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[Page S5289]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
MORNING BUSINESS
Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate
be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak
therein for up to 10 minutes each.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, when the Senate gavels out at the end of
this day, Members will head home for the August work period to spend
time with our constituents and family. I, for one, am eager to get back
home to Texas and spend time with folks in about every region in my
State. I have the honor of representing roughly 28 million people, and
it takes a little bit of time and effort to get around the State, but I
am looking forward to it.
I will have the chance to highlight some of the work that we have
been doing here in Washington and, yes, hear from my constituents, my
fellow Texans, on what they care most about, what they agree with, what
they disagree with, and everything in between.
With the passage of this bipartisan budget deal, we have now taken
care of our final piece of business for this work period. The funding
agreement we just passed will provide stability for our Nation through
2020 and deliver on some of the administration's key priorities. It has
been the result of extensive negotiations between President Trump and
Speaker Pelosi and represents a compromise between two sides that
typically don't agree on much, and, yes, ``compromise'' is still not a
dirty word. It is the only way things get done around here.
Obviously, this agreement is not perfect. That is the nature of
compromise and the hallmark of responsible government. By passing this
funding agreement, we are avoiding the possibility of a government
shutdown again this fall. Instead, it provides us the time and space
for wide-ranging debate about our government's spending habits. As our
national deficit continues to grow, that could not be more critical.
I was glad to see that through the President's tough negotiations, it
prevents 30 poison pills--or policy riders--from reaching the
President's desk. It is no secret that our friends across the aisle
have tried their best to eliminate the Hyde amendment, which, since
1976, has defined a consensus that no taxpayer funds be provided for
abortions. That argument is over until 2020.
We also know there will be no Green New Deal done--no undoing of the
President's regulatory reform through the backdoor.
Most importantly though, this funding agreement invests in our
military. If there is one priority for what we ought to be doing here
as elected representatives in the Federal Government, it is to provide
for the common defense and for our national security.
This funding agreement provides the Pentagon with the predictability
and flexibility they need in order to keep our country safe today and
tomorrow. A predictable and steady budget gives our military leaders
the ability to plan for the future and allows them to invest in the
innovative and cutting-edge tools our servicemembers need and ensure
that when the call comes, we are ready.
I was proud to support this funding agreement, and I am glad it is
now headed to the White House for the President's signature.
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