13-R078
2013 -- S 0435
Enacted 02/27/13
S E N A T E R E
S O L U T I O N
RESPECTFULLY
URGING THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS TO WORK TOGETHER TO AVOID THE HARMFUL EFFECTS
OF THE SEQUESTER, HALT THE IMMEDIATE CUTS FACING RHODE ISLANDERS, AND DEVELOP A
BALANCED AND RESPONSIBLE PLAN TO MANAGE THE NATION'S LONG-TERM DEBT
Introduced By: Senators Paiva Weed, Algiere, Ruggerio, Walaska, and DiPalma
Date Introduced: February 27, 2013
WHEREAS, As mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011, and because
Congress
failed to pass a bill reducing the federal deficit by $1.2
trillion dollars, that amount will be
automatically sequestered through across-the-board federal budget
cuts from mandatory and
discretionary spending in the years 2013 through 2021, unless
Congress takes alternate action;
and
WHEREAS, In FY 2013
alone, sequestration has been reported to result in an estimated
$85 billion in automatic spending cuts across the
nation; and
WHEREAS, According to a recent report released by the White House,
stands to lose an estimated $39.34 million in federal funds
in the year 2013 alone; and
WHEREAS, That report shows that most of these cuts will be felt
within the state’s
critical defense industry, along with significant cuts to
low-income students to help finance college; funds for Health
Start and Early Head Start services;
programs to protect the environment and promote clean air and
water; funds for public health
programs; funds for meal assistance programs for the elderly;
funds for job search and referral
programs for the unemployed; and funds for crime prevention
and law enforcement programs,
among other reductions; and
WHEREAS, That report also shows that roughly 5,000 civilian U.S.
Department of
Defense employees in our state will lose an
anticipated gross pay cut of about $31.5 million due
to salary reductions; and
WHEREAS, In addition, an
expected $800,000 reduction in defense operation funding is
anticipated for
WHEREAS, These defense-related reductions, alone, will significantly
disrupt the lives
of those impacted, and will hurt the overall spending
and economy of
rest of our state; and
WHEREAS, The continuing lack of certainty regarding federal funding
leaves Rhode
Island with the near-impossible challenge of meeting
the needs of those who will be directly and
immediately harmed by sequestration, while balancing our state
budget without knowing how
much federal funding the state can confidently expect;
now, therefore be it
RESOLVED, That this
Senate of the State of
hereby recognizes the need for the
manage its long-term debt, but believes this should be done
in a balanced and responsible manner
that does not jeopardize the state's vulnerable working
families and the nation’s still fragile
economic recovery; and be it further
RESOLVED,
That this Senate hereby respectfully urges Congress to
work together to
avoid the harmful effects of the sequester, halt the
immediate cuts facing Rhode Islanders, and
develop a balanced and responsible plan to manage the
nation’s long-term debt; and be it further
RESOLVED
That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to
transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the clerk
of the United States House of
Representatives, the clerk
of the United States Senate, and to members of the
Congressional
Delegation.
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LC01889
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