[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 20, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H4416]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Massachusetts (Mrs. Trahan) for 5 minutes.
  Mrs. TRAHAN. Mr. Speaker, we have 10 days until House Republicans 
force a catastrophic government shutdown; 10 days until the food 
assistance that nearly 50 million Americans rely on, including 6 
million women and children, is put in jeopardy; 10 days until seniors 
struggling with the Social Security or Medicare issue can't get someone 
on the phone to get their benefit or to keep their coverage; 10 days 
until the loans small businesses depend on to pay their workers and 
keep their doors open are delayed for who knows how long.

                              {time}  1045

  Mr. Speaker, we have seen this train wreck before.
  Republicans shut down the government for over a month in 2018 while 
they demanded billions in taxpayer funds for Donald Trump's border 
wall, the same one that Mexico was supposed to pay for.
  That shutdown lasted 35 days, hurting families and reducing our 
economic output by $11 billion, much of which was never recovered. It 
only ended after planes were grounded at major airports due to the 
strain on air traffic controllers, who were working around the clock 
with no pay to avert a major disaster.
  Here we are again. It is Republican shutdown deja vu. Extreme MAGA 
Republicans are once again holding the American people hostage in 
exchange for dangerous policies and a politically motivated 
impeachment.
  You don't have to take my word for it. Just listen to the demands 
from my colleagues across the aisle. One of our colleagues, a 
Congresswoman from Georgia, tweeted that she would not vote to fund the 
government if Congress doesn't pursue an impeachment inquiry against 
President Biden. Others are trying to roll back abortion protections 
for women serving in our military regardless of where they are 
stationed.
  To pretty much no one's surprise, Speaker McCarthy has folded like a 
cheap suit on every single one of their demands. That still hasn't been 
enough to get Republicans on board with this new plan, a breakthrough 
that would slash funding for the home heating assistance that thousands 
of families in my home State of Massachusetts depend on each winter; 
eliminate access to Head Start and childcare programs for nearly 
200,000 children nationwide; and cut off access to housing vouchers for 
20,000 veterans and 90,000 seniors, pushing them closer to 
homelessness.
  This deal hashed out by Republicans for Republicans was a disaster 
from the start, and the fact that it fell apart even quicker than it 
came together is embarrassing for the majority of this Chamber.
  It is amateur hour, but the stakes are too high, and the American 
people deserve better.
  Mr. Speaker, there are 212 Democrats standing by whenever your party 
is ready to get serious and do what needs to be done. There are 212 
votes standing by to keep our government open, to keep veterans housed, 
to keep our children fed.
  I encourage Speaker McCarthy and my colleagues across the aisle to 
avert this disaster before it is too late. Put a clean funding package 
on the floor, and let's pass it together.
  That is our job. It is your job, and the American people expect you 
to do it.

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