国际英语新闻：Americans Brace for Government Shutdown

Anxiety is filling the air in Washington D.C., as the clock ticks closer to a federal government shutdown with no budget approval. Lawmakers continued the debate Friday, leaving tourists in the nation's capital wondering whether it will be their last day to see the sights, and government employees wondering whether Monday will be a day off from work.

Democrats and Republicans in Congress cannot seem to agree on a federal budget, but they can agree that a government shutdown will hurt the American people at home and abroad.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid told reporters Friday that the Republican-led House needs to make a quick decision to end the budget impasse. He warned that a government shutdown could affect everyone, from Americans trying to get a home or business loan to the nearly one million federal government employees who will be denied the right to come to work.

"A federal government shutdown doesn’t mean they lock the doors to the Capitol building in Washington, but it does mean it has everyday consequences for people throughout America," he said.

More than 30 House Republicans gathered on the steps of the Capitol Friday. They warned of the repercussions of a government shutdown on military personnel and their families.

Republican Representative Rick Crawford told reporters that one of his constituents in the military called him Friday expressing concern about his family's finances in case of a government shutdown.