[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14455]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




           LET'S WORK ON KEEPING THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT OPEN

  (Mr. POLIS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
  Mr. POLIS. Mr. Speaker, we are 2 weeks away from a shutdown of the 
Federal Government. What does that mean for communities like the one I 
represent in Colorado? Our Federal labs funding Federal research, 
funding for our universities, our national parks.
  When you hear about something like our national parks closing, many 
people think, okay, maybe it means I delay our vacation. What does it 
mean to the thousands of people who live in Estes Park and our 
communities in Grand County, supported almost entirely by Rocky 
Mountain National Park, which millions of Americans enjoy every year? 
If they curtail their season by several weeks, they can't afford the 
rent for their store and can't afford to put their kids through 
college.
  I also want to draw attention to the Land and Water Conservation 
Fund. After 50 years as one of our country's most successful recreation 
and conservation programs, funding needs to be reauthorized by 
September 30 or it could be lost forever.
  There are so many things we could be discussing with only 14 days 
until a government shutdown. Instead, this body is about to go into 
debating two bills which the President will veto which don't fund a 
single thing with regards to keeping the Federal Government open.
  Let's focus on what we need to do. Let's get to work. Let's make sure 
we can grow our economy and keep the Federal Government open.

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