Jim McGovern

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to celebrate the Centennial of St. Mary's Syriac Orthodox Church in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. The Church will celebrate its 100th Anniversary on Saturday, October 7, 2023. The community's roots date to 1895 when the first members emigrated from greater Syria to the East Coast, settling around Worcester, Massachusetts where many worked in the burgeoning textile mills of that time. The early faithful of the church worshipped in their homes in their native Syriac language, and eventually gathered enough resources to build their first, modest St. Mary's Church on Hawley Street in Worcester, MA. More recently, they built a new church and social hall in Shrewsbury, MA. Mr. Speaker, we must reflect next weekend on the challenges that first brought the Syriac immigrants to the United States. Fleeing persecution, Syriac Christians found refuge across the U.S. to practice their religion freely, while still today their sisters and brothers fight for this right in their homeland. We must continue to fight for religious freedom domestically and abroad, so that all may feel the power of community through our faith. Mr. Speaker, the Syrian community thrives today in the greater Worcester area, in part thanks to the community-building efforts of St. Mary's Syriac Orthodox Church. Thank you to Reverend Father Tony Kasih who continues to lead through festival, worship, and service. I am proud to celebrate the beautiful displays of faith and community hosted by this historic institution. The parish of St. Mary's Orthodox Church will celebrate its remarkable milestone next weekend with prayer, reflection, a choral concert of Aramaic hymns, and a gala dinner. Please join me in recognizing the Centennial of St. Mary's Syriac Orthodox Church next weekend.

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, on September 26, I was unavoidably detained during the vote on Roll Call No. 409. Had I been present, I would have voted NAY on Roll Call No. 409.

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Chair, this amendment provides $11 million within Army Research, Development, Testing and Evaluation, Line 44, for the Autonomous Vehicle Mobility project to modernize combat vehicles for multi-domain operations. The development of next generation combat vehicles for multi-domain battle operations is one of the Army's six modernization priorities. These military vehicles are meant to increase the firepower, speed, and survivability of land forces, allowing them to maneuver into superior positions on the battlefield and to pair with robotic vehicles. The has been actively conducting basic and applied R&D of autonomous ground vehicles, but additional resources are needed to successfully transition novel technologies into functioning prototypes. This amendment provides funding to establish the nation's first national-level laboratory facility of the U.S. Army Combat Capabilities Development Command Ground Vehicle Systems Center. The facility will be dedicated to autonomous mobility, maneuverability, and energy efficiency with an emphasis on complex terrains and adversarial environments. It will serve as a research hub and amplify collaboration between the U.S. military, universities, industry partners, and NATO nations. The results of such collaboration will enable our troops to have an unparalleled edge on the battlefield and in tactical situations. I urge my colleagues to support this modest investment and to vote in favor of En Bloc No. 2.

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Chair, this amendment offered by Congressman Brian Fitzpatrick and myself provides a modest $8.4 million within Army Research, Development, Evaluation and Testing, Line 59, Night Vision System Advanced Development, for the Micro-LED Soldier Systems Display Prototype. The funds provided by this amendment will support the design, development, and delivery of the U.S. Army's next generation full-color LED micro-display prototype, which will be specifically tailored for dismounted soldier applications such as the Integrated Visual Augmentation System Heads Up Display and the Next Generation Squad Weapon Sight Optic. The next generation of LED displays promise brightness levels that significantly exceed the Pentagon's most stringent requirements for both monochrome and full-color displays. The funds provided in this amendment will support the design, development, and delivery of a technology readiness Level 7 full-color LED micro-display prototype. In addition, this project will enhance the soldier's target detection capability and eye safety. Clearly, Mr. Chair, this is a win-win that provides desperately needed solutions and safeguards the health and security of our soldiers. I urge my colleagues to support this amendment and to vote in favor of En Bloc No. 3.

