Today, Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) sent a letter to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Budget Committees urging for parity between defense and non-defense cuts in any sequestration deal. The letter, signed by an additional 64 Members of Congress, urges the Budget Committee to repeal and replace the sequester, which is causing crushing cuts to non-defense programs, but states emphatically that any relief for defense discretionary spending programs must also provide “at least the same level of relief to non-defense discretionary spending programs.”
“From 57,000 children being kicked out of Head Start, to cuts to the Meals on Wheels program that many seniors rely on every day, sequestration has disproportionally impacted low-income and middle class families in America,” stated Rep. Polis. “Just when we are ending our combat missions in Afghanistan and have ended the war in Iraq, we must not continue to favor defense spending over programs that benefit low-income and middle class families.”
“At a time when we are recovering from the worst recession since the Great Depression, the across-the-board spending cuts known as sequester are pushing our nation over the cliff, especially our nation's most vulnerable,” stated Rep. Lee. “Seniors, veterans, the disabled, and families struggling with hunger can't be pushed aside, they must be protected. As we negotiate a budget, we must ensure that the vulnerable are protected and the Defense Department is included in any cuts.”
Sequestration has been particularly damaging for non-defense programs. Nearly 57,000 children have been kicked out of Head Start, many seniors can no longer rely on Meals on Wheels for their daily nutritious meals, and consumers are at risk given the FDA reducing its inspections of food manufacturing facilities by 2,100.
“Due to some one-time measures, defense programs received more funding in Fiscal Year 2013 than originally planned under sequestration while non-defense programs were provided no such relief. It isn’t fair to the millions of Americans that rely on federal dollars for life-saving medical treatments; school-readiness programs; and job security, to bear the brunt of Congress’ inability to pass a comprehensive budget that provides for our national security while also improving the lives of Americans nationwide,” Polis concluded.
The text of the letter, with a list of the signers, follows:
November 19, 2013
The Honorable Paul Ryan The Honorable Patty Murray
Chairman Chairman
Committee on the Budget Senate Budget Committee
U.S. House of Representatives United States Senate
Washington, D.C. 20515 Washington, D.C. 20510
Dear Chairman Ryan and Chairman Murray:
As the Budget Conference begins work towards a responsible budget process to fund the Federal Government, it is imperative that Congress address the disastrous effects of sequestration. While we believe Congress must repeal and replace the sequester, any attempt to provide relief from the Fiscal Year 2014 sequester for defense discretionary programs should provide at least the same level of relief to non-defense discretionary spending programs. The Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA) was clear that the $1.2 trillion in sequestration cuts between Fiscal Year 2013 and Fiscal Year 2021 would be guided by the core principle that they be divided equally between both defense and non-defense spending. The same must hold true for any attempt to undo or mitigate sequestration’s impact.
Although Congress intended for both defense and non-defense programs to be treated equally under the BCA, that turned out not to be the case in the current fiscal year. In Fiscal Year 2013, due to some one-time measures, defense programs received more funding than originally slated for under the BCA. If sequestration remains in effect for Fiscal Year 2014, the BCA mandates that $109.3 billion be slashed from the federal budget, evenly split between defense programs and non-defense programs. As such, under current law, defense funding must decrease between Fiscal Year 2013 and Fiscal Year 2014.
Sequestration has proven crushing for non-defense programs across the federal government. From nearly 57,000 children being kicked out of Head Start, to cuts to the Meals on Wheels program that many seniors rely on for a nutritious diet, to 2,100 fewer inspections by the Food and Drug Administration at food manufacturing facilities, Americans from all across the country are feeling the negative effects of sequestration. What’s more, the harmful sequester is disproportionally impacting low-income and middle class families, leading to reductions in critical public services and creating a drag on the overall economy. The devastating impact of these cuts has been magnified by the recent government shutdown.
We hope that Congress will recognize these harmful effects and replace all of the sequestration cuts with more sensible measures. However, in the absence of a comprehensive solution, any relief from the $109 billion in FY 2014 sequestration cuts must maintain parity between defense and non-defense programs. To provide further special treatment to the Pentagon would discount the needs of millions of Americans who rely on federal dollars for life-saving medical treatments; school-readiness programs; housing; research and innovation; job security; and food safety, among numerous other programs that have been automatically reduced.
We thank you for your consideration and your attention to this request.
Sincerely,
Jared Polis Barbara Lee
Member of Congress Member of Congress
James P. McGovern Raúl Grijalva
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Gwen Moore Alan Grayson
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Charles Rangel Jerrold Nadler
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Chellie Pingree Frederica S. Wilson
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Alan Lowenthal Jared Huffman
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Mike Quigley Alcee L. Hastings
Member of Congress Member of Congress
John Conyers Mark Takano
Member of Congress Member of Congress
John Lewis Ed Pastor
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Hakeem S. Jeffries Suzanne Bonamici
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Henry “Hank” Johnson Jr. Eric Swalwell
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Michael H. Michaud Susan Davis
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Maxine Waters Al Green
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Sheila Jackson Lee Elijah E. Cummings
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Eddie Bernice Johnson David Scott
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Carolyn McCarthy Mark Pocan
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Gloria Negrete McLeod Robin Kelly
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Lois Frankel José E. Serrano
Member of Congress Member of Congress
William R. Keating Mike Honda
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Nydia M. Velázquez Carolyn Maloney
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Mel Watt Lucille Roybal-Allard
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Donald Payne, Jr. Paul Tonko
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Yvette Clarke Kurt Schrader
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Keith Ellison Steve Cohen
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Tony Cárdenas Louise Slaughter
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Jim Moran Judy Chu
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Sam Farr Marc Veasey
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Danny K. Davis David Cicilline
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Gregory W. Meeks Peter Welch
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Donna M. Christensen Janice D. Schakowsky
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Earl Blumenauer George Miller
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Marcia L. Fudge John Garamendi
Member of Congress Member of Congress
Luis Gutierrez
Member of Congress
