Congressman Mike Turner, Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, released the following statement after he joined the House in passing the FY 2014 Department of Defense Appropriations bill. The legislation contains a number of provisions blocking the implementation of civilian furloughs.
“The furloughing of civilian Defense Department workers due to sequestration has been nothing short of shameful. I voted against sequestration, because I knew the impact on the over 12,500 hardworking Americans in our community would be devastating. Families have been severely impacted because the President and the Senate have refused to act on this issue. Once again, the House has taken significant action to halt these furloughs for the coming Fiscal Year. The Senate should act immediately to include similar language in their appropriations bill, and stop the punishment of workers who are focused on our nation’s security.”
Specifically, the following provisions were included in the bill:
- Cole (R-OK), Kilmer (D-WA), McCarthy (R-CA), Bishop (R-UT), Jones (R-NC), Loebsack (D-IA), McCollum (D-MN), Austin Scott (R-GA) - Amendment No. 42 - Provides that none of the funds appropriated by this Act shall be available to implement a furlough of Department of Defense federal employees who are paid from the Working Capital Fund (WCF) Account, which is a revolving fund and does not receive direct funding from Congressional appropriations to finance its operations. Adopted by voice vote.
- Lamborn (R-CO), O'Rourke (D-TX), Barrow (D-GA), Jenkins (R-KS) – Amendment No. 53 -Prohibits the use of funds to implement sequestration-related furloughs of civilian Department of Defense employees. Adopted by voice vote.
- Palazzo (R-MS), Nugent (R-FL) – Amendment No. 57 - Prevents any funds from being used to plan for or carryout furloughs of Dual Status Military Technicians.Adopted by voice vote.
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