Sheila Jackson Lee: “I thank Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member DeLauro for their leadership. Mr. Speaker, 331 million Americans are…”

“I thank Chairwoman Granger and Ranking Member DeLauro for their leadership. Mr. Speaker, 331 million Americans are depending on us to save their lives. If we do not vote today, we will cause the loss of life. We did not vote for the supplemental that the President sent over almost a year ago to deal with the southern border, and lives have been lost. As a Texan, I will not accept your challenge that I want people to die, or that this constitutional right of the power of the purse is one that I have used recklessly. They have used it responsibly, and the budget numbers, whether it is Nancy Pelosi or the negotiators, are responsible for helping the 331 million Americans. In my State, your State, you will not pay 172,000 Active-Duty soldiers when we don't pass this today. The Small Business Administration will stop handling $2 billion in loans. There will be no reentry programs for those who are trying to get their life straight. We will eliminate the funding for our public schools at the Department of Education in programs like early education and child nutrition. We will stop 176,000 people from flying and airport travel because you will not be able to fund aspects of Homeland Security. Mr. Speaker, 786,000 people would lose their access to the women and infant program, which I understand is one of those that are being attacked. You are causing the loss of life, and I will not stand here and accept that challenge.…”