[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 5]
[House]
[Page 7119]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  0910
                    DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE FURLOUGHS

  (Mr. WITTMAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. WITTMAN. Mr. Speaker, I rise for the folks in my district being 
furloughed because of indecision, political gamesmanship, and the 
failure to act in Washington.
  Our Nation has no greater asset than the folks serving our Nation, 
including those who make up our Department of Defense, both military 
and civilian alike. Their dedication and service to our Nation is 
unwavering. Unfortunately, those same patriots have lived for months 
with the uncertainty of the sequester.
  Many of those who have dedicated themselves to ensuring equipment is 
repaired and ready for our Armed Forces are being forced to step away 
from their lives. Even the children of our military families will not 
be spared. Teachers at DOD schools are being furloughed, too.
  The administration had flexibility to make other choices. Furloughs 
are just one of the effects of compounding budget cuts on our Nation's 
military, and it affects this Nation's military readiness. There are 
smarter solutions to our Nation's budget woes, and I voted for 
replacements for this shortsighted sequester.
  Congress should not sit idly by. Let's fix this.

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