On the recordNovember 28, 2012
I would like to congratulate my good friend and colleague Jan Schakowsky for her incredible leadership in this body and for organizing this Special Order that focuses on the impact of sequestration on women, children, and families. It's very important. Just yesterday, Jan, there was a report that came out from the National Economic Council and the Council of Economic Advisers which said that if we go over this fiscal cliff--if we do sequestration--that it would cut consumer spending by $200 billion. So, by having a consensus on the budget and a financial plan that is fair and balanced going forward, it could be $200 billion in stimulus. On top of that stimulus, there would be business and market stimulus just by having some certainty in where we're going. Having an agreement that is fair and balanced is critical for the overall economy, but the impact on women and children and on some of our most vulnerable would be devastating. That's why your particular focus today in this Special Order is so important. The United States currently ranks about 50th in the world in infant mortality. In Morocco, 1.8 infants under 1 year of age die for every 1,000 live births each year. In Japan, the number is 2.2. In the United States, to our shame, the number is six. From New Zealand to all other advanced countries around the world, they do much better than the United States in this most fundamental measure of health and well- being.…
