Newsletter: Congressman Hoyer Invites Constituents to Participate in Telephone Town Hall on Sequestration

Statement

With just a week left for Congress to take action, I am calling on my colleagues to work together on a balanced plan to prevent the automatic spending cuts imposed by sequestration. These irrational spending cuts, which were meant to compel Congress to agree on a long-term, comprehensive deficit reduction plan, could have serious and harmful consequences in Maryland's Fifth District. Our military installations and federal facilities could experience drastic cuts, our federal employees could face furloughs, our first-responders could lose personnel, and families and small businesses could be affected by cuts to critical investments in education, innovation, infrastructure, and other areas.

In addition to costing Maryland $1.3 billion in Defense Department spending in and around military facilities, Governor O'Malley's office has identified how sequestration could impact thousands of families across our state:

As many as 350 teachers could lose their jobs and 650 fewer children could be enrolled in Head Start.
Up to 10,000 low income households could see their heating assistance reduced or eliminated.
Cuts to the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program could mean reductions for 8,600 individuals.
The over 10,000 Marylanders seeking job training and placement services could have to wait an extra month.
Maryland families cannot afford these irrational spending cuts, which is why I am urging Congress to take a balanced approach to replace the sequester or delay it as negotiations for a larger agreement continue.

I know this issue is very important to Fifth District residents, which is why I am hosting a telephone town hall to discuss this with you on Monday, February 25 at 7:05 PM. Citizens living in Maryland's Fifth Congressional District (Calvert, Charles and St. Mary's counties and portions of Prince George's and Anne Arundel counties) are invited to call in and hear an update on how I am working to address this issue and will have the opportunity to ask questions. To participate in this call, dial (877) 229-8493 and enter the PIN 12897 when prompted. I look forward to talking with you on Monday evening.

As always, thank you for allowing me to share this update with you, and please continue to share your concerns and insights with me by contacting my office or connecting with me on Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube.

With warmest regards, I am

Sincerely yours,
Steny H. Hoyer

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