I am congressman jeffries. It is my honor to serve along with cheri bustos and david was a leadin is on of the three cocf the committee and one of the three cochairs of the committee. Happy to work with nancy pelosi in these incredibly challenging times which have been steadfast and firm in upholding the great values of the United States of america. Also thankful for the presence of betty mccollum, who has introduced an incredibly important piece of legislation for our veterans and for the men and women who serve in our military. I am also incredibly thankful for the presence of four individuals who serve this country with distinction as individuals who work in the armed forces and now serve this country with distinction as individuals in the United States congress who we would hear from shortly. This is day three of a Government Shutdown encouraged and inspired by donald trump and his coconspirators in the republican led congress. It is unfortunate for the American People that republicans do two things well, cut taxes for millionaires and billionaires and shut down government. It was republicans who shut down government twice in 1995. Republicans shut down government once in 1996. Republicans shut down government for 16 days in october of 2013. Last year, it was the republican President Donald Trump who said what this country needs is a good shutdown. This year, the Republicancontrolled Congress this year, the Republicancontrolled Congress obliged. The republicans got fully house, senate, and presidency. It is their responsibility to pass a budget and in that a enact act and responsible funding bill that gives the lights on. They have failed in that basic responsibility. Willing, stand ready, and able to work with our colleagues on the other side of the aisle to reopen government and to keep the country moving forward, but we need partners who are willing to work with us in a responsible fashion. It is important to simply note that governing by continuing resolution is irresponsible for our country, it responsible for our economy, and irresponsible tha the responsible for our economy, and he responsible for the military. That is the opinion of general mattis, who testified before congress and when asked about operating the worlds greatest military by continuing resolution said, and i quote, iit just create unpredictably. It makes us rigid. We cannot deal with new and revealing threats. We know our enemies are not standing still. So it is about as unwise as can be. Other highranking members of the military have made similar points over and over and over again. So as we are in the midst of the chaos, crisis, and confusion that has been the Trump Presidency since day one, it seems to us that at minimum, we can put the men and women of the armed forces and the veterans who have served this nation above partisan politics and make sure they can continue to be paid and can continue to get the services that they have earned and deserve and continue to live out their lives with grace and dignity. That is why the legislation that congresswoman maccallum has introduced is so important. It is not my honor and privilege to yield to someone who has been an incredible champion for the military, an incredible champion for veterans, a Senior Member of the appropriations committee, and the author of this important piece of legislation, congresswoman betty mccollum. [applause] thank you, mr. Jeffries. As was pointed out, i serve on appropriations. I serve on the defense appropriations subcommittee so i, too, hear directly from our military leaders on a regular basis about the damaging effect of operating under the shortterm continuing resolutions and the effects that they particularly have on the military. As was pointed out, that is the reason we are in the shutdown, because republicans in congress and President Trump have worked in good faith on a longterm budget for Financial Security and for domestic priorities. They wasted an entire year on their disastrous trumpcare. Dates of health care with the of americans and worked on their tax scam giveaway to millionaires and billionaires. Now, President Trump has acknowledged himself that our active duty military will be among the millions of federal employees who will be working without pay. I grew up in a military family. I understand the sacrifices our Service Members and their families make while they are deployed and then when they return home. It does not matter if youre a democrat or if you are a republican. I believe we can all agree it is wrong to ask our servicemen and women in uniform to put their lives on the line without pay. Introduced the pay our military act of 2018. The bill provides full pay and benefits for our servicemembers death benefits for our servicemembers during the shutdown. Should one of our service men or women make the ultimate sacrifice during the shutdown, this bill ensures that our military families will be taken care of promptly by our country. I believe that is the least we can do. That is also what we have done in the past. In 2013, democrats and republicans came together to pass similar legislation unanimously. Unanimously in 2013. But unfortunately, when i offered a motion to bring this bill up on saturday, republicans defeated it on a partyline vote. In the senate, leader mcconnell prevented sen. Mccaskill offering the same bill. She was prevented from offering it. Today, we are entering the first week of the trump shut down. We are beginning to feel the real effects that this republican is like that shutdown will have on the American People. It is time for President Trump and republicans to