Representative Norm Dicks (D-Wash.), ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, recently released a report detailing the consequences and impact the across-the-board budget cuts of sequestration to take effect in January. Mr. Dicks, who is retiring after serving eighteen terms in the House of Representatives, noted that sequestration “is not so much a back-up plan as an inducement for all sides to reach a compromise.” His purpose for the report was to “help make the case for Congress to act responsibly by agreeing to a more sensible approach to deficit reduction.”

As a basis of his analysis, Mr. Dicks cites Office of Management and Budget (OMB) numbers, which estimate a 9.4% reduction in discretionary defense funding in 2013 and an 8.2% reduction for discretionary non-defense funding.

The report estimates that more than 24,000 homeland security jobs would be lost, including 7,200 transportation security officers; 3,400 border patrol agents; and, 3,400 customs and border protection officers. Other anticipated cuts would handicap public safety, protection of financial markets, international affairs, and education, among other areas.

Mr. Dicks concluded his letter by exhorting Congress to act to prevent these cuts. He wrote, “Congress must find a way to replace sequestration with a balanced approach to long-term deficit reduction that focuses on economic growth and job creation, and does no harm to our economic recovery in the short-run.”

To read the entirety of Congressman Dicks’ report, please visit: www.democrats.appropriations.house.gov.