[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

  (Mr. McGOVERN asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, this morning, Commerce Secretary Wilbur 
Ross, the Marie Antoinette of the Trump administration, said he 
``doesn't understand why Federal workers need to go to food banks.'' 
Oh, my God. He might as well have said: Let them eat cake.
  This President and his Cabinet are so out of touch, it is pathetic. 
Here are just a few emails I have gotten this week.
  A law enforcement officer in my district says: ``We struggle, but 
pinch pennies so our child can attend a good school. My mortgage 
company put us in no-pay status. The shutdown is putting us at risk of 
losing our home.''
  A Customs and Border Patrol employee says: ``We have bills to pay, 
like nursery school and daycare. What's going to happen to us? I am 
sick over this.''
  A Fish and Wildlife Service worker writes: ``I am proud to serve the 
American public. But right now, I can't even serve my family dinner.''
  Madam Speaker, President Trump's publicity stunt is hurting America's 
hardworking public servants. It is cruel. Shame on him and shame on 
Majority Leader McConnell for refusing to end this shutdown. He, along 
with the President, need to grow up. They need to do their job, and 
they need to reopen this government now.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Members are reminded to refrain from 
engaging in personalities toward the President.

                          ____________________