Tom Malinowski: “I rise as a freshman who came here to get things done on the 26th day of the longest government shutdown in American…”

“I rise as a freshman who came here to get things done on the 26th day of the longest government shutdown in American history. For 26 days, we have had to explain to 800,000 dedicated, patriotic Americans why we will not pay them for their service to our country, even as they must keep paying for their rent, their medicine and their kids' educations. For 26 days, we have had to explain why small business owners can't get loans; why food safety inspections are suspended; why lines are growing and terminals are being shut down at our airports; why we are willing to jeopardize the safety of air travelers; why we can't protect our National Parks from desecration; and why, if securing our country is so important, we aren't paying the Coast Guard, and Customs and Border Protection officers whose job it is to secure it. In the last few days, I have been hearing from college students in my district who have until February 1 to apply for financial aid, but they can't access their tax transcripts from the IRS. Mr. Speaker, I ask: Why are we doing this to ourselves? The President says it is because of border security. But if we are honest, we know that that is not what this is about. If getting $5.7 billion for a border wall is important enough to inflict this much suffering on Americans, why didn't the President pick this fight in the 2 years when his party controlled both Houses of the Congress? Why is he doing this now? I think we know the answer.…”