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, pursuant to section 426 of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, I make a point of order against consideration of the rule, House Resolution 723. Section 426 of the Budget Act specifically states that the Rules Committee may not waive the point of order prescribed by section 425 of that same act. The first section of House Resolution 723 states that all points of order against consideration of the bill are waived. Therefore, I make a point of order pursuant to section 426 that this rule may not be considered.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, decades ago, Republicans came up with a rule that basically says that we cannot impose mandates on States and local governments that will cost them significant amounts of money. That rule is routinely waived, including in this rule. Do you know what will cost States and local governments significant amounts of money? A government shutdown. The Congressional Budget Office, CBO, estimated that the 5-week partial government shutdown in 2018-2019 reduced economic output by $11 billion in the following two quarters, including $3 billion that the U.S. economy never regained. Moody's Analytics estimated that the 2013 full government shutdown reduced GDP growth by $20 billion. At the same time of the 2013 shutdown, consumer confidence fell, threatening the economic recovery following the Great Recession. A shutdown this fall would jeopardize the improvements of consumer confidence as inflation has returned to more normal levels. A bipartisan congressional report found that the last three government shutdowns led to the equivalent of 56,940 years in lost productivity from Federal workers being furloughed. These lost work hours deprive the American people of important public services, delayed furloughed Federal employees from receiving backpay, and cost the government at least $338 million in additional processing costs and late fees. While Federal employees are guaranteed backpay during shutdowns, a prolonged shutdown could mean multiple missed paychecks and strained household budgets for these workers. In 2013 and again in 2018, roughly 850,000 out of 2.1 million nonpostal Federal employees were furloughed. Additionally, at the beginning of the 2018-2019 partial shutdown, about 380,000 Federal employees were furloughed and another 420,000 reported to work but went unpaid. Over 80 percent of Federal workers live and work outside of the D.C. area, meaning that local economies across the country would be harmed by Federal worker furloughs as families delay purchases or are forced to miss regular bill payments. Let's consider more impacts of the Republican shutdown and how it will cost State and local governments. It would force servicemembers and law enforcement officers to work without pay. Under a Republican shutdown, all Active-Duty military personnel and many law enforcement officers would remain at work but receive no pay until appropriated funds are available. It would endanger disaster response. A Republican shutdown would create an increased risk that FEMA's Disaster Relief Fund is depleted and would complicate new emergency response efforts if additional catastrophic disasters occur. Funding for long-term recovery projects would also remain halted, worsening ongoing delays as FEMA awaits new appropriations. It would undermine research on cancer and other diseases. A Republican shutdown would stall critical research on diseases like cancer and Alzheimer's disease because the National Institutes of Health would be forced to delay new clinical trials. New patients, many of whom are desperately waiting for a chance for a new treatment through a clinical trial, would be turned away. It would eliminate Head Start slots for kids. Under a Republican shutdown, 10,000 children across the country would immediately lose access to Head Start as the Department of Health and Human Services wouldn't be able to award Head Start grants during a shutdown, with the impacts only growing worse over time. It would risk significant delays for travelers. Air traffic controllers and TSA officers would have to work without pay, potentially leading to significant delays and longer wait times for travelers at airports across the country like there were during the previous shutdown. It would undermine public health and environmental protections. Most EPA-led inspections at hazardous waste sites, as well as drinking water and chemical facilities, would stop. EPA would halt oversight and review of permits and plans to ensure safe water and clean air in communities. Additionally, efforts to address dangerous contaminants that are linked to severe health effects would be stopped. This would be a disaster. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, the gentleman said the Democrats shut down the economy during the pandemic. I should remind him that Donald John Trump was the President of the United States and the Republicans controlled the House. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman's comments, but I should remind him that the Republicans set an amendment deadline on appropriations bills after the shutdown deadline, so don't tell me you are interested somehow in avoiding a shutdown. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Boyle), the ranking member on the Budget Committee, to speak more about that.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, may I inquire how much time is remaining.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I would just say to my colleagues, I have never seen such incompetence ever in this Chamber. They say that they are against dilatory tactics. Yet they have only passed one appropriations bill. Now they are going to try to rush 11 more in record time across the finish line. This should have happened in June and July. By the way, all these bills are so extreme that they are dead on arrival. They are going nowhere. Their Homeland Security appropriations bill, even if we pass it, they are going to hold it at the desk until the Senate passes their ridiculous border bill, H.R. 2, which they know is going nowhere. They are not even sending that over to the Senate. They are wasting all this time for what, I don't know, but in the meantime, right now we should be considering a continuing resolution so this government doesn't shut down. I never thought I would ever be on the floor saying anything nice about the Senate, but over there Democrats and Republicans are actually talking to each other. They actually came to an agreement on a continuing resolution, and hopefully they will act on it and they will send it over here so we can end this nonsense. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, on that I demand the yeas and nays.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Texas for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, forgive me, but what the hell is going on around here? We just heard the gentleman from Texas scream talking points that sound like they were written in Mar-a-Lago. This is crazy. I can't believe I have to say this, but the Federal Government of the United States is shutting down on Saturday because a handful of MAGA Republicans didn't get everything they wanted. I have to tell you, that is a bad thing. It is a bad thing for our country. Some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are acting like a shutdown is no big deal. Stop it. Stop it. This is not a mock Congress. This isn't the Model U.N. We are talking about real people's lives here. Shutdowns cost taxpayer money. Shutdowns hurt the economy. Shutdowns mean people don't get paid. Shutdowns are bad. Yet, Republicans are on the verge of shutting down the government. We have a Democratic President. We have a Democratic Senate. All we need is this Republican House of Representatives to get their act together, but they can't. Their bumbling, incompetent leadership can't even do the basic job of standing up to their extreme Members so we can keep the lights on. It might have made sense for them to pass these appropriation bills and send them to the Senate to iron out our differences if it were still June or July. It is September. They have spent months fighting with themselves, and now we are 4 days from our deadline. Have they ever looked