“In my district, already reeling from the shutdown of our largest private employer, the highest energy costs in the country, and reduced government revenues, this shutdown, if it continues any longer, can be the final nail in our economic coffin”, said a clearly exasperated Rep. Christensen.
On October 2, 2013 Rep Donna Christensen asked for and was granted permission to address the United States House of Representatives for a few minutes regarding the devastating impact of the Republican led shutdown of government. During that time she spoke eloquently about how the shutdown was adversely affecting people in her state and around the nation.
“Mr. Speaker, lawmakers should be the first to uphold and respect the laws of our land, and the Affordable Care Act is a very important law for over 30 million people in every one of our districts, for our entire country. There are almost 700 Federal employees in my small district. Traveling yesterday, it was hard to see the CBP and TSA folks working as usual, not knowing if and when they’ll be paid.”
“My employees, like all congressional employees, are under the same cloud and the stress that comes with it. Complaints began early about our Virgin Islands park closures. This not only affects NPS employees, but all of our small businesses, from wedding planners to shop and concession owners to taxi drivers, the entire St. John economy. And despite our “Open Beach” laws, the beaches in the park are closed to Virgin Islanders”, she said.
“In my district, already reeling from the shutdown of our largest private employer, the highest energy costs in the country, and reduced government revenues, this shutdown, if it continues any longer, can be the final nail in our economic coffin. The negative impact of this shutdown will only hurt more people and hurt our national economy, if it continues”, said Rep. Christensen (source: Congressional Record http://thomas.loc.gov).
Rep Christensen is a very influential member of Congress – she serves on the following Committee and Subcommittees in the House of Representatives:
ASSISTANT MINORITY WHIP IN THE DEMOCRATIC CAUCUS, REGIONAL WHIP
COMMITTEE ON ENERGY & COMMERCE
MEMBER, SUBCOMMITTEE ON HEALTH
MEMBER, SUBCOMMITTEE ON ENERGY AND POWER
MEMBER, SUBCOMMITTEE ON COMMERCE, MANUFACTURING AND TRADE
MEMBER, CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS
CHAIRWOMAN, CONGRESSIONAL BLACK CAUCUS HEALTH BRAINTRUST
MEMBER, CONGRESSIONAL CAUCUS FOR WOMEN’S ISSUES
MEMBER, CONGRESSIONAL TRAVEL AND TOURISM CAUCUS
MEMBER, NATIONAL GUARD AND RESERVE CAUCUS
MEMBER, PROGRESSIVE CAUCUS
MEMBER, FRIENDS OF THE CARIBBEAN
MEMBER, SUSTAINABLE ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENT COALITION