Hoyer Statement on Sequestration Transparency Act

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Hoyer Statement on Sequestration Transparency Act

WASHINGTON, DC - House Democratic Whip Steny H. Hoyer (MD) released the following statement today on H.R. 5872, the Sequestration Transparency Act:
“The American people ought to know the full extent to which the budget sequester would be disastrous for our economy and security. That is why this bill is so important. The sequester was never intended to take effect – it was an irrational deterrent meant to force both sides to the table and still ought to be viewed as an unacceptable alternative to inaction on the part of Congress.
“The ball is now in Congress’s court to find a solution to deficits that can avert the sequester’s arbitrary, draconian cuts. The report today’s legislation would require the Office of Management and Budget to produce will be a wake-up call for Congress to act on comprehensive deficit reduction before the end of this year. Americans deserve to know what the consequences will be if Congress fails to do its job – and they ought to know who to hold accountable for failing to make the tough decisions necessary to get it done.
“House Republicans attempting to avoid the sequester by simply 'turning off' defense cuts ought to remember that 174 members from their own party voted for the sequester – including its defense component – as part of last summer’s Budget Control Act. They joined at that time in recognizing the need for a serious deterrent in the form of the sequester’s combination of defense and non-defense cuts. I hope they will now work with Democrats to reach the big and balanced deficit solution we need this year to replace that sequester and provide businesses and families with certainty while strengthening our economy.”



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