the statement that this shutdown is the fault of Republicans, when Republicans have repeatedly voted to keep the government open, is simply false.

The way it works is people elects -- elect us into our job and our job is to put a budget in place and to not default on the payment of our past debts.

I'm pretty confident that a deal could get done by the deadline if Republicans don't put up procedural barriers to get it voted on and done -- to the president.

For the House Republicans to now come out and say they're going to do something contrary to what even their Senate Republican colleagues are discussing seems to be a reckless attempt to try to circumvent what the Senate is doing, which at…

No one runs for office to watch this unfold. As I said before, the House of Representatives is not a sandbox. We've got work to do. We're adults.

Well, I would hope now that he's seen that this effort on the part of Republicans in the House to do an effort that's purely partisan, now that that's collapsed, that he would see that.

If the speaker doesn't want to play with other people's money, he'll now put a bill up that will get a bipartisan vote and pass quickly.

Why are they doing this to the American people?

When you start acting like you're committing domestic abuse, you've got a problem.

it is estimated that drought costs $6 to $8 billion a year in the United States.

They are essential to this country and to the legislative process, and we need them back at work.

We need to continue to ensure that we have all of the parties represented, that we have the voices of those that sometimes don't speak.

I am proud to cosponsor H.R. 3176, legislation sponsored by my colleague, Ranking Member Peter DeFazio.

I just think we need to have more input and more information to be able to make a more informed decision.

Our role is to ensure that whatever law is passed... is good for the people that we represent.

To say that I am disturbed by these accounts and by the multiple reports we hear every day about the skyrocketing use of prescription painkillers - particularly opioids - to treat veterans in pain would be a major understatement.

It is critical for VA to take responsibility for its failures and rise to the challenge to change and take immediate action to adopt effective pain management policies, protocols, and practices.

I think in today's hearing I leave compelled that the system appears to be broken.