[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 159 (Friday, September 29, 2023)]
[House]
[Page H4900]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  LACKING CONVICTION TO STOP SHUTDOWN

  (Mr. CASTEN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. CASTEN. Mr. Speaker, with the failure of that last vote, we are 
now less than 2 days away from shutting down the United States 
Government, not because we don't have a path forward, but because the 
party of Lincoln has been captured by the spirit of Yeats: The best of 
you lack all conviction, and the worst are filled with passionate 
intensity.
  Extreme Republicans with passionate intensity are choosing to destroy 
all that makes America great while their moderate enablers sit meekly, 
lacking the conviction to oppose.
  My question is, do any of you have a plan to land this plane? It 
seems weird that you skipped that part of flight school.
  Less than 2 days from now, every single American is going to feel the 
pain of this crash, every soldier who wants to get paid, every woman 
who wants food assistance for her child, everybody who needs housing 
support, everybody who is wondering if the train they are riding on has 
been inspected.
  We don't have to be here, Mr. Speaker, but we need some of you, any 
of you, to stand up.

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