at a calendar? Have they ever heard of the concept of scheduling? Have they ever heard of clock management? You don't start a months-long process 4 days before the deadline, but here we are, considering the most extreme, partisan, unhinged MAGA messaging bills this majority could come up with. My colleague from Texas talks about the border, the border, the border. It is an important issue, but these bills cut funding for the border. He cares so much about securing the border that he is willing to--wait for it--defund the border. Madam Speaker, they are not even sending their Homeland Security appropriations bill to the Senate. What brilliant legislative mind came up with this bright idea? Let me explain what this rule does. The House is refusing to send this bill to the Senate until the Republicans' extreme immigration bill is signed into law, which is never going to happen. What will happen because of all their nonsense is that the people who actually work to secure the border will not get paid. This is nuts. These bills are chock full of MAGA culture wars. Their agriculture bill takes money away from food assistance for pregnant mothers and newborns. I could spend all day talking about how awful these bills are. The bottom line is we have 4 days, and I am asking my Republican colleagues: Do not shut this government down because you are all fighting with yourselves. Do your job and keep the government open. That shouldn't be too much to ask. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, months after Fitch Ratings downgraded the U.S. credit rating, a Moody's analyst wrote that a shutdown ``would underscore the weakness of U.S. institutional and governance strength relative to other AAA-rated sovereigns that we have highlighted in recent years.'' Extreme MAGA Republicans are embarrassing our country internationally and exacerbating economic hardship at home when they openly brag about how they would welcome a government shutdown. Madam Speaker, this is the theater of the absurd. The gentleman comes down here and talks about the border. Once again, his bill defunds border security. Does he propose to secure the border through volunteerism? I am so sick of listening to the Republicans rant and rave about spending. Joe Biden has added $1.8 trillion to the national debt. That is a fact. Donald Trump, the last Republican President, added $8.2 trillion. Trump added as much in 4 years as his predecessor did in 8 years, and Republicans added $2 trillion to the debt with their tax cuts for the rich. Now, the so-called pro-life party has the nerve to try to cut WIC, the women, infants, and children program, which helps provide food to new moms and very young children. Now, let me explain this to the gentleman from Texas and to my Republican colleagues: Cutting funding for WIC means more malnourished babies. Malnourished babies end up needing expensive healthcare. Who pays the bill? It is Medicaid that pays. It is taxpayers who pay. In fact, according to USDA, every dollar spent on WIC means $3 in taxpayer savings. Madam Speaker, what kind of twisted values would make someone think it is a good idea to cut taxes on billionaires but a bad idea to fund WIC, a program that saves money, a program that helps women, infants, and children? All of these appropriations bills that are being brought to the floor at this last minute are so extreme that Republicans in the Senate won't even support them. These bills shouldn't go over to the Senate. They should go to a shredder. Republicans want to gut programs that help seniors, gut programs that help students, gut programs that help working people. Instead of trying to do anything that helps anyone, they are obsessed with banning Pride flags from flying at our embassies. What is wrong with them? This is absurd. What is happening here is not governing. Just so everyone is clear: All of this should have been done months and months ago, and doing it now, 4 days before a shutdown and having no plan to avoid a shutdown, is incompetence, pure and simple. I just saw a tweet from a reporter about conference calls that are going on amongst Republican Members, where Republicans are warning each other about getting their list of priorities straight, trying to figure out how you get to a deal, if you can get to a deal. They are saying we need some organization. You are just having those conference calls now. Let me just say that it is clear that my Republican friends have no idea at all what they are doing. It is clear they have no plan to get us out of this mess. My Republican friends need to move out of the way and let serious people on both sides of the aisle do what we have to do to clean up the GOP's mess and keep government funded. The Senate right now has come to a bipartisan compromise. That is a good thing. They are trying to avoid a shutdown that my friends on the other side of the aisle in this Chamber don't seem to think is a big deal. They will know it is a big deal when they shut the government down and their constituents start calling and complaining about not getting paid, about the services that are being cut. They will hear loud and clear from their constituents--Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. Now is time for the adults in the room to figure this out. The Senate has given us a way forward. We should take it. When my friends say that they need more time to figure all this out, what have they been doing? For months, what have they been doing? We have had enough of this nonsense. We have had enough talk about shutdowns. We need to work together in a bipartisan way, work in the way that our constituents expect us to work to get things done, not to shut things down, not to tear things apart, not to blow things up. At the end of the day, we have our policy differences. When I look at these appropriations bills, I can say honestly to my friends that we don't share the same values. I don't understand how you can gut food and nutrition programs. I don't even understand how you can cut border security. I don't get the thinking behind all of that, but that is your problem to work out. In the meantime, let's come together and do the right thing. Let's keep this government open. Madam Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, the gentleman from South Carolina says we keep on talking about government shutdown, government shutdown. The reason we do is because we listened to you. On September 19 in the PBS Hour interview, you were asked: How likely is a shutdown right now? Your response was: It is 100 percent. We have heard that from other Members. The gentleman keeps on talking about the border. We believe the border is a serious issue. The border is not open. Maybe people think it is open because you guys keep on saying it is open. You are signaling to people that it is open. It is not open, and we don't believe it should be open. We don't view this issue as a political talking point. We want to get results. My friends on the other side of the aisle voted against a fiscal year 2023 government funding package that President Biden signed into law that provided Border Patrol with $7.153 billion, a 17 percent increase from the year before. The funding package provided $65 million for 300 new Border Patrol agents, $60 million for 125 new personnel at every point of entry, and $230 million for technology, like the autonomous surveillance towers. Does any of that sound like open borders? Here is the kicker. House Republicans voted ``no.'' By the way, Mr. Norman, this bill does nothing about Mr. Mayorkas' salary, but it does cut salaries for people who are working at the border, Border Patrol agents. The gentleman from Texas said that he wants the Senate to get their act together. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record a press release from the chair of the Appropriations Committee, U.S. Senator Patty Murray, who just announced that Democrats and Republicans have come to a bipartisan agreement on a continuing resolution.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentleman from Maryland.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, they are talking to each other. You can't even get an agreement amongst Republicans--how pathetic. Madam Speaker, at this time I yield 3 minutes to the gentleman from Maryland (Mr. Hoyer).

