Sanford Bishop: “I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, last fall we were very close to finishing this bill and bringing it…”

“I thank the gentlewoman for yielding. Mr. Speaker, last fall we were very close to finishing this bill and bringing it up for a vote; had we passed it then we would not be in the mess we are in today. But we can't go back in time. We are now in the 33rd day of the shutdown. Vital services are eliminated or stretched to the breaking point. The shutdown must end. It can end if we pass this excellent bill. I want to address my colleagues who objected to voting for the Senate-passed bill a few weeks ago because they said it did not protect House priorities. This bill does and was negotiated with all four sides, House and Senate majorities and House and Senate minorities. Each side had an equal voice. Former Chairman Aderholt, Chairman Hoeven, Senator Merkley, and I, along with our staffs--committee staffs and personal staffs--worked together on the bill. I certainly would like to thank them for the very respectful and collegial way we worked through the various issues of agreement and disagreement to arrive at this bipartisan product. Additionally, we look forward to working with Mr. Fortenberry, the new ranking member of the subcommittee. House priorities were protected whenever possible. Here are some examples: the bill is at the House level of $550 million for rural broadband expansion, above the Senate level. House language barring Chinese poultry in school meals is included. House language setting aside funding for persistent poverty counties is included.…”