[Congressional Record Volume 161, Number 142 (Wednesday, September 30, 2015)]
[House]
[Pages H6717-H6718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
{time} 1215
CONGRESS NEEDS TO SIT DOWN AT THE TABLE
(Mr. KILMER asked and was given permission to address the House for 1
minute.)
Mr. KILMER. Mr. Speaker, it looks like Congress will narrowly avoid
another costly and unnecessary shutdown. That is the good news. The bad
news is that Congress will have the same fight again just before the
holidays start.
Why does this place keep playing the same dysfunctional record over
and over? In my region, the last shutdown cost furloughs at our
military installations; Olympic National Park closed its doors, hurting
local employers; tribes and social service providers and others faced
painful disruptions of funding. I don't want to see that happen again.
This place is spending a lot of time and energy obsessing about who
the next Speaker will be. That is one job. We should be more concerned
about the thousands of jobs we need to grow and keep not just in my
region, but all around this country.
Congress needs to end the grandstanding and sit down at the table.
Let's hammer out a budget agreement that finally ends the across-the-
board sequestration cuts and focuses on this Nation's economy and its
long-term growth.
[[Page H6718]]
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