end the chaos. Work in good faith on an agreement that provides longterm budget certainty and addresses our urgent needs. I hope republicans will do that. But even if they want wont be stopping us from being able to ensure that our men and women in uniform, active duty, and i would add reservists and the national guard, not be punished for their failure to govern responsibly. So lets pay our troops. Lets get an agreedupon topline number. Lets reopen the government. Lets get our work done. And i just want to publicly acknowledge that we have lost two members of the armed services. Our federal government is not rushing to be with their families to take care of their time you need. I know that the men and women of our military along with their housees say the fisher for doing what our federal government failed to do. With that, i would like to introduce one of my brothers from minnesota who served honorably in our military, and like so many of our servicemen and women when they come home, continues to serve. Representative tim walz for minnesota. From minnesota. Thank you all for being here this morning. I wish you would not have to be and we can do the work we need to. I would like to thank represented mccullum, someone who is to be in a military Family Moving from post an understanding these entity of the paycheck matters. In matters to make sure children get the education they need. The legislation should have easily been passed and taken that off the table so we can deal with the pressing issues of a longterm budget, but it was not because it was about messaging. I would like to thank representative jeffrey and bustos for being here. Their title is about getting the truth to the American Public. Know alternative facts, alternative universe, not political spinning, but the telefax where they are. To my brothers in arms who are here, thank you for your service and your voice. To leader pelosi, 2018 marks what i believe is the 15th year of the leader instituted a veterans roundtable attended by all of this nations Veterans Service organizations. The american legion, vfw, disabled american veterans, goldstar wives from iraq and veteransghanistan wives, and iraq and afghanistan veterans. Of those organizations understand that what came out of that is a modernization of the g. I. Bill. Better benefits. It is understanding that all americans want to get that right. They know who stands on their site and who instituted that so i want to thank the leader. Having served to 24 years in the military i have what i consider of every firelity is the highest ranking military personnel i retired as the highestranking military personnel. Nothing is more important than that. That is a will you carry out. During this time, these are folks that are downrange. Their families are here. They are serving us in combat zones, locations but providing for that mission. This certainty matters for them. They have mortgages to my kids that need to pay tuition, groceries that need to be purchased. One of the things that have always been sacred and has been proven true with what the leader did and what my republican colleagues have done, we did not make the military and our veterans a political issue. Thatjust going to assume the horrific statements made in five our soldiers as a backdrop by the Vice President were made out of ignorance of someone who never served a day in uniform and chooses to cross that line of politicizing what is not a political issue, of choosing to throw our servicemembers in the middle of a fight that is not and the idea that they would somehow be a lack of commitment by those Service Members who were standing behind him, many of them may consider themselves veterans, but they were professional enough to understand you dont cross that into the hatch act violation of politicizing that with the military so we stand here today to ask the president and Vice President to retract the remarks they made, to pull back and make the commitment that we can take this issue off the table. It has been proven time and time again in the Veterans Affairs committee that we are a Bipartisan Committee serving our veterans. We have deep differences, different ideological disagreements, but it has never crossed into that point. So the piece of legislation that miss maccallum has brought up that ms. Mccaskill about our simple commonsense ways. The Vice President needs to be clear. In 2013, he made it clear he was going to shut the government down over womens access to health care. That was his threshold in that. Twostate and fight of troops on foreign soil at a time of war and make those statements is beyond the pale. So i am proud to stand here today with folks who understand this. May be no more so than a combat veteran himself who has been a leader in National Security issues. Has been a voice of reason, of voice ofding, and a bipartisanship on the security of this nation and the care of our warriors should never be thrust in the middle of a political fight like it was. So it is my pleasure to introduce to you the congressman from massachusetts. Thank you. Thank you very much. You know, when you are in the military, whether youre an junior, captain, or enlisted, you look to the Sergeant Major to know what to do. I can tell you that is what our veterans do here in the house of representatives. Thank you very much for your leadership. And other thing you know when youre in the marines is that officers he lasts. Eat last. It is long past time that our Republican Leadership here in washington learned that lesson. Because you is what is on the line because here is what is on the line. The health