January 24, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 15 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page H1195]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          AIR TRAFFIC CONTROLLERS SUFFER THROUGH THE SHUTDOWN

  (Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER asked and was given permission to address the 
House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
  Ms. BLUNT ROCHESTER. Madam Speaker, on this, the 34th day of the 
longest shutdown in American history, I sat down with a group of air 
traffic controllers in my office today.
  These workers told me about how an already stressful job has been 
made even worse by this shutdown, that many of them are working 6 days 
a week, 10 hours a day with no pay.
  They know that their work requires no mistakes because it is life and 
death, but to make matters even worse, 30 percent of them are already 
stretched thin and currently are eligible to retire, and many are 
considering retiring earlier so that they can at least get a paycheck.
  In the words of Ranika, one of the air traffic controllers: This 
shutdown is the perfect storm for a national emergency.
  Madam Speaker, the collateral damage of this shutdown is difficult to 
fathom, but this much is clear: Every day that goes by, we are less 
safe, our economy is more weakened, and all Americans from all 
backgrounds suffer.
  This must end. Open the government.

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