(WASHINGTON, February 28, 2013) — Diana Aviv, President and CEO of Independent Sector, released the following statement:

Independent Sector is deeply concerned about the impact sequestration will have on our nation’s economy and the individuals, families, and communities served by nonprofit organizations across the country. It is imperative that lawmakers and the Administration end the sequester immediately, before its impact is fully felt.

These mandatory, across-the-board spending cuts violate the basic values of justice, fairness, and effectiveness by exacerbating income inequality, increasing poverty, and jeopardizing programs that provide vital support to the nation’s most vulnerable populations.

For example, it is estimated that 96,000 fewer low-income children will be served by Head Start-funded programs this year, while Meals on Wheels has said it will provide 19 million fewer meals to hungry seniors. Furthermore, sequestration threatens the safety and well-being of nearly all Americans by diverting resources from critical federal food, aviation, and highway safety programs.

We urge Congress and the President to set aside their differences and reach a compromise that allows our country to regain its economic footing without placing the burden on those least able to shoulder it.

Read Independent Sector’s Guiding Principles for Deficit Reduction and Tax Reform.

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Independent Sector is a leadership network of approximately 600 nonprofits, foundations, and corporate giving programs committed to advancing the common good. Our nonpartisan coalition leads, strengthens, and mobilizes the sector; we advocate for public policies that fortify our communities; and we create unparalleled resources so staff, boards, and volunteers can further their missions and increase their impact. IndependentSector.org.