On the recordOctober 14, 2013
Day No. 14. Mr. Speaker, today is the 14th day of the government shutdown, and we are 1 day closer to defaulting on our debt. Mr. Speaker, we've never not paid our bills as Americans--as Americans, we always pay on time-- but we are 1 day closer to a manufactured crisis. We've got to stop this. Mr. Speaker, now is the time for leadership. Enough with the games, enough with the name-calling, and enough with the finger-pointing. We have to come together as Democrats and Republicans and put the country first. Mr. Speaker, you are the Speaker of this House. This House has both Democrats and Republicans, and you need to lead us. It's that time. I will make a quick suggestion. Here is what you can do in three easy steps: Step No. 1, open the government; Step No. 2, let us pay our bills; and Step No. 3, let's negotiate. Let's come together as Democrats and Republicans and negotiate a real budget that starts to address our debt. Let's make sure we don't leave our children and grandchildren a mountain of debt. Let's do what our parents and grandparents always did, which was to leave the country better off for the next generation. That is what it takes--leadership. Mr. Speaker, now is the time for that leadership. You are the Speaker of this House, and we need you to lead us as Democrats and Republicans. America is watching, and we need to put the people's interests first. ____________________
