January 11, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 6 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                         REOPEN THE GOVERNMENT

  (Ms. STEVENS asked and was given permission to address the House for 
1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. STEVENS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to call on my colleagues and 
the President to reopen the government.
  Too many lives are being impacted. Too much is at stake. I cannot sit 
idly by and watch the impasse that continues to plague our country. I 
have been in constant discussions with my colleagues on both sides of 
the aisle to come to agreement, but to no avail.
  This shutdown is hurting our economy, causing distrust in our sacred 
democracy, and putting the lives of hundreds of thousands of Federal 
employees in limbo. This is unacceptable.
  There are currently 5,730 Federal employees in Michigan who are out 
of work. This shutdown is seriously impacting our country's safety and 
health.
  There are FDA labs in Detroit that inspect for food and drug safety 
and oversee the interdiction of items coming into our country. They 
must be allowed to continue, this work.
  The House just voted on the final appropriations bill to reopen the 
government. I urge my colleagues in the Senate and the President to put 
an end to this for once and for all, and to pass these bills.

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