[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14864]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
             TODAY IS A SAD AND SHAMEFUL DAY FOR OUR NATION

  (Ms. HAHN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. HAHN. Mr. Speaker, today is a sad and shameful day for our 
Nation. For the first time in 17 years, our government has been forced 
into a shutdown.
  This morning, many of our veterans, seniors, and over 800,000 
hardworking government workers, including as many as 170,000 from 
California, woke up to a new day of great uncertainty.
  I'm saddened and terribly disappointed that the Republicans have 
chosen this irresponsible path. We get it: you hate the Affordable Care 
Act. But we should not shut down the people's government to sabotage a 
law that provides millions of Americans with affordable health care for 
the first time.
  It's also a good day because I'm already hearing reports from people 
back in California that our State's health care exchange is off to a 
great start. And as a mother, I'm happy and relieved that my own 32-
year-old, uninsured son finally has access to the health care he needs.
  Keeping the government running is our most basic responsibility as 
lawmakers. Let's end this embarrassment today and get back to the 
business of the American people, and vote on a clean bill that will 
fund the government and end this shutdown.

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