[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 14 (Wednesday, January 23, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H1006-H1007]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                            END THE SHUTDOWN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Illinois (Ms. Kelly) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. KELLY of Illinois. Madam Speaker, I rise today because 800,000 
Federal workers--7,400 of who live and work in Illinois--are furloughed 
or working without pay because of this unnecessary Trump shutdown.
  Today I want to talk about two of them. The first is a constituent 
from the south suburbs of my district. Before joining the Federal 
Government workforce, he proudly served our Nation during the Vietnam 
war. He fought for his country. He risked his life for this country.
  When he came back from the war, he continued to serve. In fact, he 
served 46 years in the government working to help his fellow Americans 
find opportunities and bridges to a better life. After 46 years and 
because of the declining health of his wife, he decided that it was 
time to retire. Given his career, I would say it is a well-deserved 
retirement. So he filed his paperwork, but, sadly, it was 2 days before 
the Trump shutdown started. His retirement application has yet to be 
processed. He has yet to receive his final paycheck and cannot access 
his TSP or 401(k) because he doesn't have his official retirement 
documents.
  Madam Speaker, this is insane. It is insane that this President--a 
five-time draft dodger--would treat a Vietnam veteran with such 
outright disdain. But, honestly, I am not sure he cares.
  While this story is especially upsetting, it is not the only story. 
Another of my constituents was featured yesterday on ``CBS This 
Morning.'' His family has three kids; two of them are autistic. After 
years of dedicated government service, his family was denied his 
paycheck and likely won't receive his next scheduled paycheck either. 
In order to make ends meet, they are dipping into their savings--
savings meant to provide for the long-term care of their children.
  Is this really the way we want to treat Americans--let alone 
Americans who have dedicated their careers to serving our great 
country?
  Madam Speaker, these are just two stories of many. Right now there 
are dozens of Active Duty Coast Guard at Station Calumet Harbor risking 
their lives to save others and to protect the homeland who aren't 
getting paid. These are Active Duty servicemembers, and they were told 
to hold yard sales or babysit to make ends meet without paychecks.
  Are you serious?
  President Trump wants Active Duty Coast Guardsmen to sell their 
families' memories because he is throwing a temper tantrum and shut 
down the government. It is just madness, plain and simple.
  I have a message to President Trump about his border wall: You have 
lost. This game is over, and you are hurting people like this Vietnam 
war veteran. You have lost, and you are not going to get it. End this 
Trump shutdown and then have a real serious conversation on border 
security and comprehensive immigration reform.
  In fact, I will promise right here and right now, Mr. President, if 
you are serious about solving issues--and there are definitely issues 
that need to be solved--I will be the first one at the table. Reopen 
the government, Mr. President. I will be there to talk about real 
bipartisan reforms that will enhance border security and prevent more 
families from being cruelly torn apart by a broken immigration system.
  Madam Speaker, while this is a Trump shutdown, he has dangerous 
enablers in Congress. The biggest one is just a few steps away in the 
Senate, the Senate majority leader.
  I also have a message for the Senate majority leader, the gentleman 
from Kentucky: Call a vote on any of the bipartisan funding bills that 
this House--the people's House--has sent over to the Senate. Call a 
vote and reopen the government. Call a vote for the 6,400 Kentuckians 
working without pay or not working in your State. You were elected to 
serve the people of Kentucky, not the whims of the man in the White 
House. Mr. Majority Leader, it is time to do your job.

  In closing, Madam Speaker, I want to thank my colleagues on the other 
side of the aisle who have joined our efforts to reopen government. 
Each vote gets a few more. These are hardworking, commonsense men and 
women who want to do their job. They want to serve their constituents 
and make America a better place.

[[Page H1007]]

  Together with House Democrats, they are standing up to President 
Trump and his illogical wall. Together with House Democrats they are 
saying: reopen the government. Together with House Democrats, they know 
that we can't secure our border if border agents aren't being paid and 
if Active Duty Coast Guardsmen are not being paid, and we can't secure 
public safety if FBI agents aren't being paid.
  Madam Speaker, my constituents and hundreds of thousands of other 
families are suffering because of this Trump shutdown. I am proud to 
have voted with every House Democrat to reopen the government to pay 
our Active Duty servicemembers and restore government services. It is 
time for the Senate and President Trump to show the same commitment to 
our economy, our national security, and the hardworking men and women 
who serve this Nation as Federal Government employees.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to direct their remarks 
to the Chair and to refrain from engaging in personalities toward the 
President.

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