WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senators Susan Collins (R-ME) and Angus King (I-ME) today released this joint statement in response to sequestration cuts that will likely result in furloughs of civilian employees, including those at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard (PNSY) in Kittery.

“It is simply unacceptable that Congress and the President have yet to reach a deal that would replace these mindless, across-the-board cuts, known as “sequestration,” with a responsible, long-term deficit reduction plan.  Jobs are being threatened – jobs that provide financial security for Maine workers and health insurance for their families.  It is absolutely irresponsible that these hardworking men and women face the uncertainty and consequences of cuts that the President and Congress could prevent.

“In February, we stood with the workers at PNSY to let them know that we are committed to finding a solution, and together, we have been sounding the alarm for weeks. We have written to the President and Senate leaders, strongly urging bipartisan action to avert the sequester which, we believe, would have a devastating impact not only on families, but on our military and defense readiness.

“We will not give up.  We will continue to push the President, and our colleagues on both sides of the aisle, to work together on a deficit reduction plan to avoid these indiscriminate cuts and to set our country on a path to long-term fiscal stability.”

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