[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 89 (Thursday, May 25, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H2617]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          DEBT CEILING CRISIS

  (Mr. IVEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. IVEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today because the Republicans have 
skipped town. They are leaving behind a ransom note on the full faith 
and credit of the United States. One Republican Congressman said: ``My 
conservative colleagues don't feel like we should negotiate with our 
hostage,'' but the real hostages are American seniors, veterans, and 
working families.
  Donald Trump said: ``If they don't give you massive cuts, you are 
going to have to do a default,'' but that is not what he said back in 
2019. Back then, he said the debt ceiling was, ``a very sacred thing in 
our country that we can never play with.''
  He was right then.
  Instead of cutting costs on the backs of working people, we should 
require billionaires and corporations to pay their fair share, but 
Republicans in Congress would rather put veterans' healthcare on the 
chopping block. Most Americans, most Republicans, don't support that. 
Let's get serious and get back to work.

                          ____________________