TSA Office Inspection Accountability Act of 2015

Floor Speech

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Ms. McCOLLUM. Mr. Speaker, this Republican majority has driven the expectations of the American people so low that the very act of funding government operations has become a significant achievement. Unfortunately, the cost extraction by the Republican extremists for this 3-month clean CR was the resignation of Speaker Boehner, a good man who has served this House honorably.

Passing this CR, however, will keep the government working, which is critical to American families, their economy, and the safety and security of our Nation, and it continues to protect by providing healthcare coverage for women.

In 2013, when the Republicans shut down the government for 16 days, the U.S. economy lost $24 billion, and more than 100,000 Americans lost their jobs. The American people cannot afford another Republican shutdown. Passing this 3-month CR is the first step toward responsibly meeting the needs of the American people.

As a ranking Democrat on the Interior, Environment and Related Agencies Appropriations Subcommittee, I am pleased that this bill includes $700 million in emergency funds for Forest Service to fight wildland fires in Western States. This is critical funding.

The CR will keep our national parks open to the public, keep Native American healthcare and education programs operating, and prevent the furloughing of tens of thousands of Federal employees in the Department of the Interior and EPA.

I am going to vote to pass this continuing resolution, and I applaud all the Democrats and Republicans who will vote to pass the CR, but we need to work to find a bipartisan path forward to fund the government for the coming year. Our job is to serve the American people. The American people expect Congress to do their job. Today, I hope all Members will do their job and vote to pass this CR.

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