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But Long-term Solution to Federal Budget Still Needed
Last night, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) introduced legislation (S. 788) to suspend the Fiscal Year (FY) 2013 sequester cuts. The bill creates an opportunity for members of Congress to work together to reach a long-term budget solution that begins to undo some of the damage that sequestration has caused for America’s workers, businesses, and families.
National Skills Coalition (NSC) released the following statement by Rachel Gragg, federal policy director for National Skills Coalition, on the introduction of the bill:
“National Skills Coalition supports Senator Reid’s efforts to stop the damaging sequester that is projected to cost 750,000 jobs, erode America’s infrastructure, and shut the door on hard-working individuals trying to get the skills they need for the family-sustaining jobs that are being created today and in the future. Employment and job training programs cannot absorb the cuts from sequestration, which come on top of the more than $1 billion that has already been cut since 2010. These cuts impact real people – including the 160,000 people across the country already on waiting lists for adult education classes that now won't get in because funding has dried up.
While Senator Reid’s bill is a step in the right direction, it is only a temporary solution. Congress, Democrats and Republicans, must be willing to come to the table to negotiate a long-term budget solution. Congress can’t continue kicking the can down the road every few months. Workers and businesses demand Congress find a balanced solution that doesn’t make further cuts to programs that address our nation’s skills gap and instead invests in America’s workers. ”
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