On the recordOctober 6, 2015
Mr. Speaker, well, last week 151 Republicans, a majority of the Republicans in Congress, voted to shut down the Federal Government. This week, another entry into this calendar of chaos and dysfunction. We are coming up on several crucial deadlines, and so far the Republican leadership in Congress has presented no clear plan, no path forward. As we approach another debt limit, there are questions as to whether the United States Government will default on its obligations. There is another highway funding expiration, another government funding deadline of December 11, and lack of the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, which is costing the United States jobs--thousands of jobs. The American people are frustrated, and rightfully so. We may not agree on this floor, we may not agree with the majority, but there is no excuse for not getting your job done. That is what I hear from the people back home, from the American people, a simple question: Why can't Congress just do its work, just do its job? We stand ready to work with Republicans. We need a willing partner. There is a lot of work to do for the American people. Let's get down to business. ____________________





