Republicans Advance Flawed Legislation This week marked the beginning of civilian Defense Department employee furloughs, which are the result of Congress’ failure to replace the arbitrary and untargeted spending cuts known as the sequester. These furloughs undermine their ability to support our war-fighters and impede our ability to recruit and retain the qualified federal workforce our nation needs and expects. I share the frustration of our civilian defense workers who support installations across the country, and will continue to strongly advocate for a bipartisan solution that will stop the sequester and end these unnecessary and unfair furloughs. Ending the sequester will require that House Republican leadership appoint conferees so that we can finish our work on a budget and negotiate a balanced and bipartisan solution to our deficits. It has been over 100 days since the Senate passed their budget, yet House Republicans refuse to work towards a final budget that sets responsible spending levels. Instead, Republicans are passing appropriations bills at the extreme Ryan-Republican budget levels. This week, Republicans passed a partisan Energy and Water Appropriations bill that makes drastic cuts to energy research, renewable energy, energy efficiency programs and water infrastructure projects. Congress should be supporting these programs, [...]
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