[Congressional Record Volume 159, Number 147 (Wednesday, October 16, 2013)]
[House]
[Page H6614]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

  (Mr. BERA of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BERA of California. Mr. Speaker, it is day 16, and I am 
cautiously optimistic that the shutdown ends today and that we begin to 
restore the full faith and credit of our Nation.
  Let's get this done. First, let's open the government today. Second, 
let's pay our bills and make sure that the world knows America always 
pays its bills. Most importantly, now is the time for us to come 
together and put a real budget together, a budget that brings Democrats 
and Republicans together, the best ideas out of both parties, and 
really begins to deal with the debt. We need a budget that begins to 
strengthen Social Security and Medicare for today's seniors, but also 
the next generation of seniors, and a budget that begins to create jobs 
and restores the middle class in America.
  Let's work together as Democrats and Republicans to put the American 
people first. We now have that opportunity.

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