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, breaking news, news flash, the Senate just voted on cloture on the motion to proceed on the CR, 77-19. They are working in an overwhelmingly bipartisan fashion to get this thing done so we don't shut the government down. What are my Republican friends doing? They are still fighting amongst themselves. We don't even have a draft of anything that they are proposing in terms of avoiding a shutdown. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Nevada (Mrs. Lee).

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, I appreciate the gentleman from Pennsylvania complaining about the mismanagement of this House of Representatives. It is reinforcing our message. He can complain all he wants, but he can't blame Speaker Pelosi, Joe Biden, or anybody but his own leadership. I hate to tell him, but his party is in charge. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Boyle), the distinguished ranking member of the Budget Committee.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Madam Speaker, there is a pattern here that I have seen develop over the years. When Republicans are in charge, the debt doesn't matter. When Democrats are in charge, all of a sudden, the debt is the central issue. It is funny, when Donald Trump, who I don't know how many indictments he has against him at this particular point, how many dozens of years in jail he faces if he is convicted, but when he was President, he added $8 trillion to the debt, and there was silence from the other side of the aisle. That was only in 4 years, by the way. It is a little bit ironic to hear some of this back and forth here. Madam Speaker, I yield 2 minutes to the gentlewoman from Texas (Ms. Jackson Lee).

