[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 143 (Saturday, October 12, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H6548]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   SHUTDOWN HARDSHIPS FOR REAL PEOPLE

  (Mr. KILMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, the reason dozens of my colleagues are here 
is to reopen government. Too often, what is lost in this discussion of 
this shutdown is the real hardship that is faced by the people we 
represent.
  I heard from a woman this week who told me that she was attempting to 
find a job and move her family out of a shelter. She made the necessary 
appointments to fill out the paperwork for a housing voucher, set up a 
job interview, and was given an opportunity.
  Let's talk about how this shutdown affected her. She can't be brought 
onto the job--no one can--because the job relies on a government 
contract that is on hold in this shutdown. She can't move into 
permanent and safe housing because her housing voucher can't be 
processed during this government shutdown.
  There are others. I spoke with the leaders of the Emergency Food 
Network in Tacoma who said that, as this shutdown continues and as 
funding for Women, Infants, and Children nutrition programs 
deteriorate, they are struggling to even provide baby formula.
  We need to reopen this government. It is harming our economy and it 
is straining the social fabric of our country.

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