[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1620]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                             SEQUESTRATION

  (Mr. HOYER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, we have now entered the final week before the 
dangerous, arbitrary, and irrational policy of sequestration, which 
Republicans proposed first in their cut, cap, and balance bill in July 
of 2011.
  If I were the majority leader, Mr. Speaker, that policy would not go 
into effect. Budget discipline is absolutely necessary, but damaging 
job growth in our economy to do so is self-defeating.
  The only responsible way forward is for Republicans and Democrats to 
work together to achieve a balanced solution to deficits that can turn 
off the sequestration. House and Senate Democrats have each proposed 
balanced alternatives that combine smart, targeted cuts in spending and 
tax expenditures. I would hope the majority leader, Mr. Cantor, would 
bring that to the floor.
  While many Republicans have been praising the sequester as a viable 
path forward, Democrats recognize this mindless policy for the danger 
it is.
  I urge my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, Mr. Speaker, to 
recognize the sequester's consequences, and to work with Democrats to 
find an alternative, or, if that can't be done, to abandon this 
reckless policy.
  We only have 4 days left to go, and our country's overall well-being 
depends on it.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to call up H.R. 699, which is 
the balanced Democratic alternative to sequestration, which I know we 
have ample time to debate over the next few days and, hopefully, send 
to the Senate.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair cannot entertain that request 
without appropriate clearance from both sides.

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