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WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Henry Cuellar (D-TX-28) released the following statement after the U.S. House voted on FY2013 Continuing Resolution and Defense and Military Construction/Veterans Affairs Appropriations Bills.

“Today, I voted against the continuing resolution that reinforces sequestration and keeps additional cuts in place.  As a member of the House Appropriations Committee, I understand we need to make additional cuts to reduce the nation’s deficit; however making arbitrary, across the board cuts to federal funding for education, healthcare and small businesses, is not the right way to do it. The bill reinforces across the board cuts and fails to provide a solution for the hard working middle class families that live paycheck to paycheck and depend on services such as Head Start and the transportation infrastructure needs. I have talked personally to the people on the ground and they are telling me the effects of sequestration are already being felt; in the airports and ports of entry, personnel hours are being reduced, creating longer wait times. The bottom line is that at the end of the day, hard working Americans will take home less money to provide for their families. I stand with the men and women who provide border security and work so hard to protect our nation.”

 Additional facts from the continuing resolution (CR) that passed today by a vote of 267-151:

·         The CR contains a defense bill and a military construction/Veteran Affairs bill that adjusts the FY2012 funding to meet FY2013 needs, but does not provide updated FY2013 funding for federal agencies and departments such as Homeland Security, Department of Education or Department of Transportation;

·         The CR negatively affects our national security by allowing continued staffing minimums for Customs and Border Protection Officers, Border Patrol Agents, and Air and Marine officers at same level as the end of Fiscal Year 2012, resulting in more significant funding reductions for overtime, training, and critical national security equipment. It also excludes funding for aviation security and flood mitigation;

·         State and local FEMA grants will reach its lowest funding level in history limiting funds to ports and first responders.

A full report on the CR can be found here: http://1.usa.gov/13GVZUL