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield an additional 30 seconds to the gentlewoman from Texas.

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume. Business as usual for my Republican friends is more tax cuts for corporations and millionaires and billionaires, slashing programs that help the most vulnerable in our country, and subsidies to Big Oil companies and more and more money to big defense contractors. Let me just explain to some of my colleagues, especially the moderate Republicans, if there are any of them left: The ag appropriations bill, before the manager's amendment, which, by the way, imposed even deeper cuts in some of these programs, slashes WIC by $800 million. It reduces the value for WIC fruit and vegetable vouchers by $1.2 billion, hurting both families and farmers. It guts the Rural Energy for America Program by $500 million. It guts rural electric investments in clean energy and energy efficiency from the Inflation Reduction Act by $1 billion. It eliminates a lifeline that has already helped more than 20,000 distressed farmers who have received assistance from the Inflation Reduction Act. It blocks FDA from acting on important tobacco issues, banning menthol cigarettes and flavored cigars, and limiting the nicotine in cigarettes. It blocks the Biden executive orders on diversity, equality, inclusion, and accessibility. It reverses the 2023 FDA decision to allow mifepristone to be dispensed in certified pharmacies with a prescription instead of only hospitals, clinics, and medical offices. This bill, made worse by a manager's amendment, guts food programs, nutrition programs to our kids, to pregnant mothers and newborns. What are they thinking? What sense does that make? How does anybody on that side of the aisle vote for a bill that does that? To my moderate friends, if they are still around, how do they do that? This is unacceptable. By the way, read the fine print in these appropriations bills, look at the programs they cut. Madam Speaker, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Lois Frankel).

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I yield myself the balance of my time. Madam Speaker, for the gentleman to say that people on our side of the aisle don't care about the fentanyl problem in this country, that we don't care that our constituents are dying, that people are dying in this country, that is offensive. One of the reasons why people watching this debate despise Congress at this moment is because of the characterizations that are made by the gentleman. I will tell you this: We believe we should fund our Border Patrol agents. We believe we should do more to confront these issues. We don't use these matters as a political football or political talking point. To come down here and say that somehow we don't care, that is offensive. Madam Speaker, I ask unanimous consent to include in the Record an article from CBS News titled: ``Government shutdown could jeopardize U.S. credit rating, Moody's warns.''

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Mr. Speaker, I demand a recorded vote.

