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[Pages S6909-S6910]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
SENATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, as we enter the final weeks of 2019,
two things seem to be true here in Congress. No. 1, our Democratic
colleagues, particularly over in the House, seem eager to pour the vast
majority of their time and energy into their 3-year-long journey to
impeach the President the American people elected. As a consequence,
No. 2, Congress has yet to fulfill a number of its core governing
responsibilities for this year.
At this late date, several crucial, must-pass bills remain undone.
For months, my fellow Republicans and I have been stressing the need
for productive, bipartisan cooperation on these pressing subjects:
funding for the Federal Government, Defense appropriations--the money
for our troops--and the National Defense Authorization Act. Yet, for
months, our calls for the Democrats to join us in serious negotiations
have gone largely unanswered as the Democratic leadership has opted for
a different political playbook--to obsess over impeachment and obstruct
this core business that we must do every year.
Earlier this year, the House Democrats pushed through what we believe
was their first purely party-line NDAA that either Chamber has ever
passed in the 58-year history of the legislation. This is the
legislation that puts forward Congress's priorities for equipping,
training, and maintaining the greatest fighting forces in the world. It
has never been used before as a purely partisan weapon--that is, not
until this year. Reassuringly, the past few days have finally brought
an end to bipartisan talks and produced a compromise NDAA. The end
result should be able to pass both Chambers and earn the President's
signature. Believe me, it will not come a moment too soon.
The NDAA authorizes resources to keep crucial military
installations--like Fort Campbell, Fort Knox, and the Blue Grass Army
Depot in Kentucky--running smoothly. It is similarly important to
facilities in many of our colleagues' home States as well. Nationally,
of course, it directs readiness efforts, prioritizes research and
development programs, and enacts vital reforms at the Pentagon.
I look forward to sending the final, bipartisan product by the
conference committee to the President for his signature soon. In
addition to that authorizing legislation, Congress, of course, needs to
actually appropriate funds for our national defense and for all other
functions of our Federal Government.
Just a few months ago, when leaders on both sides put their names to
a bipartisan-bicameral roadmap for the appropriations process, it
looked as though we might keep partisan disputes out of this process
and finish up the appropriations with time to spare. Unfortunately, our
Democratic colleagues decided that picking fights with the White House
was a higher priority, and we spent the autumn being mired in disputes
over exactly the kinds of poison pills and Presidential authorities the
Speaker and the Democratic leader had previously promised
[[Page S6910]]
would be off limits. Yet, as we speak, Chairman Shelby and
appropriators in both Chambers are trying to bring months of near
stalemate to a close. Last month, a bipartisan-bicameral agreement was
reached on subcommittee allocations, and talks continue this week on
outstanding issues.
Thanks to the months of delay, we have a long way to go and a very
short time in which to do it. I hope that our Democratic colleagues can
finally stick to the terms of the budget agreement and keep partisan
policy fights out of this process. That is the only way both Chambers
will have a chance of being able to vote on funding bills before the
end of this year.
That brings us to the USMCA. For the better part of the past year,
President Trump's landmark agreement to update North American trade
policy has been languishing as Speaker Pelosi and the House Democrats
have indulged further and further in impeachment. There are 176,000 new
Americans jobs that have sat waiting on ice as the Speaker has offered
lukewarm assurances month after month that her caucus is hoping to be
``on a path to yes.'' This week, at long last, it appears that the
House Democrats may finally be willing to take action for American
workers and job creators and let the House vote on the President's
deal. I was pleased to hear that U.S. negotiators, led by Robert
Lighthizer, were to head to Mexico today to finalize the details on
this important win for the American economy. I hope this forward
momentum continues.
So that is the state of play. There is a lot left to do for the
American families we represent if our Democratic colleagues will simply
allow it, and it will certainly take a great deal of cooperation and
consent right here in the Senate if we intend to consider and pass
these measures before the end of the year.
Obstruction and stalemate have brought us to the eleventh hour. I
hope that, now that we are here, both Chambers will be able to set
aside the Democrats' impeachment parade long enough to get the people's
business finally finished.
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