“It is estimated that, with sequestration, more than 15,000 children will not receive vaccinations for diseases such as measles, whooping cough, and influenza, and 8,200 children will be eliminated from federally funded early childhood education programs such as Head Start. This is unacceptable, and Congress must fix it”, said Rep. McLeod.
On December 3, 2013 Rep. Negrete McLeod of California asked for and as granted permission to address the United States House of Representatives for one minute regarding budget “sequestration.”
The budget sequestration in 2013 refers to the automatic spending cuts to federal government spending in particular categories of outlays that were initially set to begin on January 1, 2013, as an austerity fiscal policy as a result of Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA), and were postponed by two months by the American Taxpayer Relief Act 2012 until March 1 when this law went into effect.
“Mr. Speaker, as budget negotiations move forward, Congress must remain committed to work in a bipartisan manner to find reasonable solutions to create jobs, expand the economy, and strengthen the middle class, while continuing to reduce the deficit in a responsible way.”
“To do so, Congress must lift the across-the-board sequester cuts that are inflicting damage to communities across the Nation. There is no question that we need to cut the deficit, but we should do so without cutting programs that seniors, veterans, small business owners, students, and our children rely on. In California, it is estimated that, with sequestration, more than 15,000 children will not receive vaccinations for diseases such as measles, whooping cough, and influenza, and 8,200 children will be eliminated from federally funded early childhood education programs such as Head Start. This is unacceptable, and Congress must fix it”, she said.
“After the extensive damage done by the government shutdown that cost the economy $24 billion, according to an assessment by Standard & Poor’s, we must avoid another shutdown and another crisis by passing a budget that does away with sequestration. Americans cannot afford budget policies that weaken our economy, squeeze the middle class, and cost hundreds of thousands of jobs. Congress needs to come to a compromise on a real spending plan that will increase revenue rather than just slashing critical programs. Congress needs to make sure that Medicare and Medicaid are protected and strengthened. Mr. Speaker, I stand ready to support a commonsense, job-creating budget”, said Rep. Negrete McLeod (source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov).
See video: Sequestration – NCLR, Amigoes for kids, and meals on wheels http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5h8jTeQr0oo