[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 156 (Tuesday, September 26, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H4471]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                      FOOL ME TWICE, SHAME ON YOU

  (Mr. CASTEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Speaker, there was a time in Washington less than a 
year ago when if the Speaker of the House of Representatives gave you 
their word, it meant something.
  That is no longer true.
  Earlier this year, Speaker McCarthy stood in the Oval Office with the 
President of the United States and negotiated a deal to raise the debt 
limit and fund the government. Today, instead of keeping his end of the 
deal, Speaker McCarthy is refusing to even allow bills to come to the 
floor that would honor that promise and avert a government shutdown.
  His failures mean that 1.3 million Active-Duty troops will have to 
continue to work but not be paid for their service.
  His failures mean that 7 million women and children will not receive 
the nutrition assistance that they depend on.
  His failures mean that every one of you can expect flight 
disruptions, less border security, fewer food and rail safety 
inspections.
  There is an old saying, Mr. Speaker: Fool me once, shame on you; fool 
me twice, shame on me. Shame on Speaker McCarthy for forcing the 
American people to suffer all this foolishness.

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