[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 15179]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                          GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

  (Mr. VEASEY asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. VEASEY. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to speak out against this 
unnecessary Republican-led government shutdown.
  Republicans should work with Democrats to keep our government open. 
Republicans have cut off basic government services relied upon by 
millions of Americans, including millions of Americans who call 
themselves Republicans.
  This effort to shut down our government is costing hardworking 
taxpayers millions of dollars. 800,000 Federal employees around the 
country didn't go to work this week and will not return to work until 
Republicans end this senseless shutdown.
  Instead of working across the aisle, Republicans would rather score 
political points by the Tea Party. They would rather take our 
government hostage over an issue that was voted on in March of 2010, 
upheld by the Supreme Court in June of 2012, and held to a public 
referendum by the reelection of President Obama in November of 2012.
  The Affordable Care Act is law. It has gone through the checks and 
balances of our government and should not be an issue when it comes to 
funding our government.
  I ask my Republican colleagues to let us return to reason. Let's keep 
our government running. Let's do the right thing. Stop these games, 
stop the obstruction, and let's get back to work on real issues.

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