Allyson Schwartz

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 33, I was unable to be present for the vote on H.R. 357. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 32, I was unable to be present for the vote on H.R. 1791. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 630, I was unable to be present for H.R. 3521. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes''.

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 631, I was unable to be present for H.R. 1402. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 632 I was unable to be present for H.R. 2019. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 633, I was unable to be present for H.R. 2319. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 634, I was unable to be present for S1471, had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 635, I was unable to be present for H.R. 3212. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 636, H.R. 1992, I was unable to be present. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 612, I was unable to be present for the vote on H.R. 3547. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 613, I was unable to be present for the vote on H.R. 3588. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 588, I was unable to be present for the vote on H.R. 2061. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall no. 589, I was unable to be present for the vote on H.R. 272. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 571, I was unable to be present for the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 572, I was unable to be present for the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 573 I was unable to be present for the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no''.

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 574 I was unable to be present for the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``no.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 562 I was unable to be present for the vote on H.R. 2011. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 561 I was unable to be present for the vote on H.R. 2189. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for Head Start and my opposition to this legislation, which locks in the automatic cuts to funding for this critical program. A high-quality early education puts children on a path to succeed academically and in life. Decades of research and data show that investments in high-quality early education help close the achievement gap, increase high school graduation rates, and reduce the need for special education. These investments also lower the rates of criminal activity and dependence on public assistance. In fact, one study found that for every dollar invested in high-quality early education, taxpayers saved $7 in other costs. When first entering school, a child's health, emotional well-being, and social surroundings are all factors in their ability to succeed academically. Head Start recognizes this and, in turn, merges literacy and math activities with access to vision screenings and other basic health care services. Additionally, the program brings parents into the development process by providing them with support services in and out of the home, such as access to social workers, peer counseling, and parenting programs. In my state of Pennsylvania, Head Start centers serve more than 37,000 children, but now, this unnecessary government shutdown threatens this important program. Already, Head Start programs in six states have been shuttered as a result of the federal government shutdown. This is unacceptable. Instead of playing games, House Republicans should join Democrats in finding a solution to this shutdown. It is time pass a clean CR, reopen the government, and allow all children access to early education. Our nation deserves better. Our children deserve better.

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to express my strong support for medical research and my equally strong opposition to this legislation, which effectively extends cuts to funding for the National Institutes of Health and exacerbates uncertainty and instability in the federal government. The effects of the government shutdown are already rippling through every aspect of American society and threatening the health and well- being of our citizens. NIH is the nation's largest single source of biomedical research. It funds research efforts in medical centers, cancer centers and universities across the country. Its work is unique and essential. Its value is personal for the many patients they care for and significant to our economy as the engine of American life- science innovation. Even before the government shutdown, NIH lost $1.55 billion in fiscal 2013 because of budget cuts required under sequestration. In my home state of Pennsylvania, these cuts to NIH mean the loss of 1,200 jobs and $73 million in grant awards. These devastating cuts threaten America's capacity to cure diseases, treat chronic and acute conditions, and find new technologies that advance the health of people worldwide. And, as if those cuts weren't devastating enough, the government shutdown is forcing NIH to turn away patients who have come to NIH as their last best hope. On just the first day of the shutdown, NIH Director Francis Collins estimated that for each week of the shutdown the agency would be forced to deny care to about 200 patients, 30 of them children, who are seeking to enroll in studies of experimental treatment. Many of these patients turn to the NIH because they have no other options. This crisis is shameful, unnecessary and unworthy of our great nation. It breaks your heart. The bill before us today will exacerbate the challenges facing NIH and the people it serves. I urge my colleagues to vote against this misguided plan to cut NIH further. I call on my Republican colleagues to allow an up-or-down vote today on a clean continuing resolution so we can reopen the government immediately and enable NIH to resume the critical services they provide to our nation. The time has come for Republicans to work with Democrats on a balanced plan that replaces the sequester, fully funds NIH and provides the certainty that our families and businesses need to grow our economy.

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker on rollcall No. 491, I was unable to be present for the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 490 I was unable to be present for the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 489, I was unable to be present for the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''

Ms. SCHWARTZ

Ms. SCHWARTZ. Mr. Speaker, on rollcall No. 492, I was unable to be present for the vote. Had I been present, I would have voted ``yes.''