Today, Congresswoman Tammy Duckworth (IL-8) delivered remarks on the floor of the House of Representatives calling for Congress to reach a balanced solution to avoid sequestration. The text of the remarks and the link to the video of the speech are below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k73zCiiwZKQ&feature=youtu.be

Mr. Speaker,

At Harper College, school superintendents told me that sequestration will cut vital
programs and jeopardize the future of our children.

In Hanover Park, I listened to officials discussing desperately needed transportation Investments. With sequestration, we will lose both construction jobs and potential new investments in our business parks.

In Itasca, Veterans who would sacrifice everything for our nation, wonder why Congress can’t come together to stop cuts that will hurt our country. They didn’t go home until they got their mission accomplished and we shouldn’t go home until we resolve this self-inflicted crisis.

Both parties agreed to the sequester. The time for finger pointing and assigning blame is over.

We should immediately vote on and pass common sense measures, like stopping Medicare fraud, ending subsidies for oil and gas industries and ending tax loop holes for large corporations.

I ask unanimous consent to bring up H.R. 699, a balanced bill to replace the sequester with spending cuts and revenues. A measure that would save thousands of jobs.

Thank you Mr. Speaker