Sequestration Targets Department of Defense Civilian Workers

Floor Speech

Mr. WILSON of South Carolina. Mr. Speaker, this month, in Politico, Todd Harrison, a defense analyst at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, warned of the impacts that sequestration will have on the Department of Defense civilian work force if action is not taken.

If sequestration is implemented, Harrison warns the Department of Defense civilian employees ``could see, 10, 15 or even a higher percentage being laid off or furloughed shortly after sequestration goes into effect.'' Over 200,000 jobs are at risk in the State of Virginia alone.

I support Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon's efforts to protect our national security, and also to protect up to one million jobs that will be destroyed as a result of sequestration. Job loss could be as high as 2.14 million.

With a record unemployment rate now of 8 percent for over the past 41 months, the President and Senate should adopt bills that have already been passed by the House.

In conclusion, God bless our troops, and we will never forget September the 11th in the global war on terrorism.

Source