[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 5 (Thursday, January 10, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               END THE SHUTDOWN AND REOPEN GOVERNMENT NOW

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
Hampshire (Mr. Pappas) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to say this is the first time 
that I have addressed my constituents and my colleagues from the floor 
of this House.
  Under normal circumstances, I would be talking about creating new 
jobs and new opportunities for my constituents in New Hampshire. I 
would be talking about plans to rebuild our roads and bridges, to step 
up our response to the opioid crisis. I would be sharing and discussing 
ideas and proposals that can improve people's lives and move America 
forward. But today's circumstances in this brand-new Congress are 
anything but normal.
  Instead of talking about how we can reform government, I am here to 
plead with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to simply reopen 
government.
  Mr. Speaker, today marks day 20 of the shutdown. After nearly 3 weeks 
without a paycheck, Federal employees across the country are grappling 
with how they will pay their rent, their mortgage, and their utility 
bills. They are anxious about putting food on the table and providing 
for their kids.
  With no end in sight, thousands of workers in my State of New 
Hampshire are facing tough questions. What if the shutdown lasts months 
or even years, as this President has threatened? What will that mean 
for their savings, for their jobs, and for their families? Will they be 
forced to leave Federal service simply to stay afloat?
  The treatment of our dedicated Federal workers is completely 
unacceptable. As someone who operated a family business with 230 
workers, I can tell you that shutting your doors and cutting off pay 
for your employees is no way to run a business. It is certainly no way 
to run the greatest country on Earth.
  Mr. Speaker, this is the people's House, so today I am lifting up the 
stories of everyday Granite Staters, who are suffering because of this 
senseless shutdown.
  I am here on behalf of a furloughed IRS worker from Sandown. Her bank 
is denying her the interest-free loan they promised Federal workers, 
because the furlough letter the IRS gave her was too vague. And, of 
course, there is no one around at the IRS to write her a new one.
  I am here on behalf of an air traffic controller from Derry who just 
transferred airports and has been told she may not get back pay because 
she was furloughed prior to starting her new assignment.
  I am here on behalf of an FAA worker from Hampton who is being forced 
to take unpaid leave to look after his wife who is going through a 
health emergency. He is worrying about how he can possibly care for his 
spouse without knowing when his next paycheck is going to arrive.
  These workers from my district deserve better from our Nation's 
leaders, and so do each and every one of the American people.
  This fall, voters sent an unmistakable message: the way Washington 
works simply isn't working for them. They want less drama and 
dysfunction, more compromise and more common sense. They want leaders 
who will put the national interest before their own partisan political 
interest.
  Instead of business as usual in Washington, it is time for Washington 
to start operating more like a responsible business that looks out for 
its workers. That means ending the shutdown now and making sure all of 
our outstanding Federal employees and contractors are fully 
compensated.
  We have got to do better. For the sake of the more than 2,400 Federal 
workers in New Hampshire who are currently furloughed or working 
without pay and the more than 800,000 across this country, let's close 
this dark chapter by immediately reopening the doors of our government.

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