[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 159 (2013), Part 11]
[House]
[Page 15884]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                LET'S DEAL WITH OUR DEBT AND OUR DEFICIT

  (Mr. BERA of California asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute.)
  Mr. BERA of California. Mr. Speaker, day No. 15.
  Today is day No. 15 of the government shutdown. We are less than 48 
hours away from defaulting on our bills. We have never done that in the 
history of the United States of America.
  Mr. Speaker, if we don't pay our bills, that would be reckless 
behavior and that would be irresponsible.
  But we are seeing some progress.
  First, it seems like both the House and the Senate have agreed to 
open up government until January 15. Let's make that happen.
  Second, it seems like both the House and the Senate agree to lift the 
debt ceiling until February 7. Let's make that happen.
  But let's do step number three, which says, let's set a budget 
process in place that negotiates a budget that starts to deal with our 
debt and our deficit so we can get out of this crisis mode and start 
getting about the business of creating jobs.
  Mr. Speaker, now is the time for leadership.
  Mr. Speaker, we are close. Let's get this done for the American 
people.

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