Kay Granger

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. I am, in its current form.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on the bill before us today, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Ohio (Mr. Joyce).

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, my motion amends the bill by striking all of its contents and replacing it with an appropriation to ensure Federal employees will get the backpay they deserve. I am offering this motion because the overall bill we are considering today does not address the Department of Homeland Security's funding requirements to secure the border. Therefore, we know the President will not support it, so it will not reopen the Federal Government or ensure our employees are paid. Last week, I essentially offered this same motion, which, again, will immediately provide the backpay our hardworking Federal employees have earned since this shutdown began. This should be something that all Members of this Chamber support, so it is troubling that my friends on the other side of the aisle chose to vote against this measure when it was brought to the floor last week. So we are giving them yet another opportunity to end the political gamesmanship and vote for this measure today. This shutdown has caused real-world consequences for Federal employees, such as Border Patrol and DEA agents, TSA personnel, air traffic controllers, and the hundreds of thousands of other Federal employees suffering during this shutdown. These employees have bills to pay and families to support. This motion will ensure that they are able to do that immediately while we continue working toward a permanent solution that will reopen the government. We need to start working on legislation that can be enacted into law. This motion is one such measure. Federal employees should not suffer because of the Democrats' refusal to negotiate. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the motion, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 4 minutes to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers).

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.R. 648. The bill before us today represents some of the hard work done in conference between the House and the Senate. House Democrats closed the bills without Republican signoff. Therefore, this bill leaves many items yet to be negotiated. It has no chance of becoming law in its current form because it does not include funding for border security. The Senate will not take it up, and the President will not sign it. Today marks day 33 of an unnecessary government shutdown. Democrats have failed to come to the table to offer a serious compromise solution to reopen the government, pay our Federal employees, and fund border security. In contrast, over the last 33 days, Republicans have offered multiple plans to do just that. Last week, I put forward a plan that would allow Federal employees to immediately receive pay while Members of Congress and the White House continue working toward a permanent solution to end the shutdown. Sadly, Democrats in this Chamber voted against this commonsense measure. Over the weekend, President Trump put forward a reasonable compromise proposal that provides something for both sides: funding for border security and protections for Dreamers. Once again, Democrats rejected this plan before they even heard the details. Mr. Speaker, we face a true humanitarian and security crisis at our border. More than 30 percent of women who come to the border are sexually assaulted on their trip, according to Doctors Without Borders. The number of families and unaccompanied children crossing the border illegally has increased dramatically, up nearly 150 percent in December. My friends on the other side of the aisle talk often about the need to help these women and children, and I agree with them. So why are they refusing to accept this compromise proposal put forward by the administration that would provide relief for 700,000 child immigrants brought here by their parents and another 30,000 immigrants whose protected status is in jeopardy? This shutdown has caused real-world consequences for Federal employees who have bills to pay and families to support. The hardworking men and women of the TSA, Border Patrol, Coast Guard, air traffic control, and others are suffering. The continuing refusal of Democrats to come to the negotiating table only further harms these employees. The shameful gamesmanship must stop. I call on my friends on the other side of the aisle to get serious about working with us to secure our border, end this shutdown, and pay our Federal employees. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt).

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Graves).

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Nebraska (Mr. Fortenberry).

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Speaker, I would like to honor the life of a dear friend and true role model, Dionne Bagsby. Her advocacy and public service to Fort Worth pioneered the growth and development that we see in the community today. Dionne was a trailblazer for minorities and women in the city of Fort Worth. With her dynamic personality and straight talk, she was able to break unprecedented racial and gender barriers throughout her life and career. Dionne was the first woman and African-American to be elected to the Tarrant County Commissioners Court. During her tenure on the court, she hired the first Tarrant County African-American precinct administrator and greatly enhanced minority employment and participation at the county level. When she retired from the commissioner's court in 2005, the Texas Legislature honored her community service in a resolution stating, ``a distinguished 16-year tenure that has been characterized by integrity and excellence.'' Even after her retirement, she refused to stand on the sidelines. She always encouraged young women to speak with confidence and helped them aspire to careers that challenged the norm. Dionne served with a purpose, making it her mission to leave Fort Worth a better place than she found it. Dionne Bagsby leaves behind a legacy that will impact and empower not only the Fort Worth community but the state of Texas for generations to come. I am lucky to have known someone as inspirational and dynamic as Dionne. My thoughts are with her family during this difficult time.

