[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 8]
[House]
[Page 11313]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                    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, instead of combating terrorism or working 
to support our troops deployed around the globe, civilian workers 
across the country are, instead, spending 20 percent of their workweek 
on a forced furlough.
  Furloughed workers face personal and professional challenges, lost 
income and less time to get the same amount of work done.
  From the Associated Press:

       Civilian employees, ranging from top-level policy advisers 
     to school teachers and depot workers, will not be answering 
     their phones or responding to emails for 1 day a week.

  There is no doubt those who wish harm upon the United States are 
pleased with these cuts. The administration had flexibility to make 
other choices and avoid furloughs.
  Further, this unfortunate choice may not be over on September 30. 
Yesterday, Secretary Hagel suggested furloughs may continue under 
certain circumstances.
  Compounding budget cuts are devastating military readiness. I urge 
the administration to make better choices and for the Congress to work 
the will of the American people and support our Nation's defense to the 
fullest.

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