[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 5 (Thursday, January 10, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H365]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]





                        END GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Oregon (Ms. Bonamici) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. BONAMICI. Mr. Speaker, a TSA agent along with his wife had to 
sell plasma to make ends meet.
  A Federal law enforcement employee just received an eviction notice 
after trying to explain the shutdown to his apartment manager. In a few 
days, he and his family will be kicked out of their apartment if they 
do not receive a paycheck in time to pay their rent.
  A counselor at a Federal prison is already working under stressful 
conditions and not being paid. She and her coworkers wonder how they 
can make their Federal student loan payments when they aren't getting 
paychecks.
  Members of the Coast Guard are working hard every day in dangerous 
conditions to keep our coastal communities safe, not knowing how they 
will pay their rent or other bills without their next paycheck.
  Air traffic controllers work in a very complex field that requires 
concentration and dedication to keep the skies safe, and they are 
expected to do that without getting paid.

                              {time}  1015

  Mr. Speaker, I rise today because these Oregonians and hundreds of 
thousands of people across the country like them are suffering as a 
result of President Trump's government shutdown.
  For 20 days, the President has held the American people hostage over 
his campaign slogan to build a wall along the southern border, a wall 
that he promised Mexico would pay for. In those 20 days, I have seen 
firsthand how harmful this shutdown has been for Oregonians.
  I have spoken with individuals from Astoria, Sheridan, Portland, and 
beyond who are worried: How are they going to pay their rent? How are 
they going to afford childcare or continue to pay their student loans 
if their paycheck does not come through on Friday?
  Missing even one paycheck can have catastrophic consequences. It is 
far too high a cost for these dedicated Federal employees to pay for a 
policy fight that they did not start and have no power to end. This is 
unconscionable.
  Hardworking Oregonians should not lose their homes or be forced to 
sell plasma because the Federal Government is shut down, especially 
when they are continuing to report to work and protect our country 
without pay.
  Since taking the majority last week, the House has taken swift action 
to reopen the government. We have passed bipartisan bills to fund 
government operations and pay workers who have been furloughed.
  The American people have been held hostage long enough. It is past 
time for the President to abandon his ill-conceived border wall and 
reopen the Federal Government before more people are hurt.

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