Van Hollen: We Should Address the Issue at the Airports – But We Need to Address Other Sequester Issues Right Now

Washington, DC – Today Maryland Congressman Chris Van Hollen, Ranking Member of the House Budget Committee, spoke on the floor of the House of Representatives in opposition to the Reducing Flight Delays Act of 2013. Video and a transcript of his floor speech are below:

“Thank you, Mr. Speaker. After the vote on this today, Members of this House are going to run for the airports. They’re all going to be flying home on airplanes. And, yes, they will make it easier for Members of Congress to get through those lines. And they will pat themselves on the back and say job well done.

“Well, obviously we should address the issue at the airports – but we need to address the other issues right now. And not make it easier for Members of Congress to fly home for a week away, when we should be a week right here, making sure we do not see the negative impacts of the sequester grind on for those kids in Head Start, for the seniors on Meals on Wheels, for folks who are doing important, life-saving research.

“Look, Mr. Speaker, four times this year we have offered a proposal to replace the entire sequester – to achieve the same deficit reduction without the kind of damage that’s been done. And four times we haven’t even had a chance to vote on the floor of this House.

“Now we’re simply asking to go to conference. And our Republican colleagues complain that the Senate didn’t pass a budget – they got one. Let’s go to conference rather than go home.

“Thank you.”

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