Continuing Appropriations Act, 2024 and Other Extensions Act

Floor Speech

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Mrs. MILLER-MEEKS. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this continuing resolution to responsibly keep the government open for 45 days. Shutting down the government should be a last resort. My priority has always been to protect and represent my constituents to the best of my ability, and I cannot justify shutting down our entire government over obscure policy decisions.

Government shutdowns have real consequences on American lives. My dad was an enlisted master sergeant in the Air Force, my mom had a GED, and they both worked. My dad often had extra jobs on the weekend. I grew up watching my dad at the kitchen table calculating how long it would take to mail a bill so that the bill would get there after his one single paycheck a month came in. Every single month, I watched that. He knew exactly how many days it took.

A lapse in pay for these individuals means going without food. These are real people that would be affected by the political games both sides in Washington are playing.

To our nearly 10,000 hardworking Iowans in our district that work for the Federal Government and are out of work, from heads of departments to law enforcement officers to cafeteria workers to the Iowa National Guard men and women who are protecting our southern border, I assure you that I will remain steadfastly committed to keeping the government open because at the end of the day I know your bills are still due.

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