Preventing Paygo Sequestration

Floor Speech

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Ms. CRAIG. Mr. Speaker, last week we passed the American Rescue Plan to help our Nation get through a COVID-19 public health and economic crisis. This historic legislation is already helping millions of Americans and hundreds of thousands of Minnesotans.

When I think about this piece of legislation, it is widely, on a bipartisan basis, supported in a swing district like mine back in Minnesota. But if Congress fails to take action--and we are not going to let that happen--to prevent sequestration, countless Federal programs that our constituents rely on could be impacted.

If we fail to pass H.R. 1868, cuts to programs at USDA could devastate family farmers who are already reeling after years of trade instability and stupid trade wars. We must act because we cannot allow cuts to Medicare, risking seniors' access to care at a time when they need it the most, in the midst of a deadly global pandemic.

Mr. Speaker, I urge all of my colleagues to vote ``yes'' on this crucial legislation to ensure that the Federal Government can meet the needs of Minnesotans and the American people during a public health crisis. This body that I joined just over 2 years ago; this body has come together numerous times to make sure that we do not allow sequestration to take cuts for worse ideas than helping the American people through a public health crisis.

Mr. Speaker, I ask my colleagues to please support this bill today.

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