OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014

Floor Speech

Date: Sept. 30, 2013
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Health Insurance Government Budget and Spending

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Ms. DeLAURO. Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong opposition to this amendment. We are hours away from a shutdown of the Federal Government that will damage our economy and make life harder for millions of families, especially families living on the edge.

If the majority continues down this path, hundreds of thousands of workers will be sent home; many others will continue to work without pay; antihunger and nutrition support for women, infants, and children will dry up; home and small business lending will freeze; lifesaving research will be put on hold; parks and museums will close.

The one thing this will not stop is the Affordable Care Act going into effect. That act is the law of the land, passed by the Congress, signed by the President, upheld by the Supreme Court, and endorsed by the American people last November. Tomorrow, regardless of what the majority tries to do here tonight, enrollment begins so that affordable health insurance coverage is available.

Instead of working with Democrats to move a budget forward, the majority's leadership is allowing the fringe ideologues in their party to turn the budget process into a hostage crisis. Kill the Affordable Care Act, they argue, or America gets it. This is not responsible leadership.

Nonpartisan studies have shown that the delay in this amendment will cause higher health insurance premiums, higher costs for the government, and worse health care coverage for everyone.

The majority knows exactly what they are doing. Two days ago they introduced amendments that were poison pills. Now we see an equally poisonous amendment to the budget today. They are rooting for a shutdown. One Republican Member even said, and I quote, ``We're very excited. It's exactly what we wanted, and we got it.''

Another said, and I quote, ``It's wonderful.''

It is not wonderful. It is terrible for our economy and for our families.

This is extortion and this is hostage-taking. I urge my colleagues to oppose it.

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