[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 23, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H739]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      KEEP THE CAPITAL IN BUSINESS

  Ms. NORTON. Mr. Speaker, I come to the floor this morning to welcome 
my colleagues back from the short recess and to say they ought to be 
glad they were not here for the blizzard of 1996. We were snowed in, 
and I mean that quite literally.
  For 4 days the Federal Government was shut down and this time this 
body had nothing to do with it, I am pleased to say. The District of 
Columbia was shut down as well. We do not mind if it is the snow. We do 
mind when the majority shuts us down.
  I am pleased to believe, as I do, that there will not be another 
shutdown on Friday. I ask that the body recognize when a tool has run 
its course, and Federal workers I think would be grateful if we would 
move on with our business.
  I do want to remind the body that the District budget is not yet 
passed, the appropriation is not yet out. Yet, we budgeted $2.1 million 
for snow and one blizzard has used it all up, and more. We spent $3.3 
million.
  I am grateful that the body approved a continuing resolution to last 
until September 30, but that allows the District only to spend its own 
money. We have only $327 million of the $712 million that we are due as 
payment in lieu of taxes. The absence of the cash money meant that the 
District could not plow the District of Columbia, and we had to call 
the Federal Government in because vendors would not contract with 
people who could not pay their bills.
  I am pleased that the appropriations subcommittees in the Senate and 
the House have been working to solve their disagreement on vouchers. It 
is a disagreement among Republicans that is keeping our budget from 
coming through. That disagreement, I believe, could be solved and 
settled given the good faith, good work that has been ensuing during 
this recess.
  I ask that the District get its full appropriation no later than 
Friday so that the District, 4 months late, can start its government 
up.
  I also ask that the body be at pains not to allow this to happen 
again. As you know, the District is on its financial knees. Everything 
had happened to it, it seemed, but being put out of business, and it 
was put out of business for a week, when the Capital of the United 
States was shut down.
  I ask this body, when the appropriation comes before it, to pass it 
speedily and to recognize that chief among your constitutional 
obligations is the obligation to let the Capital City of the United 
States engage in the business of running the Capital of the United 
States. Imagine how we look when the Congress looks as though it is not 
facilitating keeping the Capital of the United States in business. This 
would be the best way to start and end this week.

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