Nita Lowey: “I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the ranking member and the distinguished leader of the committee that funds health…”

“I am pleased to yield 5 minutes to the ranking member and the distinguished leader of the committee that funds health, education, and labor, the Congresswoman from Connecticut (Ms. DeLauro). Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this resolution, which has only marginally improved since the last time we voted on it. This makes deep, permanent, indiscriminate, and harmful sequestration cuts that threaten our economic recovery. These are automatic across-the-board cuts. It hurts our economic recovery and the health and well-being and future of millions of American families. Both the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office and Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke have argued that the sequestration could cost us as many as 750,000 jobs. And that is not all. {time} 0940 This resolution will make unnecessary cuts to vital programs that support families around the country. And these cuts will weigh heaviest on the people we should be helping the most to get back on their feet, the most vulnerable American families still struggling from the Great Recession. A vote against this resolution is not a vote for a government shutdown. Speaker Boehner has pledged on multiple occasions that he will not let the government shut down. You don't have to support this resolution and sequestration to avoid a shutdown.…”