[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15409-15410]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                  END THE TRAVESTY AND DO WHAT'S RIGHT

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from 
Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee) for 5 minutes.
  Ms. JACKSON LEE. Mr. Speaker, I want to start this morning with 
something that we, as Democrats and Republicans, can immediately 
address.
  Coming from a State that has sent probably one of the largest 
percentages of men and women to our faraway shores as members of the 
United States military and, in particular, Afghanistan, I stand here 
today to reach out to the Pentagon and to others to be able to embrace 
the five families that are now facing the most devastating news: that 
their loved one was lost in Afghanistan in a war over the weekend.
  Yes, as we bring our troops home, as I've advocated for a very, very 
long time, as well in Iraq, our soldiers are still dying in a place of 
war.
  I want immediately for the $100,000 death benefit and the flight to 
Dover to be given to these families. I'm reaching out to the Pentagon, 
writing a letter, and asking that this be immediately resolved.
  Last week, we passed legislation to indicate that the United States 
military would continue to be paid. I, as a lawyer, not in military 
law, could make the argument and make it today on the floor of the 
House that that gives authority to provide those death benefits and, as 
well, the transportation cost to Dover Air Force Base.
  If we can do anything, if we cannot do much, we certainly can come 
together around the brave men and women in the United States military.
  This shutdown is shameful. It is indicative of the worst of not 
appreciating the institution of this place and the priority of the 
American people.
  But I know that there is a great love and affection and recognition 
that, but for those who leave this place, the United States of America, 
willingly, to sacrifice their lives on behalf of the great freedom that 
this country promotes, the constitutional government that this country 
supports, and is valued through the Constitution--there is no way that 
I will continue to stand here on this floor in the midst of a shutdown 
and allow this travesty to occur.
  So I am asking that we immediately respond to these individuals and 
these families, and we let them know that God loves them and so does 
this Nation, which appreciates and is grateful for the sacrifices of 
their loved ones.
  It is a grateful Nation, and we will not stand for this outrage that 
impacts these innocent families who now, not only are mourning the 
tragedy of the loss of a young life, but also the devastation of a 
response.
  I don't know why we continue in this shutdown that is, frankly, a 
situation that is, in essence, not following the parliamentary 
procedures.

                              {time}  1100

  We know that the process of budgeting is a separate process from 
opening the doors of the government, and I just cited the tragedy that 
I want to

[[Page 15410]]

have a solution to. But as I say that, I want us to have a solution to 
turning the tide on opening the government.
  We know that there are enough Republicans and Democrats who would 
vote for a clean bill to open this House right now. I say this because 
it pains me to hear of the tragedy that I just spoke of, which I look 
to be resolved within hours, and I say that broadly to the military 
families around America and around the world.
  But in addition to solving that crisis, we need to be able to open 
the government for veterans. In the next couple of days, they will see 
those veterans centers shut down. Those are the centers where veterans 
go for employment and benefit issues they have.
  A couple of weeks ago, I stood before the DeGeorge Hotel in Houston, 
Texas, which is now a veterans center and a home for homeless veterans. 
I was there with people who said, My life has not been the best. I 
served my country, but this is my home now. I don't want to move. I 
want to get on my feet and live in the DeGeorge Hotel.
  These are men and women who were willing to put on the Nation's 
uniform and offer themselves in Vietnam and many places around the 
world and now have come to a point where they're homeless and being 
served by veterans resources, and now we're telling them that they 
cannot have the services that they need.
  In a couple of days, the Federal courts are looking at possibly 
shutting down Federal courts.
  So, Mr. Speaker, I don't want to hear from one of our Republican 
friends saying, This is exactly what I wanted; I'm excited the 
government is shut down.
  Think of our military and our veterans. Let's come together to make a 
difference in this world.

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