Political Quotes

“in a few moments I am going to yield the floor to Senator Kaine to make a unanimous consent request that has been cleared by both sides, and I am very pleased about that. This is in regard to S. 24, legislation that I have filed with several of my colleagues. I particularly thank Senator Kaine, but I also want to thank my colleagues Senator Van Hollen and Senator Mark Warner for their work, as well as Senator Collins and others in this body who cosponsored that legislation. It is legislation very similar to what we passed in the last hours of the 115th Congress by unanimous consent. It does what I think all of us have said we want to make sure is done; that is, when we reopen government, those who have been working without pay and those who are on furlough without pay will get their backpay. I think that is at least some assurance to our government workforce that when we finally reopen government, they know they will be getting their paychecks. I think it is a very important point to give them at least that comfort. I don't want to minimize the risk factors that we have for the 800,000 Federal workers who are not getting their paychecks. Just today, I found a letter from a constituent. I am going to read it very briefly. ``Dear Senator Cardin, As an Air Traffic Controller and Maryland constituent, I want you to know how the partial government shutdown is affecting me and my family.…”