[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 141 (Thursday, October 10, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H6464]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




   GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN THREATENS THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF SOUTHERN 
                               ARIZONANS

  (Mr. BARBER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. BARBER. Mr. Speaker, the safety and security of Southern 
Arizonans is my first priority. I represent 83 miles of the U.S.-Mexico 
border, and the people who live near it are very seriously affected by 
criminal activities along that border.
  Since the shutdown, our Border Patrol agents have faced uncertainty 
about their pay and the future of their mission. These brave men and 
women are our first line of defense in securing the homeland. They 
deserve our respect and support.
  Last week, an agent's wife called my office about a decision her 
husband was forced to make, the decision between missing a loved one's 
funeral or attending it on furlough, putting his paycheck and his 
family at risk.
  This reckless shutdown hurts the families of our agents who put their 
lives on the line every single day. This is wrong, Mr. Speaker, and we 
must end this irresponsible shutdown now and restore certainty to the 
Border Patrol for the safety and security of Southern Arizonans and our 
entire country.

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