[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 3, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H10-H11]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              TIME TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY IN BUDGET BATTLE

  (Mr. REED asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. REED. Mr. Speaker, the leader of the other body is right, enough 
is enough. For 19 days much of the Federal Government has been closed 
through the failure and intransigence of the new House leadership.
  Federal workers and their families are the most obvious victims of 
this hostage mentality. They are not the only ones suffering. At Rhode 
Island's VA medical center employees are already working with either 
half or no pay, and now the veterans' benefits are threatened because 
the VA continuing resolution expires today.
  Moreover, by the end of the week Rhode Island will have no funds left 
to administer its unemployment compensation insurance program, which 

[[Page H11]]
could mean that no more unemployment compensation would be paid in 
Rhode Island.
  Senior citizens could also expect to be hit hard by this Republican 
brinksmanship. Indeed, nationally 600,000 seniors will not get Meals on 
Wheels if Republicans do not bring a continuing resolution to the floor 
by Friday.
  Environmental cleanup has stopped at Superfund sites, small business 
loans go unprocessed, American business people cannot go overseas 
without passport renewals, our national parks remain closed, and the 
list unfortunately continues. Mr. Speaker, it is time for some Members 
of this House to act like they want to take responsibility.

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