[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 15 (Monday, January 22, 2018)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E90]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




MOTION TO CONCUR IN THE SENATE AMENDMENT TO THE HOUSE AMENDMENT TO THE 
                       SENATE AMENDMENT H.R. 195

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. JOHN B. LARSON

                             of connecticut

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, January 22, 2018

  Mr. LARSON of Connecticut. Mr. Speaker, I will vote today to re-open 
the government and provide certainty to 17,000 children in Connecticut 
and their families who depend on the Children's Health Insurance 
Program (CHIP). The reality is that the Republicans control the levers 
of the federal government--the House, the Senate, and the Executive 
branch. While some of my Republican colleagues, like Senators Susan 
Collins and Lindsey Graham, have worked on a bipartisan solution, the 
Republican leadership has failed the most basic of their 
responsibilities--to lead and to keep the federal government open.
  While CR's are harmful in general, I will vote for a short-term 
extension only through February 8th as a sign of good faith as I 
believe it is better to negotiate with the government open rather than 
closed. If the Republicans renege on their commitments, it will be 
clear to the American people they can neither govern nor keep their 
word with regards to funding community health centers, opioid funding, 
protecting young people who were brought to this country as children 
from being deported, and funding for our military and domestic 
programs.
  This is the fourth CR that we have passed to keep the government 
open. Our military and federal agencies need a year-long budget in 
order to plan and to effectively execute the functions of government. 
My Republican colleagues have committed to coming to the table and 
working on solutions for the opioid epidemic, disaster relief funding, 
and a solution for the 700,000 DREAMers in the next three weeks. The 
United States government made a deal with these young people and 
despite the President's edict to deport them if solutions are not made 
in Congress, it is now on the Republicans to work with us, as they have 
promised to govern responsibly. I will hold the Republicans accountable 
for their promises and so will the American people.

                          ____________________