[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1550]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




             BROAD AND DEVASTATING EFFECT OF SEQUESTRATION

  (Mr. PETERS of California asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. PETERS of California. Mr. Speaker, San Diego is the largest 
metropolitan area for military personnel and base operations. My 
district is home to seven military installations, and sequestration 
will have a broad and devastating effect on our military families and 
economy.
  In total, defense spending is responsible for 25 percent of San 
Diego's GDP. That means 1 out of every $4 generated in San Diego is 
achieved as a result of defense spending. The proposed cuts to the 
defense budget will cost San Diego more than 30,000 defense-related 
jobs, and the Navy will be forced to put a freeze on hiring civilians, 
many of whom are veterans.
  With 11.5 percent of our community's veterans unemployed and a 
shocking 25 percent of veterans between 18 and 24 struggling to find 
employment, any further reduction in job opportunities for our Nation's 
heroes is unacceptable. We can neither threaten our military readiness 
with indiscriminate cuts nor can we fail the brave men and women of our 
Armed Forces and their families who have already sacrificed so much.
  Please join with me in bringing an end to the partisan gridlock and 
finding solutions that do not put undue burdens on those who risk their 
lives in defense of our freedom.

                          ____________________