Donald M. Payne: “I want to thank my good friends and colleagues--Congressman Horsford from Nevada and Congressman Jeffries from New York…”

“I want to thank my good friends and colleagues--Congressman Horsford from Nevada and Congressman Jeffries from New York, across the water from me--for once again anchoring this Special Order for the CBC on the impact of sequestration. I came to Washington to work--to serve the hardworking families and individuals in my district who have been disproportionately impacted by this economy. I came to Washington to spur growth and development for the sake of this country's economic future. Unfortunately, my colleagues on the other side oppose any effort that would support this mission. Sadly, the only growth and development that the Republican leadership has spurred has been the development of lies and the growth of fear among the American people. We now face the drastic cuts of sequestration because the Republican leadership in Congress refuses to adopt a balanced approach to our Nation's deficit and debt. Instead, they push drastic measures that would only further depress this economy. The fact is that it is impossible to reduce Federal debts without a healthy economy, and a healthy economy will not develop as a result of sporadic cuts but, rather, as a result of increased revenue, in part by an increased volume of working people who earn income and pay taxes. This is common sense; yet the sequester and everything the Republican leadership has proposed undermines the current and future workforce, and it disproportionately harms low-income families and individuals.…”