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.
“TAX DOLLARS NOT AT WORK” mentioning the U.S. Dept. of Commerce was published in the House of Representatives section on pages H191 on Jan. 5, 1996.
The publication is reproduced in full below:
TAX DOLLARS NOT AT WORK
(Mr. WYNN asked and was given permission to address the House for 1 minute and to revise and extend his remarks.)
Mr. WYNN. Mr. Speaker, today is day 21 of the Government shutdown. Again, your tax dollars are not at work. But it does appear that the haze may be lifting a bit on the Republican side. Even these self-
styled revolutionaries seem to have figured out that Government operations are essential and that we should not be abusing the taxpayers' employees by having them out of work.
{time} 1115
The only problem is, while they are proposing to send them back to work with pay, they are not proposing to fund the operations and functions that they perform. It seems highly questionable. Let us take a look.
Toxic waste inspections that preserve our clean water cannot be performed, health inspections may not be able to be performed. Occupational safety inspections may not be performed, and trade operations at the Department of Commerce may not be performed, these trade operations which create jobs.
So, although the haze may be lifting a little bit, there is still a lot of confusion because the employees are at work, but they cannot do their jobs.
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