[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 1 (Wednesday, January 3, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H53]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          IN OPPOSITION TO PROPOSED HOUSE RECESS TO JANUARY 23

  (Mr. DAVIS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DAVIS. Mr. Speaker, frankly we have had several opportunities to 
open up the Government. We had one just a few minutes ago in overriding 
the President's veto on State, Commerce and Justice that would have put 
hundreds of thousands back to work. Our side of the aisle supported it, 
yours did not. The President has had an opportunity to sign a number of 
appropriation bills, he has not.
  But I support the resolution. I will be one of the Republicans that 
will vote to open up the Government. I will come and sign a discharge 
petition or anything else. I think this has gone on too long. I think 
we all look ridiculous at this point, and it is important that we open 
up the Government, get people back to work and start paying the people 
who have been doing the work over the Christmas holidays and are not 
getting their full paychecks. They are now having to borrow and go to 
credit unions to do it.
  I would also add, I understand there may be a motion here tomorrow to 
recess this House until January 23 subject to the call of the Chair. 
That is something I am going to oppose. I think it is wrong for us to 
go home, take another vacation, with pay, and leave once again hundreds 
of thousands of Federal employees with their situations unresolved and 
that would mean another 2 or 3 weeks without pay. I will do everything 
I can to oppose that, Mr. Speaker.

                          ____________________