[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 159 (Friday, September 29, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H4899]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  WHY THE GOVERNMENT IS SHUTTING DOWN

  (Mr. CARBAJAL asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute.)
  Mr. CARBAJAL. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to ask why.
  Why are we, with hours to go before a government shutdown, wasting 
precious time debating bills that are so extreme, so backward, that 
they clearly have no chance of becoming law?
  Why, this week, have we spent more time voting to defund individual 
salaries of public servants than passing a bill that would prevent 
millions from going unpaid?
  Why are we focused on the baseless and bogus impeachment inquiry than 
the fact that if we do not prevent a shutdown, we will be asking 
members of our military, our law enforcement officers, our TSA agents, 
and our traffic controllers all to come to work to protect our Nation 
without a paycheck?
  The livelihoods of thousands of families in my district are being put 
at risk, as well as the benefits of millions more--nutrition benefits, 
SBA loans, taxpayer assistance, and Social Security services.
  Mr. Speaker, I ask why, but I also ask when. When will this Chamber 
get back to governing, get off this fantasy island of budgeting and 
actually govern?

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