[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 158 (Thursday, September 28, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H4718]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         FUNDING THE GOVERNMENT

  (Ms. McCLELLAN asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. McCLELLAN. Madam Speaker, I rise today to urge my Republican 
colleagues to stop the partisan brinksmanship and join House Democrats 
and Senate Democrats and Republicans in our efforts to fully fund the 
government.
  Back in April, Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans negotiated a 
deal with the White House to avoid a catastrophic default on our 
national debt, which stipulated fiscal year 2024 spending levels remain 
at 2023 levels. It passed with bipartisan support 314-117. Now Speaker 
McCarthy is reneging on this agreement as the extreme MAGA Republican 
wing of his chaos caucus drives us towards a government shutdown.
  Realizing that their extreme agenda cannot pass on its own merits and 
does not align with the wishes of the American people, they are 
attempting to load down must-pass pieces of legislation with their 
harmful policy riders and severe cuts. The American people deserve 
better.
  In Virginia, we have the second highest number of Federal employees. 
We have over 130,000 Active-Duty military personnel who will be 
wondering if they can get paid. It is a very big deal. They deserve 
better, and I urge my Republican colleagues to stop their games and 
stop holding the appropriations process hostage.

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