[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 8 (Tuesday, January 15, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H554]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         REOPEN OUR GOVERNMENT

  (Ms. SHALALA asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Ms. SHALALA. Madam Speaker, I rise in solidarity with the thousands 
of Federal employees in my district and across this Nation who, because 
of the shutdown, haven't received a paycheck.
  I want to share the story of Robert Guevara, a Federal aviation 
safety inspector in my district who did not receive a paycheck this 
past Friday. He is tasked with overseeing the airline's mechanics and 
repairing facilities so operations run smoothly and safely at Miami 
International Airport. He has one goal: aviation safety. He prides 
himself on keeping our travelers safe and ensuring that all inspections 
are as thorough and accurate as possible.
  After 21 years of service in the Air Force, he told me he could 
barely recognize our country anymore. How can the greatest country on 
Earth tell its employees to work without a paycheck? How can we hold 
our patriots hostage?
  Madam Speaker, no one wins in a shutdown. We must demand that this 
administration and the Senate leadership reopen our government.

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