A Message from Congressman Steny H. Hoyer

Statement

With few legislative days remaining before the end of the year, I continue to urge my colleagues in Congress to reach an agreement on a budget deal to prevent another shutdown, replace the sequester, and provide certainty to our economy. Budget conferees in the House and the Senate, who have been tasked with negotiating a budget agreement, are still working to reach a deal and, if they are able come to an agreement, I hope they will report out a balanced compromise. I have urged them to replace the irrational cuts imposed by sequestration. From furloughs at our defense installations to fewer meals for seniors through Meals on Wheels, the across-the-board sequester cuts are harmful to our national security, our economy, and our competitiveness. I'm hopeful that conferees will reach a bipartisan solution that will replace these cuts and reduces the deficit in a way that reflects our national priorities.

I have also urged conferees to not target federal employees, as they are the only working Americans who have been singled out to contribute toward our nation's fiscal challenges. Yesterday, I released a statement in support of our federal employees during these ongoing budget negotiations. In it, I said:

"I vehemently oppose efforts to target and single out these hardworking, middle-class Americans who play a critical role in maintaining the safety, security, and well-being of our nation. Federal employees and retirees have already contributed nearly $114 billion toward deficit reduction in the form of pay freezes and increased pension contributions -- on top of the unnecessary furloughs caused by the Republican-led government shutdown and their irrational sequestration policy. To continue targeting one group to carry the burden of fixing our deficits is absolutely unacceptable. This denigration of our nation's federal employees doesn't just harm our ability to recruit and retain the top-notch workforce needed to serve the American people -- it harms the American people who access the services of our government. We should be recognizing and thanking our federal employees for their hard work and important contributions to our economy and our security -- not making them into a scapegoat for our nation's challenges. I join the National Treasury Employees Union, the American Federation of Government Employees, and others in strongly urging Congress to treat our government employees with the respect and dignity they deserve."

I will continue to monitor budget negotiations and encourage conferees to reach an agreement that reduces the deficit in a balanced way, replaces sequestration, and provides certainty to working families and businesses in the Fifth District and in communities across the country. Thank you for allowing me to share this update with you and I encourage you to share your concerns and insights with me by contacting my office or connecting with me on Facebook or Twitter.

With warmest regards, I am

Sincerely yours,

Steny H. Hoyer

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