[Congressional Record Volume 142, Number 10 (Thursday, January 25, 1996)]
[House]
[Page H877]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      ON THE CONTINUING RESOLUTION

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under a previous order of the House, the 
gentlewoman from Maryland [Mrs. Morella] is recognized for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. MORELLA. This is the time, Mr. Speaker, that we talk about what 
action is going to take place on the floor of this Chamber later today, 
because quite frankly, it is critical that we pass this continuing 
resolution today, whatever we call it, to avoid another partial 
Government shutdown. A partial Government shutdown leads to a massive 
Government slowdown. This is something we can ill afford.
  The previous two shutdowns cannot be repeated. They were devastating 
to Federal employees, to contractors, to their families, to the local 
economy, universities, researchers, and the entire American public. The 
previous two partial Government shutdowns, as I mentioned, have 
resulted in a massive slowdown and an erosion of confidence in 
Government.
  A longer-term solution is still necessary. Agencies cannot make long-
term spending decisions without long-term appropriations. Vendors with 
long-term contractors cannot be paid. It may be unwilling or unable to 
continue on a month-to-month basis. Contractors, Federal employees and 
their families remain very anxious about their future.
  Etymologically, the word ``disease,'' if you look at the Oxford 
English Dictionary, comes from the words ``absence of ease.'' There is 
really an absence of ease out there in our country, a disease, so to 
speak. This is something that we in Government can correct.
  I hope that this continuing resolution, whether we call it the 
balanced budget down payment act or whatever, that will come up today 
will be the first step in increased cooperation to resolve the issues 
surrounding the remaining appropriations bills and a balanced budget 
agreement, not the first in a series of continuing resolutions that we 
are going to revisit every month or every 6 weeks.
  I strongly urge my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to 
compromise on the provisions that are keeping these bills from being 
passed. Of course I ask the President to engage fully in coming up with 
a balanced budget. We must find a real solution to end the disruption 
we have caused in the lives of our Federal work force. So I hope, Mr. 
Speaker, today will be the day.

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