The Honorable Donna F. Edwards
Providing for Consideration of the Senate Amendment to
H.J. RES. 59, making continuing appropriations for fiscal year 2014
September 28, 2013
Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to this rule and to the underlying amendments.
I want to be very clear. I don’t even have a voice, but I want to let America know that House Republicans are shutting down the government. They are doing it intentionally. They are doing it on purpose.
Mr. Speaker, 1.4 million Active Duty personnel won’t get their paychecks. About half of the Federal civilian employees won’t get paid. Those who do show up at work won’t be paid. House Republicans are shutting down the government. Even as we mourn the tragedy at the Navy Yard here in Washington, Active Duty military would be guaranteed to receive their pay, but their civilian counterparts, who risk their lives in service to the mission, would not. House Republicans are shutting down the government. We are losing waves of Federal employees in furloughs. We are undermining their benefits and freezing their salaries.
I urge my colleagues to reject this.
Tonight, I want it to be known that the Senate won’t take it up. The President won’t sign it. House Republicans are shutting down the government.
