[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 2 (Thursday, January 4, 1996)]
[House]
[Pages H126-H127]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HOUSE SHOULD HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO VOTE ON SAME RESOLUTION THAT SENATE 
                                 PASSED

  (Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts asked and was given permission to address 
the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. NEAL of Massachusetts. Mr. Speaker, the dilemma that we face here 
today could be corrected in about 1 hour. All it would require would be 
for the Speaker of this House to bring to the floor the same resolution 
that Senator Dole brought on the other side and in the other body. We 
could put everybody back to work, ensure that 

[[Page H127]]
Means on Wheels obligations were honored, ensure that benefits were 
extended to those who were deserving of them, and it could be 
accomplished this afternoon.
  But you know what the compelling truth here is today? That a radical 
element in this House that is out of touch with realities across this 
Nation, they have decided that they are going to hold Federal employees 
and our senior citizens hostage to their point of view, and that is 
precisely what they are doing today.
  If Senator Dole can bring the U.S. Senate Democrats and Republicans 
along, surely we ought to have an opportunity in this institution to 
simply vote on a measure to reopen this Government. That should be done 
today, and I guarantee if that simple measure was brought to the floor, 
it would pass easily.

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