[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 2]
[House]
[Page 1769]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                         SEQUESTRATION WORKDAYS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Alabama (Mr. Brooks) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. BROOKS of Alabama. Madam Speaker, Secretary of Defense Leon 
Panetta states sequestration ``would be a disaster in terms of the 
Defense Department. As far as our budget is concerned, as far as our 
ability to respond to the threats that are out there, it has a big 
impact.''
  Over time, sequestration's disproportionate cuts to national defense 
will reduce our military to its smallest number of uniformed personnel 
since before World War II, its smallest number of operational naval 
vessels since World War I, and its smallest number of operational 
aircraft in the history of the United States Air Force.
  But national security is not the only sequestration risk. In my home 
district in north Alabama, President Obama has ordered that roughly 
14,000 highly skilled and irreplaceable Department of Defense civilian 
employees suffer 20 percent furloughs and 20 percent salary cuts.
  Redstone Arsenal's engineers, scientists, and other civilian defense 
staff are critical to national security in a time of international 
instability. Their knowledge and skill sets are unique, virtually 
irreplaceable, and may be lost to national security forever if these 
workers are forced to find work elsewhere.
  The damage I've just described to north Alabama's economy is before 
President Obama starts hammering defense and NASA contractors and many 
other Tennessee Valley Federal employees who provide worthwhile 
services to their country.
  Nationwide, the economic impact is absolutely staggering. 
Sequestration risks 1.5 to 2 million job losses, with a resulting 1 
percent worsening of America's unemployment rate. It is unwise to 
subject America's fragile economy to job losses of this magnitude.
  For emphasis, and despite White House, Senate leadership, and House 
leadership efforts to the contrary, I voted against sequestration and 
the Budget Control Act of 2011, quite frankly, because the risk to 
America was simply unacceptable. Unfortunately, my vote was in the 
minority.
  In 2012, and despite President Obama's veto threats, the House twice 
passed legislation to fix sequestration. In response, the Senate not 
only refused to vote on the House's sequestration solutions, the Senate 
irresponsibly refused to propose solutions of its own. Hence, despite 
the Senate enjoying more than a year and a half to do its job, Senate 
inaction and delay have given America yet another short-term crisis.
  So here we are. America faces three major crises: Sequestration, a 
continuing resolution to fund the government, and yet another debt 
ceiling crisis.
  While I agree with the House leadership's view that, since the Senate 
has done nothing to solve this problem, it is appropriate for the 
Senate to act first on sequestration this time, I am troubled the House 
is scheduled to work only 24 days in March and April, combined. 
Conversely, there are 19 workdays in which the House is not in session. 
Stated differently, the House will only work 56 percent of workdays and 
be on recess from Washington 44 percent of the time.
  The American people work on workdays. Congress should do no less. 
Actions speak louder than words. Under the circumstances America faces, 
a part-time Congress is simply unacceptable.
  As sequestration unfolds, as national security, Federal Government 
functions, and the American economy slowly but surely deteriorate, the 
American people will intensify pressure on Harry Reid's Senate to 
finally do its job.
  Americans are suffering. National defense is suffering. The suffering 
of Americans is not in recess during this crisis. Congress should not 
be in recess either.
  We signed up to do a job, and that job is not done. The House must 
provide leadership and prove we are serious about doing the people's 
business, and Washington is where the people's business is done.
  Given the magnitude of the risks and damage done by sequestration to 
America on a daily basis, I respectfully request that the House remain 
in session and do our jobs on each and every workday until 
sequestration is resolved.
  The House has passed numerous sequestration solutions. It is long 
past time for the Senate to wake from its slumber, respond to the 
clarion call of the American people, and pass a sequestration solution.

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