REP. SHEILA JACKSON LEE:

Well, this is a busy place. And I'm trying to get people rescued. But I intend to send a letter to the president of the United States and emphasize to him that this is the worst time that a government shutdown could occur.

I'm not for a government shutdown. I understand the speaker of the House is not for a government shutdown, the majority leader is not for a government shutdown. Those of us in the other party, Democratic Party, our leadership wants to be able to help working people get a better deal.

We do not want to have a shutdown. So my message to the president is if you're coming here tomorrow, come here with a message of unity, come here with a message of strength and come here with a message that we are America first and that we want to help the people of America, we're going to help Houston, Texas, and we're going to help the first-responders, the police and firefighters who were out there with me just an hour ago bringing these 60 people in.

I watched them carefully lift up the elderly and the sick and the frail and young mothers and families. That's what I needed the president to do. He should come here with a message unity and a message of thanks for all of these people who have sacrificed, who are out there with their own boats helping. And he should come with a message of a dollar sign, that he's going to go back, keep the government open, and help us get back on our feet.