Van Hollen Introduces Updated House Democratic Sequester Replacement

Washington, DC – Last night Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, introduced the House Democrats’ updated sequester replacement bill. The legislation would completely replace the across-the-board cuts through fiscal year 2014, while continuing to call for a balanced solution to stop the full multi-year sequester.

“The GOP is clearly content to continue the deep, arbitrary sequester cuts – House Republicans have failed to offer their own solution this Congress and blocked a vote on our proposal four times, and many have even publicly declared they want the sequester remain in effect,” said Congressman Van Hollen. “They also refuse to move the budget process forward, which would allow Congress to address the sequester.”

“We’ve already started to see the consequences of these harmful cuts. At a time when we should be doing everything we can to boost job growth, the Congressional Budget Office estimates the sequester will cost 750,000 jobs in this year alone. These cuts also mean kids forced out of Head Start, seniors kicked off Meals on Wheels, and critical investments in research and technology slashed. Yet Washington Republicans refuse to act,” Van Hollen added. “House Democrats will keep working to replace the sequester and fighting for working families. It’s time for the GOP to join that effort instead of refusing to even negotiate.”

The balanced plan contains $181 billion in deficit reduction, which will more than replace the sequester through fiscal year 2014. The package is roughly half revenue and half cuts (54 percent and 46 percent, respectively). To read a summary of the legislation, click here.

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