Washington, D.C. – Congresswoman Elise Stefanik sent a letter to House and Senate Leadership with a group of her colleagues on both sides of the aisle to express support for the ongoing budget negotiations, emphasizing the importance of a swift resolution to avoid dangerous cuts to our defense and national security spending.
“The significant progress we have made in rebuilding our nation’s military is at risk if Congress cannot come together and reach an agreement,” said Congresswoman Stefanik. “Keeping our national defense fully funded, while ensuring the government remains open and programs in the district can continue serving constituents is a top priority of mine, and critical to the security of our nation. I am encouraged by the recent developments and hope we soon reach a bipartisan deal to address the impending fiscal uncertainties.”
In part, the Members wrote:
“We write to express support for bipartisan negotiations to address the significant budgetary decisions that will face our country in the coming months. Congress must take swift and deliberate steps to provide appropriate funding for government operations, while also addressing the impending debt ceiling and budgetary spending caps. Failure to act on these items would be unacceptable for our constituents and carry devastating consequences for the physical and economic security of our nation.
As you know, legislative action is needed to prevent the triggering of sequestration mechanisms authorized under the Budget Control Act of 2011. Congress has taken significant steps in recent years to reverse the devastating consequences of budget sequestration triggered in 2013, however, lawmakers must work together to continue this progress. Absent a bipartisan agreement to avoid sequestration, across the board cuts to defense and nondefense spending will disrupt the most essential functions of our government and drastically increase economic uncertainty.
Reaching a bipartisan agreement to avoid sequestration is also critical to the appropriations process in the House and Senate. Congressional appropriators rely on budgetary agreements to inform their work and ensure the timely passage of critical funding legislation through both chambers. In the absence of a budget deal, our nation’s military and various government agencies face crippling uncertainty regarding funding for current and future operations.”
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