[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 9]
[House]
[Page 12447]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                        PREVENTING DOD 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, yesterday, the House passed important 
legislation: the Defense appropriations bill. This bill prohibits 
furloughs on employees serving our Department of Defense in fiscal year 
2014. These employees are now in their third week of furloughs.
  This week, we heard from Under Secretary of Defense Comptroller Bob 
Hale about the adverse impacts, which are expected to worsen if 
furloughs continue. His message made clear the harm furloughs already 
have on our force readiness. He echoed what I am hearing from my 
constituents that I talk to on a daily basis: these dedicated patriots 
employed by DOD are disappointed and frustrated they cannot support the 
warfighter and are fearful of an unknown future.
  While it may be too late for the 11 days of furlough through 
September, Congress has the opportunity and I believe the obligation to 
get this important provision prohibiting furloughs signed into law as 
soon as possible.
  I urge the Senate to join the House in passing this important 
measure.

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