Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014

Floor Speech

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Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, I rise in opposition to this continuing resolution, which is part of a reckless plan from our Republican colleagues to shut down the United States government unless we shut down the Affordable Care Act, a law that is already providing protections to children in this country with pre-existing conditions and seniors on Medicare with high drug costs.

Moreover, as the Republican majority plans to potentially shut down the government, they refuse to take action on the sequester, which is causing real harm to our economy. The independent, nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office (CBO) says that at this time next year we could have up to 1.6 million fewer jobs in this country as a result of the sequester. We could see economic growth cut in half.

The Democrats have a proposal to replace the sequester with targeted cuts over a period of time to big tax breaks like oil and gas subsidies. This is a plan that would achieve even more deficit reduction without the job-killing, meat-ax cuts to the programs that grow our economy.

Our country needs practical solutions, not self-inflicted economic wounds. I urge my colleagues to oppose this damaging continuing resolution and bring up my legislation to replace the sequester and avoid a government shutdown.

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