Mr. Speaker, the President's health care plan is broken. Let me read from some of the letters and communications my office is getting from around my district. Mike and Pat in Queen Anne's County write: Mr. Harris, my daughter's health care…

I come to the floor today with both a great deal of energy and a sense of relief--relief that it appears we have reached a bipartisan agreement to reopen the government, pay America's bills, and give us a path forward to deal with the…

I ask unanimous consent to speak for such time as I consume. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

What is the pending status of the Senate floor? The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senate is on the motion to proceed to S. 1569.

We are 33 hours away from the possible default of the United States of America on its debt obligations. We are 33 hours away from the possibility of the United States of America becoming a deadbeat nation, not paying its bills to its own…

I rise to speak for approximately 10 minutes. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Manchin). Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. Speaker, America simply has a spending problem. That much is clear. Our national debt stands at nearly $17 trillion; $17 trillion. Let that number sink in for a moment. Is it that kind of legacy that we want to pass on to our children…

What in the world are we doing here?

Their approach puts the ideology of one political party ahead of the interests of our entire Nation.

Stop this madness right now. Let us bring a clean Senate bill to the House floor, and let us pass it.

That is why we are still in this government shutdown. That is why people say Speaker Boehner is holding our country hostage.

The impact on veterans is just one example of the toll the shutdown is taking on Americans.

The arbitrary and shortsighted approach that governing by crisis is hurting the economy.

Speaker Boehner could end the shutdown this morning, like right now, by simply allowing the House of Representatives to vote on legislation to reopen the government.

Through the Chair, I just have to say to my colleague that she is absolutely right. She is the chairman of the Environment and Public Works Committee Agency. She has given great examples that show how critically important the Environmental…

The Senator is absolutely right about the private contractor issue. When you look at 800,000 Federal workers who have been furloughed, that does not include the private contractors, which are clearly going to be an additional hundreds of…

I thank the Chair, and I thank Senator Boxer. She points out the hardship of people not getting a paycheck. Senator Boxer points it out very clearly. Some of these people are the same people who were just furloughed as a result of…