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

[Page H1196]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1700
                          GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN

  (Ms. WATERS asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 
minute.)
  Ms. WATERS. Madam Speaker, today, thousands of air traffic 
controllers, who we know are essential to our safety and work in one of 
the most stressful work environments, have had to work without being 
paid for 34 days.
  Unions for air traffic controllers, pilots, and flight attendants 
released a letter today describing the impact of this shutdown. This is 
what they wrote: ``We have a growing concern for the safety and 
security of our members, our airlines, and the traveling public due to 
the government shutdown. This is already the longest government 
shutdown in the history of the United States, and there is no end in 
sight. In our risk-averse industry, we cannot even calculate the level 
of risk currently at play nor predict the point at which the entire 
system will break. It is unprecedented.''
  This is unconscionable.
  Mr. President, you took credit for this shutdown. You said you would 
accept the responsibility. You said you own this shutdown. Are you 
going to own and take responsibility for the loss of lives for a 
catastrophe that will be caused in the sky because you are holding the 
American people hostage for a political agenda that has no credibility 
whatsoever?

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