San Diego Reps. Juan Vargas, Scott Peters and Susan Davis Urge Speaker Boehner to Stop Mindless Cuts
Washington, DC (March 6, 2013) – Congressman Juan Vargas (CA-51), Congressman Scott Peters (CA-52) and Congresswoman Susan Davis (CA-53) joined in one strong, unified voice to demand that Speaker Boehner end sequestration and find a balanced, more humane approach to reduce the nation’s deficit. “We cannot stand by and willingly allow these draconian and ruthless cuts to take place,” stated Rep. Juan Vargas.
The members of Congress, all of whom represent portions of San Diego County, wrote a letter to the Speaker detailing the devastating impacts that sequestration would have on the Southern California region. "These cuts will pull the rug out from our recovering economy. Nothing proposed so far provides the balance needed to really get our house in order for both the near and far term. We have the power to do what’s right. I hope my way too idealogical colleagues will come to the table and be more about growing our economy, not about stunting it,” said Rep. Susan Davis.
The letter outlined the impacts San Diego’s region will endure through the cuts made to the area’s technology and defense industries. San Diego is home to world-class universities and technology firms, many of which receive millions of dollars in research funding. The sequester would stop critical research in biomedical sciences, cut jobs and stifle forward progress and innovation. In addition, the defense cuts would result in a loss of 30,000 jobs, as defense spending is responsible for 25% of San Diego’s GDP.
“People in San Diego and across the country are counting on us to find a solution to the sequester so that we can continue our recovery and growth and continue to stay safe. Let’s turn the indiscriminate cuts of the sequester into targeted cuts that are a part of a larger deficit reduction strategy,” commented Rep. Scott Peters.
Committed to finding a fair and comprehensive solution, Vargas said, “As members of Congress, it is our responsibility to take action and defend the well-being of our nation, military, children and working families. We must implement a plan that will eliminate these tragic and unwarranted spending cuts.”