U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Contact: Vaughn Jennings 202-225-2211

Washington, Jul 18 - Today, Congressman John Sullivan voted for H.R. 5872, the Sequestration Transparency Act of 2012, legislation forcing the Obama Administration to detail how they intend to implement the devastating defense sequester cuts scheduled to take affect on January 2, 2013.  Following House passage of the bill, Sullivan offered the following statement:
 
“I don’t think President Obama fully understands the impact these devastating defense cuts will have on our military capabilities or our economy – otherwise he would work towards a bipartisan solution to stop it.  The automatic defense sequestration cuts would be disastrous to our national security, the men and women who serve and our overall economy – according to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta, it could result in up to 1.5 million Americans losing their jobs and a 1 percent increase in the unemployment rate.  House Republicans have already passed a responsible alternative deficit reduction package to protect our military by fully replacing the sequester, however President Obama threatened to veto the bill – he is playing a dangerous game of political chicken at the expense of our national and economic security.”
 
“Since President Obama and Senate Democrats refuse to act, my Republican colleagues and I are stepping up the plate and demanding answers.  The bill we passed today brings transparency to the process by forcing the Obama Administration to come clean with the American people and provide details on exactly how they intend implement the sequestration process.  We live in a dangerous, post 9/11 world and must place a high priority on ensuring our defense capabilities remain strong – you would think our commander in chief could identify something else in the bloated federal budget he was willing to cut instead of critical defense spending.”