[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 15 (Thursday, January 24, 2019)]
[House]
[Pages H1196-H1197]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

  (Ms. PLASKETT asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. PLASKETT. Madam Speaker, I also rise to share a shutdown story 
from my district in the U.S. Virgin Islands.
  Vanessa Thomas, a resident of St. Thomas, shared a heartfelt story 
with me on her personal experience with the government shutdown.
  In 2017, less than 2 years ago, she lost her home in the two 
hurricanes that we had. Her home insurance is through the USDA Rural 
Development program.
  Prior to the shutdown, she did not receive homeowners insurance 
payments regularly. Now, with the shutdown, she is forced to use her 
own money to pay

[[Page H1197]]

for materials and labor to repair her home. She has to choose between 
having her daughter sit out a semester in college or saving her home.
  This is one among many stories that are threatening residents of our 
country.
  Today, I strongly urge the President to end this shutdown now, 
immediately.
  Today, we cannot continue using Federal employees and Federal funds 
as pawns in a political game.

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