House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita M. Lowey delivered the following remarks on the House Floor in support of H.J. Res. 28, a Continuing Resolution to reopen the federal government through February 28:
Mr. Speaker, today is the 27th day of the Trump Shutdown, the longest government shutdown in American history.
Hardworking public servants are seeing their financial security jeopardized.
Small businesses are being frozen out of critical contracting and loan programs. Businesses of all sizes are being hurt by delayed regulatory approvals and a lack of government data.
Farmers are unable to access vital federal services.
Our National Parks are being vandalized and filling up with garbage. Critical environmental inspections to protect families and communities have stopped.
Lines at airports are swelling, as many TSA workers can't afford to work without pay.
Mr. Speaker, this is unacceptable. But unfortunately, we heard yesterday in this very House that Republicans think reopening the government is a poison pill. That, my friends, is unbelievable.
We can and must do better - which is why House Democrats are bringing up our ninth piece of legislation to reopen the government and end the Trump Shutdown.
This Continuing Resolution would provide an additional option for President Trump and Senate Republicans to take yes for an answer and end the shutdown. It would reopen government through Feb. 28, providing time for Congress to come to a full-year agreement without further jeopardizing vital services or the pay of federal employees.
The order of business should be simple: Reopen the government, pay federal employees, and then negotiate on border security and immigration policy. It is long past time for my colleagues across the aisle and across the Capitol to come to their senses and end this shutdown.
Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to support this legislation and reopen the government through February 28.
Source: U.S. Department of HCA
