WASHINGTON, DC – Congressman Jim Langevin (D-RI) released the following statement on sequestration going into effect today:

“These cuts, which treat our highest priorities the same as our lowest priorities, are unacceptable and will harm Rhode Island with steep reductions in areas like education and job training, as well as losses for our biomedical research sector and defense contractors. We should not have gotten to this point, but there is still time to avert the worst consequences of sequestration if both parties recognize that the only way to get our fiscal house in order while making the investments that create jobs is to include new revenue in the budget.

“Democrats have put forward a solution to replace sequestration with a balanced deficit reduction plan. It continues to cut spending, while generating revenue by enacting a minimum tax on millionaires, ending tax breaks for companies that send jobs overseas and closing tax loopholes for oil and gas companies making record profits. I continue to implore my Republican colleagues to end their hard line approach that values tax protections above everything else. We need a vote to put this crisis behind us and move our country forward.”