[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 15766]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




      IN SUPPORT OF FISHING GUIDES IN THE EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK

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                         HON. ALCEE L. HASTINGS

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Friday, October 11, 2013

  Mr. HASTINGS of Florida. Mr. Speaker, as a result of the government 
shutdown, middle class and working poor Americans all across this 
country are suffering, including fishing guides whose livelihood 
depends on tourism in Florida's Everglades National Park.
  On October 9, 2013, nine days into the government shutdown, more than 
100 boats gathered outside the shuttered Everglades National Park to 
rally support for re-opening park waters. I wholeheartedly support the 
efforts of these hardworking fishing guides.
  One guide stated that he has lost $10,000 in revenue since the waters 
were closed. There are around 350 such licensed guides in the area 
alone, not to mention the hundreds of employees who work in and around 
the park. It is time that Speaker Boehner and his Republican colleagues 
stop this charade, end the government shutdown, and let people get back 
to work.
  This shutdown exemplifies government at its worst. American families 
should not fall victim to Washington's dysfunction. Wrong-headed 
cynical politics is interrupting the life, liberty and pursuit of 
happiness of American workers who have done nothing wrong. Government 
is supposed to help its citizens, not make it harder for them to put 
food on the table.
  Mr. Speaker, the bottom line is that Congress must re-open the 
government. South Florida's fishing guides are ready to work. It is 
absolutely outrageous that politics is standing in their way.

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