Government Shutdown Prevention Act of 2011

Floor Speech

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Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Speaker, generations of our nation's children have learned about civics and our American form of government in elementary school--and through iconic television programs like PBS' Schoolhouse Rock, where a singing Bill explains to his youthful audience the process by which, if he's lucky, he can become a law.

To this day, countless Americans still recall how the hopeful Bill gets stuck in committee before making it to the House floor, then has to start all over again in the Senate and even get signed by the President before finally becoming a law.

Today, the Republican majority wants to defund public television and pass legislation saying that an action taken by a single chamber of Congress can become law.

Our old friend Bill is distraught. After all these years, was he just getting a runaround? Were those pesky steps in the Senate and the White House really necessary? What is he going to tell the kids? How could he possibly have gotten it so wrong?

Madam Speaker, fortunately for us, and for the school children of America, Bill did not have it wrong. Article I, Section 7 of the Constitution clearly states: ``Every Bill which shall have passed the House of Representatives and the Senate, shall, before it become a Law, be presented to the President of the United States.''

Madam Speaker, the clock is ticking. The nation is waiting. The time for gimmicks and distractions and game playing is over. We have serious work to do. Let's move past this foolishness and negotiate a responsible continuing resolution for the American people.

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