[Congressional Record Volume 141, Number 183 (Friday, November 17, 1995)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E2216]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      RESOLVE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

                                 ______


                             HON. JACK REED

                            of rhode island

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, November 17, 1995

  Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, when I was a young cadet at West Point, I read 
the remarks of an officer describing an operation in Vietnam. He said 
``we had to destroy the village to save it.'' Looking back, that mind 
set left many destroyed villages but not a lot of salvation.
  I fear this Republican leadership has the same mind set. They seem 
eager to destroy the Government to save it. This policy is clearly 
destructive and will not in any way serve the interests of the American 
people.
  There is no need for this continued shutdown of the Government. It 
has resulted from the inability of the Congress to do its job in 
passing appropriations bills in a timely fashion. It continues because 
the Republican leadership persists in holding hostage the operation of 
the Government to its extreme budget plans.
  However, it is incumbent that all parties, including the President, 
come to the table and make the good faith effort required to resolve 
the current shutdown. This situation is both unnecessary and unwise. 
Getting the Government back to work will not prejudice the Republicans 
from considering and, over my objections, passing their current 
reconciliation legislation. But, getting the Government back to work 
will aid seniors seeking to apply for Social Security, veterans needing 
assistance from the Veterans Administration, Americans needing to 
travel overseas on urgent business or family emergencies; in sum, all 
the people we were elected to serve.
  It is time to end this gridlock.

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