Nita Lowey: “I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with what we call our cardinal, the chair of this distinguished…”

“I am delighted to have the opportunity to work with what we call our cardinal, the chair of this distinguished Subcommittee of Appropriations, and I thank him for yielding me some time. Mr. Speaker, the Trump shutdown is now in its 19th day. It is simply outrageous that more than 800,000 Federal employees are going without pay and that the American people are being denied vital services, all because of President Trump's demands for a wasteful border wall. House Democrats want to open the government, but the President and the Senate Republicans continue to obstruct and delay instead of working with us to get the people's business done. {time} 1430 The solution to this crisis is simple: Pass the bills where we can agree, and extend funding for Homeland Security for a month, 30 days, to allow time for negotiation on border security and immigration policy. I hope that my colleagues across the Capitol come to their senses and stop this ridiculous, dangerous Trump shutdown. Unless Congress acts, the American people will continue to experience serious impacts from the shutdown. Taxpayers rely on the IRS to assist them in making big choices for their financial planning. That advice helps families make important decisions, like whether to put money into their savings or buy that new appliance to replace a broken one. With taxpayer assistance, phone lines, and centers closed for business, our constituents don't have anyone they can turn to.…”