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[Page H367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
END THE SHUTDOWN AND REOPEN GOVERNMENT NOW
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from New
Hampshire (Mr. Pappas) for 5 minutes.
Mr. PAPPAS. Mr. Speaker, I am honored to say this is the first time
that I have addressed my constituents and my colleagues from the floor
of this House.
Under normal circumstances, I would be talking about creating new
jobs and new opportunities for my constituents in New Hampshire. I
would be talking about plans to rebuild our roads and bridges, to step
up our response to the opioid crisis. I would be sharing and discussing
ideas and proposals that can improve people's lives and move America
forward. But today's circumstances in this brand-new Congress are
anything but normal.
Instead of talking about how we can reform government, I am here to
plead with my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to simply reopen
government.
Mr. Speaker, today marks day 20 of the shutdown. After nearly 3 weeks
without a paycheck, Federal employees across the country are grappling
with how they will pay their rent, their mortgage, and their utility
bills. They are anxious about putting food on the table and providing
for their kids.
With no end in sight, thousands of workers in my State of New
Hampshire are facing tough questions. What if the shutdown lasts months
or even years, as this President has threatened? What will that mean
for their savings, for their jobs, and for their families? Will they be
forced to leave Federal service simply to stay afloat?
The treatment of our dedicated Federal workers is completely
unacceptable. As someone who operated a family business with 230
workers, I can tell you that shutting your doors and cutting off pay
for your employees is no way to run a business. It is certainly no way
to run the greatest country on Earth.
Mr. Speaker, this is the people's House, so today I am lifting up the
stories of everyday Granite Staters, who are suffering because of this
senseless shutdown.
I am here on behalf of a furloughed IRS worker from Sandown. Her bank
is denying her the interest-free loan they promised Federal workers,
because the furlough letter the IRS gave her was too vague. And, of
course, there is no one around at the IRS to write her a new one.
I am here on behalf of an air traffic controller from Derry who just
transferred airports and has been told she may not get back pay because
she was furloughed prior to starting her new assignment.
I am here on behalf of an FAA worker from Hampton who is being forced
to take unpaid leave to look after his wife who is going through a
health emergency. He is worrying about how he can possibly care for his
spouse without knowing when his next paycheck is going to arrive.
These workers from my district deserve better from our Nation's
leaders, and so do each and every one of the American people.
This fall, voters sent an unmistakable message: the way Washington
works simply isn't working for them. They want less drama and
dysfunction, more compromise and more common sense. They want leaders
who will put the national interest before their own partisan political
interest.
Instead of business as usual in Washington, it is time for Washington
to start operating more like a responsible business that looks out for
its workers. That means ending the shutdown now and making sure all of
our outstanding Federal employees and contractors are fully
compensated.
We have got to do better. For the sake of the more than 2,400 Federal
workers in New Hampshire who are currently furloughed or working
without pay and the more than 800,000 across this country, let's close
this dark chapter by immediately reopening the doors of our government.
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