February 13, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 28 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E169]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




IN RECOGNITION OF THE OUTSTANDING SERVICE BY FEDERAL WORKERS DURING THE 
            LONGEST GOVERNMENT SHUTDOWN IN AMERICAN HISTORY

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. RAJA KRISHNAMOORTHI

                              of illinois

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, February 13, 2019

  Mr. KRISHNAMOORTHI. Madam Speaker, today I rise to honor the federal 
workers, both in my district and across the country, who went without 
pay during the government shutdown.
  Across the country, about 800,000 federal employees went without pay 
for 35 days during the shutdown from December 22nd to January 25th. 
This wrongheaded situation was hard on all the affected workers, but it 
was particularly difficult for the 110,000 affected federal employees 
who earn $50,000 or less annually. Despite not being paid, more than 
420,000 employees were required to work for weeks on end. Worse still, 
these employees had to live with the uncertainty of not knowing when 
the shutdown would end, and when they would be paid again. Furloughs 
and delayed paychecks are not the right way to treat our hard-working 
employees who provide critical services to Americans across the 
country, and they are the wrong way to run an effective and functioning 
government.
  Despite a misguided lapse in appropriations, many workers in my 
community and nationwide admirably and dutifully continued working 
without pay. Air traffic controllers at the O'Hare International 
Airport, and other American airports, worked without pay to ensure 
planes could take off and land safely. TSA Agents worked without pay so 
that Americans could travel safely, keeping our economy thriving. IRS 
and Treasury employees worked without pay to ensure our constituents 
could process their tax returns and plan for their financial security. 
HUD employees worked without pay so that society's most vulnerable, our 
low-income and senior citizens, had safe housing. USDA employees worked 
without pay so that our food would be inspected, and so working 
families could receive food aid, preserving public health and family 
wellbeing. Employees at the National Park Service worked without pay to 
protect our sacred public spaces. National Weather Service Employees 
worked without pay to provide critical weather information that we rely 
on daily for comfort and accessibility. Madam Speaker, these employees 
worked tirelessly for the good of their country, even when their 
government wasn't working for them.
  Unfortunately, this lack of pay required working families to turn to 
food banks, food pantries and other charitable organizations. These 
incredible civic organizations, including many faith-based 
organizations and places of worship, are the lifeblood of our local 
communities. Their life-saving services during this difficult time will 
not be forgotten.
  Moving forward, I am committed to working with my colleagues in a 
bipartisan fashion to prevent future government shutdowns at all costs 
so that no Americans--including federal workers and citizens who rely 
on critical government services--will have to suffer the consequences 
of another government shutdown.
  To quote the late civil rights icon Martin Luther King, Jr.: ``The 
ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort 
and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and 
controversy.'' In this moment of severe controversy, and in the face of 
extraordinary challenges, federal workers persevered for the betterment 
of their community. I want to recognize the vital work and sacrifice of 
these brave Americans. Their outstanding performance during the 
shutdown will always be remembered.

                          ____________________