In just a few weeks, the nation will be facing yet another manufactured fiscal crisis when a series of harsh across-the-board federal spending cuts in education, defense and all government operations go into effect unless Congress repeals them. 

Known as “sequestration,” economists say these cuts would imperil the fragile economic recovery and cost as many as 1 million of America's workers their jobs. Yet Republicans are making threats to let those cuts take effect on March 1 unless Social Security, Medicaid and Medicare benefits are cut or drastic cuts are made to vital services.

Seniors across the country are marching and lobbying to make sure lawmakers don’t use the debate on the debt ceiling as an opportunity to cut Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid.

Speaking on the Senate floor, Maryland Sen. Ben Cardin (D) eloquently described why new rules proposed by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) last week would help level the playing field for financially struggling workers and their families. Statements supporting the proposed rule by Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Sen. Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI) follow.