September 23, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 153 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Pages S5618-S5619]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             APPROPRIATIONS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Senate also needs to remain focused 
on

[[Page S5619]]

our important job of funding the Federal Government.
  Last week brought an unfortunate spectacle: The vast majority of our 
Democratic colleagues actually filibustered legislation to fund our 
national defense--at a dollar figure they had previously agreed to--for 
the sake of a political fight with the President.
  The funding our commanders need to keep pace with China and Russia, 
the funding our men and women in uniform need for their tools and 
training, even a pay raise for our servicemembers--all of it was 
blocked by our Democratic colleagues, blocked by Democrats in order to 
pick a partisan fight with the White House. That is an interesting 
statement of priorities, but I remain hopeful that we can get this 
process back on track.
  Back in July, both parties in both Houses of Congress and the White 
House all agreed to a bipartisan, bicameral roadmap to guide 
appropriations. We all agreed to rule out poison pill policy riders and 
not to seek changes in Presidential authorities relative to current 
law. So I hope we can rediscover that roadmap and make some progress. 
In the meantime, before the end of the week, we will vote on a 
continuing resolution to prevent a lapse in funding while the work 
continues.

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