Hoyer Statement on Possible Furloughs of NOAA Employees

Statement

Congressman Steny H. Hoyer (MD-5) issued the following statement today after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the agency may need to furlough employees beginning in June 2013:

"I'm deeply disappointed that civilian employees at NOAA may be furloughed beginning in June because Congress has not reached an agreement to replace sequestration with a balanced alternative. Not only will these furloughs reduce the pay of our hardworking public servants, but they would also adversely affect the important work performed at our NOAA facilities, including the NOAA Center for Weather and Climate Prediction in the Fifth District, which plays a significant role in providing weather predictions and forecasts that families and businesses across the country rely on.

"I continue to urge my colleagues to reach agreement on a bipartisan, balanced solution, which includes targeted spending cuts and new revenues, to replace the sequester and prevent these furloughs from taking place. I'm hopeful that the House and Senate can go to conference on the budget and work to enact a conference agreement that is balanced and can turn off the sequester. By doing so, we can put our nation on a fiscally sustainable path, provide certainty to our federal workers and the private sector, and ensure we can invest in economic competitiveness here in Maryland and throughout the country."

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