[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 147 (Tuesday, September 12, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H4237]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          WE MUST BAND TOGETHER TO ADVANCE AMERICAN INTERESTS

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New 
York (Mr. Santos) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. SANTOS. Madam Speaker, today Congress returns to session after a
6-week break, and I hope we are all motivated by the input we heard 
while back home with the same people who sent us here to represent them 
in the body.
  I am urging my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to put the 
partisan rhetoric aside and get to work on delivering results for the 
American people.
  I ask that we start by addressing the funding of our government via 
the appropriations process to ensure we do not have a government 
shutdown.
  A vast majority of Americans are struggling to make ends meet, and a 
lot of those folks are in our Nation's Armed Forces. A shutdown would 
only hurt the very people who are putting their lives at risk for all 
of us.
  Madam Speaker, I am certain that we can all rise above the din of the 
media's attempts to influence what comes out of these Chambers.
  I believe we can set aside our political differences and work 
together for the sake of our country, just as we did 22 years ago 
following the tragedies of 9/11.
  Let's not forget that in the most solemn times in our Nation, we all 
banded together the strongest to advance America's interests.
  Madam Speaker, I would like to end with observing a moment of silence 
in recognition of all who have fallen due to the unspeakable acts of 
September 11, 2001.

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