October 2, 2013
Mr. Speaker:
Last night, the House attempted to re-open our national parks. Twenty two Democrats defied their party leaders and joined with the majority to provide this vital relief.
The little towns around Yosemite National Park depend on tourism for their economies. They’re still reeling from the Yosemite Rim Fire that brought tourism to a near standstill last month.
When tourists are needlessly barred from our national parks, ALL the vendors, concessionaires, lodge-keepers and shop-keepers in the surrounding communities are devastated.
They have to lay off employees and often have to close. And unlike government employees, these tax-paying, job-generating private sector working people NEVER get paid back when it’s all over.
Having already agreed to spare the military from the effect of this impasse, why would anybody object to funding other critical functions while we wait for the larger issues to be resolved?
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House Joint Resolution 70 was approved by the House on October 2, 2013 and has been sent to the Senate.
