[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 145 (Monday, October 14, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H6580]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               DO NO HARM

  (Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania asked and was given permission to 
address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, prior to being elected to 
Congress, I worked 28 years as a health care provider. Through working 
to provide patients with the best possible care, one of the earliest 
lessons I learned was the principle of Do No Harm. The Nation would 
benefit greatly if those elected to public service followed this same 
principle. Unfortunately, this principle has been seriously violated 
throughout the government funding debate.
  Mr. Speaker, the American people were harmed when President Obama 
failed to come to the negotiating table until 11 days after the 
shutdown occurred. The American people were harmed when the 
administration purposely sought to ``win'' the shutdown by causing as 
much pain as possible before seeking to reopen the government.
  ``It's a cheap way to deal with the situation. We've been told to 
make life as difficult for people as we can. It's disgusting,'' stated 
an angry Park Service ranger in Washington, according to The Washington 
Times.
  This is not public service; this is a public injustice. It is time to 
do no more harm. It is time to end the politics and start solving 
problems. The American people deserve as much.

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