[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 126 (Monday, September 23, 2013)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1362-E1363]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS RESOLUTION, 2014

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                          HON. JOHN D. DINGELL

                              of michigan

                    in the house of representatives

                       Friday, September 20, 2013

  Mr. DINGELL. Madam Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to H.J. Res 
59, the Continuing Appropriations Resolution of 2014. With only ten 
days left until funding for the government expires, it shocks me that 
we are considering legislation that will do nothing to solve our 
problems. This is yet another political stunt by my friends on the 
other side of the aisle who clearly want the government to be shut 
down, and it should be rejected.
  Our economy is recovering, but much more work needs to be done. A 
government shutdown would destroy all that progress and would cause 
much damage to middle class families across our nation. Social Security 
beneficiaries would not get their checks, veterans services would be 
cut, and every American would feel the impact. Furthermore, this 
resolution continues the misguided policy of sequestration. If this 
continues it will cost our economy 1.6 million jobs in 2014 and will 
prohibit our nation from making critical investments in education and 
life saving medical research. Democrats have an alternative that ends 
the sequester in a responsible manner and keeps the government running 
for the next year. My friends on the other side of the aisle do nothing 
but slow our nation's recovery with these futile efforts. Government 
funding remains in jeopardy. These stunts provide only further 
uncertainty for our businesses, left unable to hire workers, expand 
facilities, or make any of the necessary decisions to prosper in this 
economic environment. Madam Speaker, I plead with you to work with us 
in a bipartisan manner rather than wasting precious floor time on a 
bill that is going nowhere.
  We all know my friends on the other side of the aisle oppose 
Obamacare. They have already voted 41 times in this House to repeal or 
undermine the law, and this bill increases this number to 42 by 
defunding Obamacare entirely. The American people spoke just last year 
in the elections, and the Supreme Court has spoken as well: Obamacare 
is the law of the land, and this effort is not going anywhere. In less 
than 2 weeks time, people who have never had access to health insurance 
for their entire lives will be able to purchase an affordable plan that 
gives them the health coverage they deserve. Even if you oppose the 
President, you should agree that this is a reasonable goal to have. And 
this bill goes beyond just defunding the parts of the law they don't 
like. It would let insurance companies deny coverage for people with 
pre-existing conditions, they could drop coverage when people get sick, 
and would prevent young Americans from staying on their parents plan 
until age 26. We should not turn back the clock when we are so close to 
making real, measurable progress. I look forward to full implementation 
of the law in the coming weeks so the American people can receive the 
full benefits of Obamacare.
  In closing, this is a waste of our time. With such little time left 
to avoid a government shutdown, I would expect the Majority in this 
body to work with us in a bipartisan manner rather than continuing to 
play political games. I know we can come together to prevent a 
government shutdown and prevent miserable harm from being inflicted on 
the American people. But today, I urge my colleagues to join me in 
voting against this misguided bill.

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