Bob Wise: “I wake up in the mornings and sometimes wonder what world I am in, because I realize I am going to go to work, and…”

“I wake up in the mornings and sometimes wonder what world I am in, because I realize I am going to go to work, and actually I have the privilege of still going to work, many Federal employees do not, that I am going to work, but I am going to go to work under these conditions: That I am working in a country that has been shut down partially for 20 days; where the Centers for Disease Control is not able to respond effectively; where the Environmental Protection Agency is not able to respond to safe drinking water complaints; where children are soon going to be ushered out of Head Start programs. That is bad enough. I then realize there are thousands of workers capable of fulfilling those functions who are not going to fulfill those functions, but apparently are going to be paid for doing it. The issue is not whether or not they are going to be paid; the issue, of course, is why are they not working? They should be working. So, Mr. Speaker, is this some Third World country we are talking about? No, this is the United States of America. You remember the America of 'Send in the Marines,' 'Wherever you go, you shall be safe'? Remember the America, where you hold up the silver dollar and the eagle is always strong, and the flag flies free and proud? That is our America. Why is this America being treated now to this kind of situation? All of us ought to be gravely concerned about this.”