Lois Capps: “I am honored to speak on this topic. I worked for decades in our Nation's public schools as a school nurse, and I saw…”

“I am honored to speak on this topic. I worked for decades in our Nation's public schools as a school nurse, and I saw firsthand in my community the tremendous effects that Head Start programs have for so many of our most vulnerable children. No one is a stronger supporter of this program, but today is really not about the children of Head Start or their families. Today is about ending the childish behavior of those of the Republican leadership, who continue to stand in the way of reopening our government. Let me be clear: we are here today because one faction of one party in one House of Congress has shut down the United States Government because they don't like one law--the Affordable Care Act. This is a law that was passed by this Congress; it was affirmed by the Supreme Court; and it was a focal point of the last election in which the candidate for president who supported the law won. But none of this matters to our Republican colleagues. Instead, they have let their obsession with repealing the Affordable Care Act bring our entire Federal Government to a screeching halt. Mr. Speaker, this piecemeal approach pushed by my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to reopen certain parts of the government is merely a facade. It is a ``gimmick,'' as my colleague referred to it, giving the illusion that they are trying to fix the problem, but they are not.…”