[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 15 (Thursday, January 24, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H1190-H1191]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




               SHUTTING DOWN GOVERNMENT IS FAILED POLICY

  (Ms. HOULAHAN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. HOULAHAN. Madam Speaker, I rise to speak on behalf of Megan and 
Rick, and their children, from Pennsylvania's Sixth.
  Rick answered the call after 9/11 to join the Air National Guard. He 
was deployed to Iraq in 2007 and Afghanistan in 2008, and then hired as 
an air traffic controller on a veteran preference. Currently, the 
family's only income is Rick's.
  In day 34, Megan now is selling items online to try to get income for 
their family because they have no idea how long this shutdown will 
last. She has called their daughter's preschool to see if they can 
withdraw her and get a refund for the remainder of the school year. She 
now has an appointment with SNAP this week for food assistance for her 
and her family.
  Rick loves his job. He takes pride in what he does, but this is 
taking a toll on him as well. The family's last-ditch plan is to pull 
from their 401(k)'s and

[[Page H1191]]

incur severe penalties to be able to keep a roof over their heads.
  This tragedy is playing out in household after household in my 
community.
  I am a third generation veteran. Border protection is an imperative 
and a real issue, but a shutdown is not the answer. I rise for the 
people like Megan and Rick, because shutting down the government is 
failed policy.

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