Mr. McGOVERN

Mr. McGOVERN. Madam Speaker, I thank the gentleman from Oklahoma for yielding me the customary 30 minutes, and I yield myself such time as I may consume. Is this Groundhog Day, Madam Speaker? Back again once more to debate a rule for bills that were considered and failed to make it to the floor. You can't make this stuff up. So what changed? Not the bill text, not the fact that we have less than a week before the government shuts down. Maybe the minds of a few of our colleagues across the aisle? I guess we will see later today. Look, none of my remarks are directed to the gentleman from Oklahoma. I respect him personally and professionally. I think the world of him. I don't envy the task he has of trying to defend these bills or this process, but what the hell is going on in his Conference? The truth is that under Speaker McCarthy's weak leadership, this Republican majority is a total failure; an unmitigated disaster. Those aren't even my words. That is what one of your own Members said on TV a few nights ago about the process playing out in this Chamber right now. First, we have this absurd nonbinding resolution condemning the Governor of New Mexico for trying to keep her constituents safe from gun violence. Just to explain to folks who may be watching, this resolution does nothing--not a thing. It is a press release. It doesn't go to the Senate. It doesn't go to the President. It does nothing. So we are doing that, and we are doing nothing right now to avert a government shutdown. This place is becoming a Chamber where we debate trivial issues passionately and important ones not at all. Then we have a ridiculous bill about liquified natural gas. The House has already passed this bill not once, but twice. Of course, it makes sense to waste more time passing it again when a shutdown is looming and Republicans have no plan to keep the government running, right? This rule will also bring to the floor the Republicans' Department of Defense appropriations bill. Yes, this bill has horrible, harmful policy riders that strip people's rights and push MAGA culture wars. It also reaffirms the Pentagon's bloated budget at a time when the far-right wing nuts are holding up all other appropriation bills because they feel they don't cut enough money for programs that help everyday Americans. We still don't have a plan to fund the government. Madam Speaker, I know if some of my Republican colleagues had their way, we would pass their continuing resolution that contains mindless, across-the-board spending cuts. My colleagues on the other side of the aisle want to cut funding for cancer research, for our Head Start programs, for air traffic safety, for border security, and a 65-percent cut to heating assistance for families just as it is starting to get cold. Talk about cruel. Now, these cuts aren't just cuts, they cost us. Do people realize what Head Start does? It invests in kids from low-income families so they can have more opportunity in life. The return on investment is almost $10 for every $1 spent. Cancer research. Do Republicans realize that investing in cancer research saves us healthcare costs not just now but down the road, and it saves lives. Their appropriation agenda cuts all this and more. Madam Speaker, you know where Republicans refuse to cut from? This bill, the Pentagon, the biggest, most expensive bureaucracy in our Federal Government: the Department of Defense. So for whatever reason, it is okay to cut programs like WIC that help feed pregnant moms, but they can't find a single weapon system where there is any waste? I am happy to provide numerous articles and reports from my colleagues about the cost overruns in so many of these wasteful missile systems. The Defense spending bill, which is the most extravagant Defense spending bill ever, failed a rule vote on Tuesday because the Republican Conference is in absolute chaos. Best I can tell, no one on the other side of the aisle has any objection to the top-line number in the Pentagon bill, but yet they voted down the rule just the other day. I know that whipping votes can be difficult, but the number of backroom secret deals and late-night seances Republicans have had to hold this year to revive bills from the dead is astounding, and I am afraid things will only get worse as we near September 30. Republicans are acting like the end of the fiscal year just snuck up on them. News flash: The deadline to fund the government isn't some big secret. They have had months to prevent a government shutdown. The reality is that not once--not once--have Republicans given us a bill that could keep the government open. Republicans barely control one-half of one branch of government. Yet, they act like they are king of the hill, like it is their way or the highway, that nothing else matters. The only way this slim House Republican majority can keep the lights on is if they get Senate Democrats and the President to agree, but they haven't even begun to reach across the aisle to negotiate because they are busy negotiating amongst themselves. Hell, at this rate, they might not even be able to get Senate Republicans to agree given how extreme their Conference has become. Madam Speaker, this majority is a failure. The clowns are running the circus. The day Speaker McCarthy handed his gavel over to the clown show, this was the inevitable outcome. There is a different path that we can choose right here and right now: Work with Democrats to prevent a shutdown; work with us to keep the government open; work with us to honor the deal you made earlier this year. It is time for the ringmaster of this circus, Kevin McCarthy, to stand up to the clowns and say enough with the extremism and the blackmail. Stop wasting time and work with us to get this done in a bipartisan way. Madam Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.