2013 -- S 0435

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013

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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

     Referred To: Recommended for Immediate Consideration

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     WHEREAS, As mandated by the Budget Control Act of 2011, and because Congress

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failed to pass a bill reducing the federal deficit by $1.2 trillion dollars, that amount will be

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automatically sequestered through across-the-board federal budget cuts from mandatory and

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discretionary spending in the years 2013 through 2021, unless Congress takes alternate action;

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and

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     WHEREAS, In FY 2013 alone, sequestration has been reported to result in an estimated

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$85 billion in automatic spending cuts across the nation; and

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     WHEREAS, According to a recent report released by the White House, Rhode Island

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stands to lose an estimated $39.34 million in federal funds in the year 2013 alone; and

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     WHEREAS, That report shows that most of these cuts will be felt within the state’s

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critical defense industry, along with significant cuts to Rhode Island’s teachers and schools; aid to

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low-income students to help finance college; funds for Health Start and Early Head Start services;

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programs to protect the environment and promote clean air and water; funds for public health

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programs; funds for meal assistance programs for the elderly; funds for job search and referral

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programs for the unemployed; and funds for crime prevention and law enforcement programs,

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among other reductions; and

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     WHEREAS, That report also shows that roughly 5,000 civilian U.S. Department of

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Defense employees in our state will lose an anticipated gross pay cut of about $31.5 million due

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to salary reductions; and

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     WHEREAS, In addition, an expected $800,000 reduction in defense operation funding is

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anticipated for Rhode Island; and

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     WHEREAS, These defense-related reductions, alone, will significantly disrupt the lives

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of those impacted, and will hurt the overall spending and economy of Aquidneck Island and the

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rest of our state; and

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     WHEREAS, The continuing lack of certainty regarding federal funding leaves Rhode

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Island with the near-impossible challenge of meeting the needs of those who will be directly and

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immediately harmed by sequestration, while balancing our state budget without knowing how

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much federal funding the state can confidently expect; now, therefore be it

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations

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hereby recognizes the need for the United States government to reduce the national deficit and

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manage its long-term debt, but believes this should be done in a balanced and responsible manner

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that does not jeopardize the state's vulnerable working families and the nation’s still fragile

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economic recovery; and be it further

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     RESOLVED, That this Senate hereby respectfully urges Congress to work together to

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avoid the harmful effects of the sequester, halt the immediate cuts facing Rhode Islanders, and

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develop a balanced and responsible plan to manage the nation’s long-term debt; and be it further

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     RESOLVED That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to

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transmit duly certified copies of this resolution to the clerk of the United States House of

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Representatives, the clerk of the United States Senate, and to members of the Rhode Island

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Congressional Delegation.

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LC01889

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