Continuing Resolution

Floor Speech

Mrs. CAROLYN B. MALONEY of New York. Mr. Speaker, compromise is a way of life in public policy. My way or no way is the mindset of a 5-year-old, not the leading legislative body of the Western World.

This is a direct quote, Mr. Speaker, and I know it's accurate because it's from me over a decade ago. I was in Congress for the shutdowns of the Federal Government in 1995. They were as disastrous as they were unnecessary--a national disgrace. Today's funding debate is equally shameful.

Holding government funding hostage, and potentially following up with an act of blackmail over the debt limit is irresponsible and indifferent to the needs of millions across our country, particularly the military.

This debate is another manufactured crisis--a willful, needless, self-inflicted wound--that will have terrible effects on our economy, our fiscal outlook, and the American pocketbooks.

The Congress of the United States should never, ever bow down before the rigid dictates of a handful of ideological extremists. We should do what is right for the people of our country and pass a clean budget now.

Source