan to stop the 
sequester. I know, I cosponsored it. House Republicans would not even 
let it come to the floor for a vote.
  Mr. Speaker, we need to work on an approach that will fix 
sequestration while reducing the deficit responsibly. I stand ready to 
act. So do my Democratic colleagues. Let's get to work.

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