[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 10 (Thursday, January 17, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S288]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           GOVERNMENT FUNDING

  Mr. SCHUMER. First, I want to echo the words of my colleague, our 
great ranking member of Health and Human Services, Senator Murray.
  Now, look, folks. As the Trump shutdown drags into its 27th day, the 
pain inflicted on our country, our citizens, and our economy grows. The 
Council of Economic Advisers said the shutdown would hurt our economy 
twice as much

[[Page S288]]

as originally projected. Experts are predicting it could wipe out the 
entire first quarter of economic growth.
  At airports, an understaffed TSA means longer and longer lines. 
Yesterday, the executive vice president of the National Air Traffic 
Controllers Association said that flying ``is less safe today than a 
month ago, absolutely.''
  Hundreds of thousands of public servants are suffering. I can give a 
list of a long number. President Trump, this shutdown--your shutdown--
has gone on too long. Why is President Trump punishing folks like so 
many of my constituents who have nothing to do with disagreements about 
borders?
  If you sense exasperation in my tone, you are right. We Democrats are 
exasperated. All we want to do is reopen the government. We are happy 
to debate border security with the President and our Republican 
colleagues--happy to. But let's reopen the government.
  My Republican friends here, both the President and Leader McConnell, 
are ignoring the overwhelming will of the American people. We urge our 
colleagues to think about this. We know that President Trump is not 
interested in ending the shutdown. Leader McConnell knows he has the 
power to end the shutdown. The only reason we are in this prolonged 
stalemate is that my friend the Republican leader refuses to take up 
any legislation to reopen government. We should do it now.
  I yield the floor.

                          ____________________