BILL NUMBER: AJR 14	INTRODUCED
	BILL TEXT


INTRODUCED BY   Assembly Member Atkins

                        FEBRUARY 27, 2013

   Relative to sequestration.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   AJR 14, as introduced, Atkins. Sequestration.
   This measure would request the Congress of the United States to,
among other things, act immediately to avert federal spending cuts
known as "sequestration" to protect the California and national
economies.
   Fiscal committee: no.



   WHEREAS, Without congressional action, a series of onerous
across-the-board cuts called "sequestration" will severely compromise
the nation's and California's emerging economic recovery and
negatively impact California's workers, families, and communities;
and
   WHEREAS, Through sequestration California will see a reduction in
education funding of approximately $87.6 million, putting nearly
2,000 primary and secondary education teacher and aide classroom
positions at risk, including those of 760 teachers, aides, and staff
who help children with disabilities; and
   WHEREAS, California's extensive military defense industry will be
devastated with the loss of approximately 64,000 civilian Department
of Defense jobs, and operational reductions by the Army, Air Force,
and Navy totaling more than $69 million; and
   WHEREAS, Studies show that California will lose 336,000
defense-related jobs across the state and more than $21 billion in
economic output if the $4 billion in additional sequestration cuts
are imposed on the state; and
   WHEREAS, The nation's returning veterans will experience a
reduction in the federal Transition Assistance Program, which serves
more than 150,000 veterans, leaving thousands of transitioning
veterans unserved as they move from active duty to civilian life; and

   WHEREAS, The Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security
warns that the automatic budget reduction mandated by sequestration
would be disruptive and destructive to our nation's security and
economy by effectively closing many of California's ports and border
crossings during daily peak activity due to the reduction in customs
and border protection officers; and
   WHEREAS, The Federal Aviation Administration would be hit with a
$600-million cut, forcing a reduction in core functions leading to
furloughs of one to two days for most of its 47,000 employees,
resulting in slower air traffic in California's major cities and
delays and disruptions across the country during the critical summer
travel season; and
   WHEREAS, The specter of losing up to 2,100 food inspectors as a
result of sequester cuts could lead to increased outbreaks of
food-borne illness, presenting a serious threat to the public and
putting families at risk and costing billions in lost food
production; and
   WHEREAS, The sequester cuts will result in significant negative
impacts to public health and safety, including losing access to child
care for disadvantaged and vulnerable children, which is essential
for working parents, more than 15,000 children in California not
receiving vaccines for diseases such as measles, mumps, rubella, and
tetanus, and California's ability to respond to the outbreak of
public health threats such as infectious diseases, natural disasters,
and biological, chemical, nuclear, and radiological events will be
diminished; and
   WHEREAS, A long-term, bipartisan compromise that averts
sequestration will protect the California and national economies and
provide a balanced and thoughtful budget solution; now, therefore, be
it
   Resolved by the Assembly and the Senate of the State of
California, jointly,That the Legislature urges the Congress of the
United States to avert federal spending cuts known as "sequestration"
to protect the California and national economies; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature of the State of California urges
the Congress of the United States to act immediately to avert the
economic crisis that would result from the onerous across-the-board
federal spending cuts in education and public health and safety,
which will prevent the job losses and threats to our security that
would result from cuts to our national defense and honor and secure
the welfare of the veterans' programs serving the men and women who
defend our county; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature of the of the State of California
urges the Congress of the United States to pursue a balanced approach
in seeking to close wasteful tax loopholes to protect the
investments that are helping grow our economy and keep our state and
nation safe; and be in further
   Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the President and Vice President of the United
States, to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to the
Majority Leader of the Senate, and to each Senator and Representative
from California in the Congress of the United States.