[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]





    HELPING SERVICEMEMBERS AND FAMILIES DURING A GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

  (Mrs. SYKES asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Mrs. SYKES. Mr. Speaker, while extremists threaten to shut down the 
government if they don't receive reckless cuts to vital programs that 
families in Ohio's 13th Congressional District rely on, like Social 
Security, K-12 education, and nutrition assistance, I am committed to 
funding the government and keeping these critical services running.
  My constituents are worried about how they will pay their bills or 
put food on the table if the government shuts down. That is why I 
introduced two bills last week, the Pay Our Military Act and the Feed 
Our Families Act. Both put people over politics to protect Americans' 
livelihoods in the case of a government shutdown.
  The bipartisan Pay Our Military Act would ensure our servicemembers, 
people who sacrifice every day to keep our country safe, aren't forced 
to serve without pay.
  The Feed Our Families Act would ensure no family who relies on SNAP 
benefits goes hungry throughout the shutdown.
  House Republicans can easily prevent a government shutdown by simply 
upholding their end of the bipartisan budget agreement, but if they 
won't, I remain committed to Ohio's 13th Congressional District and our 
country.
  It is time to stop the political games. Put the American people first 
and fund our government. In the event that extremists won't--which it 
seems like they won't, based on the shenanigans and utter foolishness 
of today--I encourage my colleagues to support and bring to the floor 
the Pay Our Military Act and the Feed Our Families Act.

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