Reopen Government

Floor Speech

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Ms. CASTOR of Florida. Madam Speaker, the House will vote again today to reopen the United States Government and end President Trump's government shutdown.

It is unwarranted and wrong to force our Coast Guard, TSA, Customs and Border officers, air traffic controllers, and others to work without pay.

One of my neighbors who runs a small business in Tampa in her retirement years to support her son with mental disabilities advised me that: As a tax preparer, I cannot get responses from the IRS that affect my clients.

Another neighbor, who hoped to retire by year's end and is also running out of hope, says: We are told there is no more funding after January 18 for the courts, and our colleagues in the U.S. Attorney's Office were not paid today, although they stay on the job prosecuting criminals.

Our TSA officers, Customs and Border officers, and air traffic controllers at Tampa International Airport are outstanding. Twelve-year Officer Luis Mendoza advised me that: I have experienced previous shutdowns and close calls, but I really feel that this one is going to be a tough one to get through. The officers in Tampa are trying to hang in there because we do believe in the oath we took to protect the flying public and guard against threats. But many are trying to figure out how to get through this.

Madam Speaker, I urge our Senate colleagues and President Trump to take up our bipartisan bill and reopen this government.

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