[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 63 (Tuesday, May 7, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H2448]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SEQUESTRATION
(Mr. BUTTERFIELD asked and was given permission to address the House
for 1 minute.)
Mr. BUTTERFIELD. Madam Speaker, sequestration--we must repeal the
sequester now.
Americans have lived under these budget cuts for over 2 months, and
one thing is clear: sequestration is hurting Americans; it is hurting
constituents in your district and in mine, damaging the American
economy and killing American jobs. We must totally repeal sequestration
now. Democrats are prepared to vote for full repeal.
Madam Speaker, a piecemeal approach to reversing these cuts is simply
the wrong way forward. We should not be in the business of picking
winners and losers when it comes to restoring funding, like when we
reversed the cuts to TSA because the delays created made front-page
news. Our actions should not be driven by who makes the most noise, but
rather what is best for the country and the American people.
Lifesaving medical research funded by NIH has taken a $1.6 billion
hit. Are we to think that research for cures to cancer, HIV/AIDS, and
diabetes are less important than how quickly we move through airport
lines?
Madam Speaker, we need to send a clear message to the American people
that we will not stand for arbitrary cuts. We must fully repeal
sequestration now.
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