and vibrancy of our economy, the daytoday security of this nation, our national when this morning, there are members of the department of defense showing up to work to fill out for low forms, and onugh top of that, we are talking about taking care of our kids, providing the basic medical care, and giving dreamers a chance at the american dream, something that nine out of 10 americans believe they should have. There is no reason why you cannot do all of these things. That is basic government functioning. Yet republicans are telling us that we have to choose. Choose between these kids or those kids. Choose between paying our troops or getting basic health care for our children. It is reprehensible that Republican Leaders in congress have refused to even allow a vote on continuing to pay our military. There will be farreaching and detrimental consequences to continuing to budget crisis to crisis. Our troops deserve better. Our children deserve better. And the American People deserve better than this utter lack of leadership. One of the other things we have learned in the military is that leaders are responsible. They take responsibility. Right now in washington, it is republicans who are driving the bus. I dont like that because i know that donald trump is in the driver seat, and i think he will drive this bus off a cliff, but has just, he i simply let the bus run out of gas. You can import a lot of fingers on a bus when it runs out of gas, but Everybody Knows it is the drivers fault drivers fault. It is time Republican Leaders in washington take that basic level of responsibility for the leadership position that the American People have given us to get tha the Government Back t get the Government Back o work. With akamai am proud to introduce a veteran, someone i am proud to serve with here. Thanks. I want to thank captain moulton, command, Sergeant Major tim walz. Thank you for your service. Lieutenant. Ok. Thank you for your service in uniform and in the house of representatives. I want to thank my colleagues who are here today. Most important, i want to thank leader pelosi. Thank you for your commitment to National Security, to the war fighters, to the men and women who have taken up the uniform and have taken on veteran status, and your support to their families. Today is day three of a republicandriven shutdown. A shutdown caused because republicans are unwilling to negotiate, agree, even have meaningful conversation about the priorities of the American People, whether it is fighting the Opioid Epidemic among whether it is funding veterans epidemic, whether it is funding veteran health hoping the virgin islands, puerto rico, texas, florida, or protecting immigrants. It is their unwillingness to sit down and have meaningful discussions about longterm funding on National Security. Today, more than one million American Fighting men and women are waking up today to perform their mission. There are sailors on the deck of Navy Destroyers somewhere in the indian ocean. There are special operators waking up in syria and afghanistan and africa. There are airmen who are waking up on here feels on the Korean Peninsula and in afghanistan willing to do their mission, ready to do their mission, focusing on only on their Missions Success but their own survival and the survival of the men and women with whom they cane so that together they complete their mission and return home safely to the families they love and the communities that they defend. This Government Shutdown has made their job that much more difficult. Because in addition to focusing on their mission, they are now burdened with the question, will my family be able to pay the mortgage . Are we going to be able to pay the heating bill when that arrives in the mail . Are we going to be able to put groceries on the table . These are the burdens that men and women in uniform are now faced with because of this avoidable Government Shutdown. The shutdown is going to impact reservists. We are now in the fourth Generation Cycle ready to deploy somewhere in harms way to do differen difficult things that r and fewer americans are willing to do. The reservists have come to a grind at halt. The support that were fighters rely on likely civilians at the National MaritimeIntelligence Service in my district in informationdefense system again in maryland, they too have come to a grinding halt. We placed the next ordinary burden on our war fighters doing very difficult things on our behalf. This shutdown is not the only threat that they face. They face another continuing resolution. The fourth in a series of kick the can down the road by republicans who are unwilling to make difficult choices, and that is a longterm funding solution for National Security. We talk about funding National Security. It is not just military spending. It is the nonmilitary defense, nonmilitary spending that goes to the department of state for diplomacy, usaid for development. He has written about it, spoken about it. The fewer dollars you put in the state department means the more dollars you have to put into a munitio ammunitio. Not because we are tying our diplomats and developers with one hand behind their back, so there is another threat that they face and that is a continued resolution. Pilots cannot fly. Naval vessels that need repair will not be repaired in a time when the navy is asking for more vessels. The inability to fund the next Generation Defense system. Those are the systems that protect us in outer space and cyberspace. That allowhe systems our war fighters to communicate on the battlefield to defend and do the things they need to