SUITLAND, Md. — U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.) today told the hundreds of federal employees at a town hall meeting at the U.S. Census Bureau that he would continue working to bring an end to the cycle of short-sighted and overly austere federal budgets of recent years.
“No more shutdowns. No more sequestration. No more temporary Continuing Resolutions. Let’s get a long-term budget that gives you the stability you need to deliver on program goals,” said Senator Cardin. “We have got to find ways in Washington to give you the means to get the mission done.”
Senator Cardin and the attendees discussed concerns that included ongoing budget cuts from sequestration, health care costs, infrastructure funding, tax reform and regional economic development.
“There are those in Congress who attack the federal workforce every chance they get, and I and the others who understand the incredible value of what you do will not let them get away with it,” said Senator Cardin. “The federal workforce is at its smallest level of the total workforce by percent as it has ever been, meaning that you’re being asked to do more with less than you ever have been. That’s got to end immediately.”
Following a federal legislative update, Senator Cardin engaged in an hour-long question-and-answer period.
“This town hall meeting, the latest in my continuing outreach to our dedicated federal workers across Maryland, allowed me an opportunity to hear directly from federal employees about the effects that budget cuts have on their daily lives. Exchanges like this also help me identify ways to shape federal legislation that addresses these issues of concern, said Senator Cardin. “Hard-working federal employees did not cause the fiscal problems facing our nation, but too often they are denigrated, disparaged and targeted with harmful cuts to positions and programs, without thought being given to the real people working on behalf of the American people.”