WASHINGTON, DC -- Representatives Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree sent a letter to House Leadership today urging them to take action to avoid sequestration, highlighting the impact it could have on workers at the Defense Finance and Accounting Services (DFAS) facility in Limestone.

"There are nearly 7,000 DOD civilian workers in Maine who earn $263 million in annual salaries. We have previously written you about the consequences that inaction will have on Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. In addition, there are 600 employees at the Defense Finance and Accounting Services facility in Limestone, Maine who could be affected by furloughs and salary reductions," wrote Michaud and Pingree. "We firmly believe a far-reaching compromise on sequestration and our debt and deficit problems can be reached."

The full text of the letter:

February 25, 2013

The Honorable John Boehner Speaker
The Honorable Nancy Pelosi Democratic Leader
The Honorable Eric Cantor Majority Leader
The Honorable Steny Hoyer Minority Whip
U.S. House of Representatives
Washington, D.C. 20515

Dear House Leadership:

We are writing you once again to urge you to take action to avoid sequestration. We strongly support putting our country on a fiscally sustainable path to address our deficit and our long-term debt, but sequestration is not the way to accomplish that goal. Failure to come up with an alternative solution will have a devastating effect on Maine's economy.

Although the exact impacts of the sequester remain uncertain, the Department of Defense (DOD) has already begun notifying civilian employees of possible furloughs and pay cuts. There are nearly 7,000 DOD civilian workers in Maine who earn $263 million in annual salaries. We have previously written you about the consequences that inaction will have on Bath Iron Works and Portsmouth Naval Shipyard. In addition, there are 600 employees at the Defense Finance and Accounting Services facility in Limestone, Maine who could be affected by furloughs and salary reductions.

We firmly believe a far-reaching compromise on sequestration and our debt and deficit problems can be reached. We ask you to work with the Appropriations Committee and Members from both parties known for working across the aisle to craft a balanced approach to our fiscal problems. Congress needs your leadership to help us avoid the catastrophic effects of sequestration, and Maine's economy depends on it.

Sincerely,

Mike Michaud and Chellie Pingree
Members of Congress