do. This ever evolving technological battlefield, we cannot hamstring our war fighter with a continuing resolution that inhibits us from improving and modernizing our force. Secretary mattis stated earlier today that the greatest threat that our servicewomen and men face in the field is not the threat of north korea not the threat of isis or other extremist groups. Not of an aggressive russia. It is a continuing resolution. So it is the time for democrats republicans to agree to join a longterm measure for because the crty is not enough, and with that i turned the podium back to mr. Jeffries. Thank you congressman brown. Before i turned the program to a distant wish later, let me acknowledge formally congressman jimmy panetta, who served this nation ably and is now serving a Congressional District in the state of california. She want to acknowledge lovely. It is my privilege to turn over for Closing Remarks and to open up for questions. Questions . What do you think of the deal that is being talked about in the senate, and the move to an immigration bill . Is there any guarantee that will bring back that bill . Thank you, i am going to bring it back to a subject to answer your question. First of all, let me say that i am proud of all of our members and others that serve in the military as well. We all take an oath to protect and defend. That first responsibility we have is to protect the American People. Hasink everyone in congress that as the highest priority. The fact is that we have this that ise on the Budget Holding up some of that money to protect and defend. We support the initiatives that the republicans have put forth for increasing our defense spending. What is the mission, what are your needs . We want to be there. There is no question about that. Do know, and i have visited scores of installations and posts around the world and around our country over the years. Many times when i go to the theater of war the military will say to me, among the questions always one question is what is going to happen when i go home . , we leave no soldier behind. When they come home, they say that we leave no veteran behind. Part of the debate is that we support the defense investments we need to have the investments, some of which the kernel mentioned. That is veterans in our domestic mentioned,he kernel colonel. Antie the department of chairs activities in the justice. Epartment we have the state department already, and Veterans Affairs. We are asking for a parity that is required for this budget agreement when increasing the fence and ensuring that one third is a security function. In addition to that, there are other needs when they come home in terms of education, the rest which we had promised that we would see as important to the streets of our country. Strengths of our country. This is what it is about. Some governments if you dont pass a budget, the government. Alls theres no reason we could come together and say these are the pillars of discussion. Parity, dreamers, the border. They are small compared to the Big Investments debate that we are having. Debatetill having this over allocation of resources. Tell youk me, i will why it is a problem, but i will get back to your question. And hearingsonally from our members, theres no reason to support what is put forth. We have a plan. Lets put on the table what it andhat we need to address, there is a promise to put it on the floor for a vote, and lets assign our appropriators of getting the bills written in a. Period of time. There will be a large members number of members will not supported. Theres so much of a disagreement that they almost dont want an agreement. Again, the irresponsibility of , ouring down government distinguished colleague member the messaging committee mentioned how many times republicans have shifted the government down. We believe in governance. It accountable and have transparency in what we do. Bipartisanship in our solutions in freeing the country together. When i see on the senate side, it does not look like way to me it does not look that way to me. Heard the question about hospitals the Decision Group responded to the shutdown, and what are they saying . Do they feel strongly about the immigration issues that you offered . I think it is important, and i wouldnt have gone down this path you have. It is important to note the following. On september 30, the chip program expired. Over 120 days ago, the initiative expired. During that time, republicans but a bill that would pay for it money from other childrens initiatives. Inoculations, lead poisoning, why should the children be paying for the Health Insurance program . They wouldnt let corporations pay for anything when they have a trillion something in tax breaks. All of a sudden, the senate has it expired 100 20 days ago, and you didnt do anything about it. You still arent doing anything about it if you do check and you do the full package. Which is primary education to care for these children. Community Health Centers that services millions of americans with their health care, including most of those chip kids. Most of what they put out there is that theyre going to shut down government by not voting for chip. They should on the government. They didnt even have 50 votes on their own side and so, when we talk about this, it is as if they decided that we know how we are going to shut down government. We are going to make them look like they are going against children, and at the same time they have on their split screen this number of people of kids on chip and daca, and the democrats have chosen a lower number. This is not a sophies