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https://polis.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=362401 Polis and Lee Push for an Equitable, Responsible Budget 2013-11-20 2013 2013-11 Democrat House CO Jared Polis P000598 polis.house.gov     legacy Today, Representatives Jared Polis (D-CO) and Barbara Lee (D-CA) sent a letter to the Chairmen of the House and Senate Budget Committees urging for parity between defense and non-defense cuts in any sequestration deal. The letter, signed by an additional 64 Members of Congress, urges the Budget Committee to repeal and replace the sequester, which is causing crushing cuts to non-defense programs, but states emphatically that any relief for defense discretionary spending programs must also provide “at least the same level of relief to non-defense discretionary spending programs.” “From 57,000 children being kicked out of Head Start, to cuts to the Meals on Wheels program that many seniors rely on every day, sequestration has disproportionally impacted low-income and middle class families in America,” stated Rep. Polis. “Just when we are ending our combat missions in Afghanistan and have ended the war in Iraq, we must not continue to favor defense spending over programs that benefit low-income and middle class families.” “At a time when we are recovering from the worst recession since the Great Depression, the across-the-board spending cuts known as sequester are pushing our nation over the cliff, especially our nation's most vulnerable,” stated Rep. Lee. “Seniors, veterans, the disabled, and families struggling with hunger can't be pushed aside, they must be protected. As we negotiate a budget, we must ensure that the vulnerable are protected and the Defense Department is included in any cuts.”  Sequestration has been particularly damaging for non-defense programs. Nearly 57,000 children have been kicked out of Head Start, many seniors can no longer rely on Meals on Wheels for their daily nutritious meals, and consumers are at risk given the FDA reducing its inspections of food manufacturing facilities by 2,100. “Due to some one-time measures, defense programs received more funding in Fiscal Year 2013 than originally planned under sequestration while non-defense programs were provided no such relief. It isn’t fair to the millions of Americans that rely on federal dollars for life-saving medical treatments; school-readiness programs; and job security, to bear the brunt of Congress’ inability to pass a comprehensive budget that provides for our national security while also improving the lives of Americans nationwide,” Polis concluded. The text of the letter, with a list of the signers, follows:                                                                November 19, 2013 The Honorable Paul Ryan                                                        The Honorable Patty Murray Chairman                                                                                Chairman Committee on the Budget                                                        Senate Budget Committee U.S. House of Representatives                                                United States Senate Washington, D.C. 20515                                                        Washington, D.C. 20510 Dear Chairman Ryan and Chairman Murray: As the Budget Conference begins work towards a responsible budget process to fund the Federal Government, it is imperative that Congress address the disastrous effects of sequestration.   While we believe Congress must repeal and replace the sequester, any attempt to provide relief from the Fiscal Year 2014 sequester for defense discretionary programs should provide at least the same level of relief to non-defense discretionary spending programs. The Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA) was clear that the $1.2 trillion in sequestration cuts between Fiscal Year 2013 and Fiscal Year 2021 would be guided by the core principle that they be divided equally between both defense and non-defense spending. The same must hold true for any attempt to undo or mitigate sequestration’s impact. Although Congress intended for both defense and non-defense programs to be treated equally under the BCA, that turned out not to be the case in the current fiscal year. In Fiscal Year 2013, due to some one-time measures, defense programs received more funding than originally slated for under the BCA. If sequestration remains in effect for Fiscal Year 2014, the BCA mandates that $109.3 billion be slashed from the federal budget, evenly split between defense programs and non-defense programs. As such, under current law, defense funding must decrease between Fiscal Year 2013 and Fiscal Year 2014. Sequestration has proven crushing for non-defense programs across the federal government. From nearly 57,000 children being kicked out of Head Start, to cuts to the Meals on Wheels program that many seniors rely on for a nutritious diet, to 2,100 fewer inspections by the Food and Drug Administration at food manufacturing facilities, Americans from all across the country are feeling the negative effects of sequestration. What’s more, the harmful sequester is disproportionally impacting low-income and middle class families,   leading to reductions in critical public services and creating a drag on the overall economy. The devastating impact of these cuts has been magnified by the recent government shutdown. We hope that Congress will recognize these harmful effects and replace all of the sequestration cuts with more sensible measures. However, in the absence of a comprehensive solution, any relief from the $109 billion in FY 2014 sequestration cuts must maintain parity between defense and non-defense programs. To provide further special treatment to the Pentagon would discount the needs of millions of Americans who rely on federal dollars for life-saving medical treatments; school-readiness programs; housing; research and innovation; job security; and food safety, among numerous other programs that have been automatically reduced. We thank you for your consideration and your attention to this request. Sincerely,    Jared Polis                                                  Barbara Lee  Member of Congress                                  Member of Congress  James P. McGovern                               Raúl Grijalva  Member of Congress                                  Member of Congress  Gwen Moore                                              Alan Grayson   Member of Congress                                  Member of Congress  Charles Rangel                                            Jerrold Nadler   Member of Congress                                  Member of Congress  Chellie Pingree                                            Frederica S. Wilson   Member of Congress                                  Member of Congress  Alan Lowenthal                                           Jared Huffman   Member of Congress                                  Member of Congress   Mike Quigley                                              Alcee L. Hastings  Member of Congress                                  Member of Congress  John Conyers                                             Mark Takano  Member of Congress                                 Member of Congress  John Lewis                                                 Ed Pastor        Member of Congress                                 Member of Congress  Hakeem S. Jeffries                                     Suzanne Bonamici  Member of Congress                                 Member of Congress   Henry “Hank” Johnson Jr.                          Eric Swalwell    Member of Congress                                 Member of Congress    Michael H. Michaud                                  Susan Davis      Member of Congress                                 Member of Congress  Maxine Waters                                          Al Green   Member of Congress                                 Member of Congress   Sheila Jackson Lee                                    Elijah E. Cummings     Member of Congress                                Member of Congress    Eddie Bernice Johnson                              David Scott      Member of Congress                                Member of Congress    Carolyn McCarthy                                    Mark Pocan      Member of Congress                                Member of Congress   Gloria Negrete McLeod                           Robin Kelly    Member of Congress                               Member of Congress   Lois Frankel                                            José E. Serrano  Member of Congress                               Member of Congress  William R. Keating                                   Mike Honda    Member of Congress                               Member of Congress   Nydia M. Velázquez                                Carolyn Maloney                                           Member of Congress                               Member of Congress                                    Mel Watt                                                 Lucille Roybal-Allard                                   Member of Congress                               Member of Congress                                   Donald Payne, Jr.                                    Paul Tonko                                                  Member of Congress                              Member of Congress                                    Yvette Clarke                                          Kurt Schrader  Member of Congress                              Member of Congress  Keith Ellison                                           Steve Cohen  Member of Congress                              Member of Congress  Tony Cárdenas                                       Louise Slaughter  Member of Congress                              Member of Congress  Jim Moran                                              Judy Chu  Member of Congress                              Member of Congress  Sam Farr                                                Marc Veasey            Member of Congress                              Member of Congress  Danny K. Davis                                      David Cicilline  Member of Congress                              Member of Congress  Gregory W. Meeks                                Peter Welch  Member of Congress                             Member of Congress  Donna M. Christensen                            Janice D. Schakowsky  Member of Congress                             Member of Congress  Earl Blumenauer                                    George Miller  Member of Congress                             Member of Congress  Marcia L. Fudge                                   John Garamendi  Member of Congress                            Member of Congress  Luis Gutierrez  Member of Congress 1 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z 2026-03-30T12:14:52Z