[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 3, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H10]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              FRESHMAN REPUBLICANS HOLD GOVERNMENT HOSTAGE

  (Mr. TORRES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. TORRES. Mr. Speaker, that is true, that the Government is not 
totally shut down, but most of it is shut down and today Federal 
workers, joined by senior citizens and others, will take to the street 
to protest. They are going to picket the houses and the offices of the 
73 freshman Republicans who are holding the Government hostage.
  Yes, nearly 760,000 Federal employees are either furloughed or 
working without pay. This is having a calamitous effect across the 
country, and impacting not only our economy but individual Americans 
alike. We are told that 12 States have already advised the agency for 
Health and Human Services that 600,000 seniors in the next 2 weeks will 
probably not receive Meals on Wheels nor have adequate transportation. 
That is simply disgraceful.
  Ladies and gentlemen, we ask those 73 Members and our Republican 
leadership to let this Government go back to work.

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