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Florida.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Florida (Mr. Rutherford).

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I urge my colleagues to vote ``no'' on this measure, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Mr. Speaker, I rise today in opposition to H.J. Res. 28. I support the goal of reopening the government. There are many critical programs that are on pause that are important to my constituents, as they are to all of us. This prolonged shutdown has been particularly hard for Federal employees like our TSA screeners, Border Patrol agents, Coast Guard defenders, and air traffic controllers. Like all of us, these workers have families and bills to pay. It is vital that we come to an agreement, and soon. Unfortunately, the bill we are considering today will not restart those programs or help our districts. That is because it is not a comprehensive solution to resolve the government shutdown and fully address the security and humanitarian crisis we face on our southern border. Criminals, terrorists, and drugs are flooding our shores. Tens of thousands of children, many of them without their parents, make the dangerous trip to the United States every year. I have been to the border and to Central America, and I have heard the heartbreaking stories. I have looked in the faces of those mothers and children. This situation is unacceptable, and it must be addressed for the safety and security of Americans and those coming to the border. We can and must do better. Mr. Speaker, again, I share the concern that parts of the government remain closed and employees are not yet being paid, but moving this bill across the floor will not help those employees. To put it simply, that is not a bipartisan consensus. I hope Members on the other side of the aisle will come back to the negotiating table and work with Republicans in the House, the Senate, and the White House to find a compromise that will address the crisis on the border and reopen the government. Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Alabama (Mr. Aderholt).

Ms. GRANGER. I am in its current form.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I have a motion to recommit at the desk.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, my motion to recommit amends this joint resolution, changing the date of the continuing resolution to January 15. This will ensure that Federal employees will get the retroactive pay they deserve, consistent with the Government Employee Fair Treatment Act of 2019, that the President signed yesterday. The Senate will not take up, and the President will not sign, a continuing resolution through February 28. The President has made clear that he will not open the government until our Nation's border security is addressed. But, the Democrats refuse to negotiate with Republicans. They refuse to come to the table. This shutdown has caused real-world consequences for Federal employees, people who keep us safe and protect our borders, like the TSA, the Border Patrol, the air traffic controllers, and the Coast Guard. My motion will allow Federal employees to get the paychecks they recently missed. This resolution provides some relief to Federal employees, while we wait for Democrats to come to the negotiating table. We need to start working on legislation that can be enacted into law. Federal employees should not suffer because of the Democrats' refusal to negotiate. Mr. Speaker, I urge a ``yes'' vote on the motion, and I yield back the balance of my time.

Ms. GRANGER. Mr. Speaker, I yield 5 minutes to the gentleman from Tennessee (Mr. Fleischmann).

Ms. GRANGER

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Chair, I demand a recorded vote.

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Chair, I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Chair, I have no further speakers.

Ms. GRANGER. Madam Chair, the funds in this bill, especially those funds for the Army Corps of Engineers and the Coast Guard, are specifically for repairing storm damage in our communities. The agencies have identified specific projects and calculated estimates to bring our infrastructure and agency assets back to full operation. Not a single paragraph in the bill before us includes funds for a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border, yet this amendment restricts funds for this purpose. My colleagues, this amendment walks away from all the good work Chairwoman Lowey tried to do for the Corps and the Coast Guard and blocks the necessary border investments required in a final compromise. Unfortunately, this amendment will be viewed by many of my colleagues as a poison pill. It ignores investments that those on my side of the aisle believe are necessary to fund a way forward, that will provide disaster funds, address the border crisis, and reopen the government. I urge a ``no'' vote on this amendment, and I reserve the balance of my time.