choice. We are not a sophies choice nation. We want to kids healthy and safe and we dont have to choose among them, and that is what they did in a very disingenuous way on that bill. Many groups and organizations that you mentioned have been those who have joined with us in fighting their attempts to repeal the Affordable Care act. I think they have a good idea as to who has their back on all of this. Have they reached out to you though . Weekend, soover the well see what will happen today. We come from a state in minnesota that is feeling the of theof both the delay proper and timely authorization of chip as well as funding for community Health Centers in our teaching hospitals. I heard directly from our Community Health services we are hearing from parents it is great to have insurance, but what do you do with that insurance card . Need a clinic to go to. Andpresent the urban suburban areas. I have to tell you, i have made it clear, and we have as democrats we get it. Card,aving an insurance which should have been issued over 100 days ago, does that fundamentally does that finally no good for a mother to whenle to access a clinic she is expecting. It is morally wrong to go up and say we have taken care of the problem of chip in the United States for our children when there are pink slips and clinic hours being cut and clinics in closed. I would say in your question, my clinics and providers they reject their that false choice. They want to empathy, and as the leader said, this sophies choice argument is not the case at all. They are fighting over a ridiculous continuing resolution, and then trying to place blame somewhere else on our dreamers. They will find out that is not where the American Public is at either. When you ask i thought you were asking about Government Shutdown now in the broader sense. In terms of chip we have been hearing for months they have been doing this in virginia, some drastic needs right now. By february, it is over. We have to pass it we have been able to do this in a bipartisan way, but the way they split this off in a manner they did to go after dreamers is really immoral. Leader pelosi, you said you were so close to a deal. Understanding right now the focus is on the senate are there any talks happening behind the scenes between you and ryan and their white house and centers for that matter to get the longerterm fix you are looking for to meet the demands you are looking for . The defense funding is an important part of this. For a long time, we have had and we havestaff been making progress to getting something done. What i think the main obstacle is is this. It is a dark cloud hanging over the capital. That dark cloud is the trump tax plan. It took 2 trillion and added it to the deficit. When you add in the interest of the debt, 2 trillion. Therefore, the impact on the members of the republican side voting for domestic investments is diminished. If you look what is in the public domain, we are going to subscribe to the full amount in the Defense Authorization bill. If we were to honor the budget agreement, this could be a 300 billion addition to the deficit. Some of our republican colleagues in the house dont like domestic spending anyway. Increasethat it would the deficit over and above they gave their all to the tax bill. They gave that their all, and the deficit ish that 2 trillion, they will be asked to vote for more domestic spending. Housepublicans on the side i dont see this much in the senate, but republicans in the house should know that they are being asked to, in addition to the increase in deficit other increasesit enormously now. They should recognize the investments we are asking for are completely bipartisan. Opioids, veterans, and when they come home. Nih, pensions, and those things. Not an infrastructure. Nothing rings more to the treasury than the education of the American People. Nothing infrastructure, research and development, education, it brings money to treasury to reduce the deficit. Increase theg to defense, lets invest in a way that creates jobs, good paying better better deal, paying jobs, and a better future. And there is a way to do this. Growth, goodmotes paychecks, bigger and provides a National Security, which is our first responsibility. Have you taken the opportunity to deliver that message to paul ryan . Publicly and privately. Event a shutdown is very serious. Goodresident said a shutdown is an oxymoron. Said in his inauguration, he got what he wanted. A trump shutdown. It is harder to deal with because the trump gop tax scam. Hank you very much let me thank the members were have served in the military. It is a joy and honor to be with them. Sergeant general he is a leader of the Veterans Affairs committee and a leader in the the veteranith service organization, and they take pride. The longestserving, noncommissioned officer in the history of our country serving in the congress of the United States. We are proud of him, and all of them. Remarks from democrats in the house. 15 house expected in minutes. Standing by, they have been told to await action in the senate so a number of members wet plaster returned to the district were told to stand down, wait in the nations capital. The senate back in and to vote as well in 15 minutes. Voting on extending government funding, ending the shutdown as well as the extension of the childrens Health Insurance program, and the delay in some taxes associated with the Affordable Care act. They need 60 votes, a closure vote that they knew they need at noon eastern time. Will be bringing you the house. It will be live here on cspan. We are hearing from a number