[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 10]
[House]
[Page 14599]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                              ANTISHUTDOWN

  (Mr. PETERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Mr. PETERS. Mr. Speaker, unless we act soon, our government's 
functions will cease in 10 days. At the end of October, transportation 
and highway constructions will halt. Instead, Congress can do the right 
thing to create jobs for millions of Americans across this country.
  This summer, the regular process for funding the government broke 
down because the majority couldn't figure out its stance on the 
Confederate flag. Today, partisan extremists are threatening another 
shutdown over women's health care that would be a self-inflicted hit to 
our economy.
  We know that shutting down the government would be devastating for 
our economy. Standard & Poor's estimated that the 2013 shutdown cost 
our economy $24 billion in economic activity; so instead of flirting 
with the government shutdown disaster, we should be investing in our 
future.
  Twice this summer, Congress did the bare minimum by passing multiple, 
short-term extensions to the highway trust fund, mostly through 
accounting gimmicks. Across the board, from workers organizations to 
business groups, there is opposition to a government shutdown and 
support for long-term investments in infrastructure.
  We should get to work, making it easier for Americans to grow their 
businesses and to create high-quality jobs instead of punishing our 
infrastructure, our military, and our economy with foolish 
partisanship.

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