May 10, 2012

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Today, the U.S. House of Representatives voted to approve a budget reconciliation proposal that would prevent cuts in funding for national security programs. The sequestration of these funds was required as part of the Budget Control Act signed into law in August 2011.

"It is unfortunate that, despite agreement on both sides of the aisle that sequestration is not the right approach, extreme ideologues have chosen to take a partisan approach to addressing the across the board cuts that are scheduled to go into effect next year," said Congressman Jason Altmire (PA-04) after voting against the legislation. "Continuing with this all-or-nothing approach to governing is doing nothing to address the needs of western Pennsylvanians, and will only set us further back on our road to recovery."

Under the proposal approved by the House today, the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act of 2012 will replace $78 billion of the $110 billion sequester with spending cuts to important programs for American families and programs aimed at protecting consumers. The House approved the legislation by a vote of 218 to 199.