Washington, DC— Today, Congresswoman Terri A. Sewell released the following statement after voting against H.R. 2608, the Continuing Appropriations Act:

“Today, I voted against H.R. 2608, the Continuing Appropriations Act. While the Continuing Resolution includes critical disaster assistance for states and communities hit hard by recent natural disasters, it does so by setting a dangerous precedent, requiring the disaster aid to be offset by cutting funding to job-creating programs. This bill would have cost at least 10,000 hard-working Americans their jobs by cutting funding from the Advanced Technology Vehicle Manufacturing loan program, which is putting Americans to work producing cleaner cars right here in the United States.

As Members of Congress, it is our responsibility to protect the interests of all of our citizens. We should not have to choose between protecting thousands of jobs and ensuring that families have the necessary resources to recover and rebuild when a disaster strikes.

The 7th Congressional District and the State of Alabama were hit hard by the severe storms and tornadoes of April 27, 2011. Many communities in the 7th Congressional District were ravaged by this historic outbreak of tornadoes. When disaster strikes, the Federal Government must act. We cannot waste valuable time searching for emergency funding while communities ravaged by disasters suffer. I cannot in good conscience vote for a bill that would jeopardize my constituents’ access to vital assistance in the wake of a disaster.

I look forward to working with the Administration and my colleagues in Congress on a Continuing Resolution that will adequately fund disaster assistance, encourage job creation, reduce the deficit and keep our government running. We should not penalize the victims of natural disasters or cost thousands of Americans their jobs in these difficult economic times.”

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The bill failed in the House 195 – 230.