On the recordMay 21, 2013
To me, what has been more shocking than the sequester, itself, has been the response to it, or lack thereof, on the part of House leadership. Are they listening to those on our streets and in our neighborhoods? Maybe the country is simply numbed by its repugnance of this Congress and the last. The sequester harms the American people, particularly the middle class and our children. My district in Queens, New York, is decidedly and truly middle class; and every day constituents tell me how the sequester is hurting their families and their futures. It will cost America over 750,000 jobs this year, including police, firefighters, public defenders, and border agents. We need to come to a compromise on a real spending plan that will increase revenue rather than slashing critical programs. The American people need us to speak up for our priorities and our values. The silence is disturbing. The sequester is not okay. ____________________
