WASHINGTON, DC - After a minority of the U.S. Senate blocked the American Family Economic Protection Act," Mary Kay Henry, President of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU), issued the following statement:

"Today, a majority of the United States Senate heard the American people's call to stop harmful cuts and protect the nearly one million jobs at stake. The American Family Economic Protection Act represents an important step toward rectifying the harmful impact of the sequester. Unfortunately, it was blocked by a minority of Senators who continue to put the politics of austerity ahead of economic growth and working families.

The bill that was blocked today was a reasonable, compromise approach that would have generated appropriate revenues and enacted responsible spending cuts, but Republican leaders stood in the way and now the sequester - and its damaging and unnecessary cuts - is inevitable. Every American should be outraged."

With 2.1 million members in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico, SEIU is the fastest-growing union in the Americas. Focused on uniting workers in healthcare, public services and property services, SEIU members are winning better wages, healthcare and more secure jobs for our communities, while uniting their strength with their counterparts around the world to help ensure that workers--not just corporations and CEOs--benefit from today's global economy. www.seiu.org"

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