Rich Neal: “the dilemma that we face here today could be corrected in about 1 hour. All it would require would be for the Speaker of…”

“the dilemma that we face here today could be corrected in about 1 hour. All it would require would be for the Speaker of this House to bring to the floor the same resolution that Senator Dole brought on the other side and in the other body. We could put everybody back to work, ensure that Means on Wheels obligations were honored, ensure that benefits were extended to those who were deserving of them, and it could be accomplished this afternoon. But you know what the compelling truth here is today? That a radical element in this House that is out of touch with realities across this Nation, they have decided that they are going to hold Federal employees and our senior citizens hostage to their point of view, and that is precisely what they are doing today. If Senator Dole can bring the U.S. Senate Democrats and Republicans along, surely we ought to have an opportunity in this institution to simply vote on a measure to reopen this Government. That should be done today, and I guarantee if that simple measure was brought to the floor, it would pass easily.”