[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 9 (Wednesday, January 16, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H663]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

  (Mr. DEUTCH asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. DEUTCH. Madam Speaker, let's be clear. The longest shutdown in 
our history is not about border security. Both Democrats and 
Republicans agree we need strong border security; we need new 
technology; we need stronger ports of entry; and we need more 
personnel.
  But the President is tossing aside what we agree upon so that he can 
hit taxpayers for $5 billion for his wall, and he is making 800,000 
hardworking Federal employees and contractors, and their loved ones, 
pay an even higher price right now.
  I have heard from constituents who should be working as aviation 
safety inspectors to keep our skies safe. Instead, one is waiting in 
the unemployment office. One cabin safety inspector is struggling to 
pay for cancer medication. Another is negotiating a payment plan for 
his mother's care, and his mother is an 88-year-old veteran living with 
dementia.
  Let's end the pain of this shutdown, reopen the government, get 
Federal workers back on the job and being paid. We can work together to 
strengthen our borders, and we can treat asylum seekers with respect.

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