[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]




                         REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT

  (Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Ms. MUCARSEL-POWELL. Madam Speaker, Daniel Garcia-Barbon has been an 
air traffic controller for 10 years at Miami International Airport. It 
has been his life's dream to help passengers travel our skies. But last 
Friday Daniel was one of thousands of Floridians who received a pay 
stub in the amount of zero. He was forced to cancel his 4-year-old's 
birthday, and he is unsure how much longer he can afford to support his 
family.
  Our government is failing our public servants.
  I would like to ask this President and the Republican Party if they 
understand the value of the work that Daniel and thousands of other 
Floridians do to keep us safe.
  We Floridians have weathered many storms, including this shutdown, 
but we always come together. Just this weekend, I witnessed kindness 
from an owner of a creole restaurant in the airport who was offering 
lunches to Federal employees.
  This shutdown must end. It is preposterous to punish thousands of 
Americans for political gain. The Senate has a constitutional duty, and 
it must rein in this reckless President.
  Madam Speaker, today, once again, I stand here before you to implore 
the Senate to reopen the government.

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