[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14861]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Thompson) for 5 minutes.
  Mr. THOMPSON of Pennsylvania. Mr. Speaker, a government shutdown--no 
matter the duration--is a failure on a part of this institution to 
fulfill its most basic function.
  The House has voted to fully fund the government and prevent this 
shutdown. The Senate dragged its feet and refused to pass anything for 
days.
  We have also used every opportunity to protect Americans from the 
health care law's most harmful provisions. The Senate leader has been 
unwilling to allow an up-or-down vote on even the most reasonable 
change.
  The law's medical device tax that is costing jobs in the Commonwealth 
of Pennsylvania is supported by both Senators Casey and Toomey and 
previously passed the Senate by a bipartisan vote of 79-20. This was 
part of the House bill. It was rejected by Senator Reid.
  Each and every day I hear from my constituents about how the health 
care law is either harming their economic situation or impeding access 
to quality and affordable care.
  There is an appropriate way to conduct budget negotiations and that 
is through a normal procedure of appointing a conference committee to 
work out the difference. The House did that last night. We appointed 
our conferees. The Senate rejected even that measure earlier today.
  The American people deserve better. It is time for the Senate leaders 
to lead.

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