On the recordJanuary 24, 2019
On this, the 34th day of the longest shutdown in American history, I sat down with a group of air traffic controllers in my office today. These workers told me about how an already stressful job has been made even worse by this shutdown, that many of them are working 6 days a week, 10 hours a day with no pay. They know that their work requires no mistakes because it is life and death, but to make matters even worse, 30 percent of them are already stretched thin and currently are eligible to retire, and many are considering retiring earlier so that they can at least get a paycheck. In the words of Ranika, one of the air traffic controllers: This shutdown is the perfect storm for a national emergency. Madam Speaker, the collateral damage of this shutdown is difficult to fathom, but this much is clear: Every day that goes by, we are less safe, our economy is more weakened, and all Americans from all backgrounds suffer. This must end. Open the government. ____________________
