[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 15 (Thursday, January 24, 2019)]
[House]
[Page H1193]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      END THE GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

  (Ms. HILL of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. HILL of California. Madam Speaker, I was elected to fight for the 
people of my district, to challenge the way things are done here in 
Washington, and make sure our government starts working for the people. 
But it can't work for the people when it is not working at all.
  It is not working for Christy, a hardworking air traffic controller, 
veteran, and single mother of two who is terrified. When she doesn't 
get her paycheck tomorrow, she won't be able to feed her kids. She 
works a good job. She shouldn't be afraid of meeting her kids' basic 
needs, and now she is looking for a job at night as a bartender.
  It is not working for Eric, a 17-year career employee at the Federal 
Aviation Agency. He wrote to me, ``As an integral part of the Nation's 
air traffic control system, my focus has always been, and will always 
be, on safety.''
  That is true for so many of the law enforcement officials, aviation 
specialists, and firefighters who are affected by this shutdown. They 
are focusing on our safety, and in return, they are not receiving pay 
for their work. Every day, that safety becomes more and more 
compromised.
  It is not working for Diane, who works for the Angeles National 
Forest and lives paycheck to paycheck as almost 80 percent of this 
country does. She is gearing up for the economic turmoil of not getting 
a second paycheck tomorrow.
  It is not working for John, who protects us, as a Federal prison 
guard, from terrorists, who is now driving Uber after his shifts in 
order to pay the bills.
  Madam Speaker, I ask my colleagues, the President, and our fellow 
Senators to open the government right now.

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