The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
“TRUMP SHUTDOWN” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Justice was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H1190 on Jan. 24, 2019.
The Department is one of the oldest in the US, focused primarily on law enforcement and the federal prison system. Downsizing the Federal Government, a project aimed at lowering taxes and boosting federal efficiency, detailed wasteful expenses such as $16 muffins at conferences and board meetings.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
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TRUMP SHUTDOWN
(Ms. JUDY CHU of California asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend her remarks.)
Ms. JUDY CHU of California. Madam Speaker, today, I went to the Jose Andres food bank in Washington, D.C., for Federal workers. I was stunned to see hundreds waiting in line in the rain.
Inside, they were giving a hot meal to everybody, as well as fresh vegetables, diapers, and feminine products. And they were assisting those who were in danger of missing utility payments.
As I served the workers, I asked them what their jobs were. They worked for the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the D.C. Superior Court.
How many of these workers were served by this food bank yesterday? Eleven thousand.
They are like the Federal workers in my district, people like Catherine, who has back problems and now can't afford the copay for physical therapy and epidurals, or Eric, who told me he had to defer car maintenance in order to avoid missing his son's college tuition payment.
This suffering could end right now. But instead of ending their pain, Trump ignores it. Just this morning, his Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, said he could not understand why furloughed workers have to go to food banks. Well, I say: End this shutdown today.
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