[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15620-15621]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                LET'S VOTE AND KEEP THE GOVERNMENT OPEN

  (Ms. VELAZQUEZ asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. VELAZQUEZ. Mr. Speaker, across the country, Americans are asking 
a simple question: When will their government open?

[[Page 15621]]

  Every day, more Americans are denied services they need. Children who 
rely on Head Start are being turned away. New mothers and their infants 
are being denied nutritional assistance from WIC. Small businesses are 
losing demand for their services or are having trouble accessing loans 
guaranteed by the Small Business Administration, costing jobs we cannot 
afford to lose and at a time when our economy continues to struggle.
  While this is happening, what have our colleagues on the other side 
of the aisle done? They waste precious time with incremental bills that 
have no chance of enactment. That is not responsible governing. It is 
an excuse to put out a press release. The American people do not want 
more press releases. They want action.
  Every day that the government stays closed is a lost opportunity for 
our economy and our communities. Let's vote and keep this government 
open.

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