By Alyssa Esposito

Staff Writer

U.S. Sen. Mark Warner defined sequestration as “stupidity on steroids” on Monday.

Simply avoiding sequestration is the answer, Warner claimed at the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce’s second annual U.S. Senatorial Forum.

Hampton Roads remains one of the largest, if not the largest, location of military personnel in the country, U.S. Sen. Tim Kaine said at the event.

Considering this fact, budget cuts that involve sequestration of the defense department create a ripple effect that flows not only down to Virginia Beach and Norfolk, where large military bases reside, but also to Suffolk. Suffolk’s Joint Staff facility provides jobs for many Suffolk citizens, and if budget cuts are voted for the Department of Defense, this could have a significant impact on the Suffolk community.

The forum took place on Monday at The Founder’s Inn in Virginia Beach and catered to business leaders and city officials in the Hampton Roads area, giving them the opportunity to hear from their senators on the current issues affecting the area, while also posing their own questions.

Kaine and Warner took turns speaking on the many pressing local issues. Along with sequestration, topics discussed included international tax reform, Obamacare, foreign relations and unemployment for former members of the military.

Regarding his stance on the Affordable Care Act, Warner said that after the numerous attempts made to repeal it, “it is here to stay.” He said he wants to amend the act in a few different ways, including adding an additional, cheaper option for health care.

Concerning veterans’ health care, the Hampton VA hospital’s waiting time has improved from its former 30-day waiting period between making an appointment to actually seeing a doctor, to just seven days.

In terms of the congestion issue on U.S. Route 58 in Suffolk, Kaine said the solution to the issue depends on how much money goes to the transportation department.

Alisa Crider of the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce said the organization intends to continue holding this event annually.