Brooklyn, N.Y. – Congresswoman Yvette D. Clarke released the following statement on the budget agreement announced on Tuesday that restores most of the budget reductions that had occurred as a result of sequestration.

“I am cautiously optimistic that the budget agreement between Republicans and Democrats will resolve some of the worst parts of sequestration, which has already imposed substantial hardships on our most vulnerable families,” said Congresswoman Clarke, who has supported previous attempts to end sequestration, which was imposed when Congress failed to reach an agreement on deficit reduction last year.

Congresswoman Clarke continued: “Delays in the processing of disability benefits for veterans of our armed forces and the elimination of federal funds for meals for senior citizens and affordable housing have harmed our society, and had convinced many Americans that our elected officials could not fulfill even their basic duties.

“Even as this agreement reaffirms the critical role of the federal government in supporting our communities, I believe that we must consider additional programs to assist people who are unemployed and small business owners, and allow young women and men to access higher education. We will restore our economy – and eliminate the budget deficit – only by investing in our most valuable resource: the people themselves.”

U.S. Representative Yvette D. Clarke is a member of the House Committee on Small Business, Ethics, and Homeland Security, where she is the Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection, and Security Technologies. She represents many neighborhoods in central and southern Brooklyn, NY which include Brownsville, Crown Heights, East Flatbush, Flatbush, Gerritsen Beach, Madison, Midwood, parts of Park Slope and Flatlands, Prospect Heights, Prospect-Lefferts Gardens, Sheepshead Bay, and Windsor Terrace.