The Sequestration Transparency Act of 2012 is on its way to President Obama after the Senate passed the bill, which requires the White House to detail the impact of the discretionary spending cuts across defense and non-defense accounts in Fiscal 2013 under the Budget Control Act’s sequester. Senators unanimously approved the bill on July 25, reported Roll Call. Senate action followed the House passing the bill on July 18 by a vote of 414 to two, reported The Hill. The legislation, H.R.5872, requires the Office of Management and Budget to provide “a detailed report,” within 30 days of the law’s enactment, on the effects of sequestration next fiscal year. “Everyone should understand that sequestration is a terrible way to cut spending, so I am hopeful that the more information my colleagues receive about its impact, the more they will be willing to move off of their partisan positions and work with us toward a balanced and bipartisan replacement,” said Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) in a July 25 statement. (H.R. 5872 full text)
The U.S. military is maintaining a beefed-up presence in the Middle East, including fighters and air defense assets, following the U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities June 22 and subsequent retaliation by the Iranians against Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar.
