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Congresswoman Virginia Foxx (R-NC) issued the following statement today in response to the House of Representatives’ bipartisan decision to pass the Sequester Transparency Act (H.R. 5872), the latest in a series of actions taken by House Republicans to avert and draw attention to the devastating, nonstrategic funding cuts set to hit the United States Military in 2013:

“Few Congressional responsibilities rise above the Constitutional imperative to provide for the strong national defense of the United States of America. What we know from military personnel at all levels is that if the defense sequester takes effect on January 1, the consequences will be ‘devastating,’ leaving the United States with its smallest ground force since the World War II era and a decimated technological arms advantage. Gutting our military in this manner does not have to happen, though. Congress has a choice.

“House Republicans have chosen to find a better savings solution that doesn’t compromise national security or put 200,000 of America’s men and women in uniform in a position of uncertainty.

“Our proposals to maintain a strong national defense by countering the sequester with strategic cuts from other areas of government have been met with inaction in the Senate, just like more than thirty Republican jobs bills. If the President and Senate refuse to put forth a sequestration solution of their own, the least they can do is be honest with the American people about the real impact a weaker military will have on the economy and national security. That honesty will be compelled by the Sequester Transparency Act.”

The Sequester Transparency Act requires President Obama to submit a report to Congress detailing how his administration plans to implement the budget sequestration cuts scheduled to take effect January 2013. The report must include an estimate of the sequestration percentages and amounts necessary to achieve the reduction for each spending category.

In addition to the Sequester Transparency Act, the House is scheduled to vote Wednesday on the Department of Defense Appropriations Act (H.R. 5856) that reflects House Republican solutions to the sequester consistent with those passed in the Sequester Replacement Reconciliation Act (H.R. 5652) in April which more than offset the cost of the sequester through targeted deficit reduction.

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