Sequestration is Here

Floor Speech

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Madam Speaker, at midnight tonight, the Department of Defense and other government agencies will fall victim to the President's sequester. Every American family will be affected by the shifting of funds.

In South Carolina's Second Congressional District, which I am grateful to represent, the Army's base at Fort Jackson in Columbia is expected to lose $75 million. Additionally, the Savannah River Site in Aiken and Barnwell will be forced to furlough thousands of hardworking employees and stall critical national missions due to a possible $200 million budget cut. Both of these shifts will endanger our national security.

The President and the Senate have refused to negotiate with House Republicans on a possible solution until today. House Republicans have voted twice to avoid sequestration. Our Nation has a spending problem we must address before it is too late and our debt spirals out of control. The President should change course and begin working with both Houses of Congress to tackle the national debt which threatens American families.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Source