Legislative – Sequestration: What It Is and Why It Needs to End Now!

Sequestration – What It Is and Why It Needs to End

Six years ago, Congress passed the Budget Control Act of 2011, causing across-the-board 10% spending cuts equally divided between defense and non-defense programs every year through 2022. Since the budget caps were established in 2010, they do not take into consideration the actual nor projected needs of the Department of Defense (DoD) to reflect the current realities of defense and veterans programs!

WHAT DOES SEQUESTRATION DO?

Sequestration robs commanders of their capability to respond to a global crisis at a time when the United States and our allies face emerging threats around the world. Sequester-level budgets have resulted in continued force-level cuts across the military services, which has caused the hollowing of our Armed Forces. As a result, troops aren’t training, crews aren’t flying and ships aren’t sailing.

In addition, reduced funding for critical benefits and quality of life programs and services means more stress and more financial burden for our military, our veterans and their families. Our nation has a long-standing obligation to provide for the needs of those who have sacrificed and are still sacrificing to protect the precious freedoms and liberties we all enjoy.

IF SEQUESTRATION IS NOT ENDED:

The overall readiness and effectiveness of our military to operate in an unpredictable and unstable global environment will continue to be reduced. This is unacceptable! We are still a nation at war and our national security is at stake.

The DoD’s and VA’s ability to provide quality health care and benefits to our veterans will continue to be reduced. This is unacceptable! Our heroes have been promised and have earned these benefits and deserve better.

CALL TO ACTION: Let’s help the VFW take the Hill at the upcoming VFW Fall Legislative Conference in Washington, D.C., during the second week of September. We need each of you and other veterans advocates in your communities to join us and be a voice for our veterans, service members and their families.

If you can’t attend, contact your congressional members and tell them to do what is right by those who have defended and are still defending our freedom by ending sequestration. It is past time for Congress to go beyond “Thank You” and make those who have worn our nation’s uniform a priority.

SEQUESTRATION MUST END!