Remarks
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers spoke on the House floor today in support of H.J. Res. 84, the Head Start for Low-Income Children Act. The House passed this bill on a vote of 248-168.
The Chairman's statement follows:
"Mr. Speaker, I rise today to present H.J. Res. 84, the Head Start for Low-Income Children Act. This bill provides federal funding at the current, post-sequester rate for the Head Start Program – which millions of children across the country rely on to fulfill their educational and health needs.
"As we work our way out of this government shutdown mess, we shouldn't let some of our most vulnerable citizens – low-income children with no recourse – suffer. In my home state, Kentucky, 20,715 kids rely on Head Start to provide a helping hand.
"If we don't do anything about this today, 2,800 kids in Kentucky will lose access to Head Start starting November 1.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers today gave the following statement on the Honoring Our Promise to America's Veterans Act, which passed the House on a vote of 258-157:
Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of this legislation, which continues to provide our nation's veterans with access to important benefits that they have earned for their dedicated service.
To let these important health benefits slow or stop would be to renege on our promise to our soldiers, that in exchange for taking care of this nation, this nation will take care of you.
This legislation continues funding for the processing and delivery of disability claims and other health benefits, at the current annual rate of approximately $82 billion, until December 15, or until we enact full-year appropriations.
House Appropriations Committee Chairman Hal Rogers gave the following statement on the Pay our Guard and Reserve Act, which passed on a vote of 265-160, on the House floor today:
"Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of the brave men and women of our military, who stand at the ready to defend this homeland.
"This legislation will provide the men and women of the National Guard and Reserve with due compensation for their service – on time and in full – throughout the government shutdown.
"Our intention with the Pay our Military Act was to support ALL of our men and women in uniform. This legislation merely fixes a technical drafting error to amend this.
Mr. Speaker, I rise to move forward once again with H.J. Res. 59, the short-term continuing resolution that will keep the government open after the end of the 2013 fiscal year, at midnight tonight.
We simply can't wait a second longer. At this late hour, we must move ahead at an accelerated pace to keep the doors of our government open. For the sake of our nation, we must pass this continuing resolution.
