[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 107 (Tuesday, June 26, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S4380]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             APPROPRIATIONS

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, first, on appropriations, the Senate is 
continuing the process.
  I thank Chairman Shelby, Ranking Member Leahy, and Leader McConnell 
for their work in helping move this process forward.
  It has been a long time since the Senate has successfully processed 
appropriations through the regular order. It requires cooperation on 
the committee, cooperation amongst the committee staff, and cooperation 
here on the floor with the two leaders, and that is happening. If we 
are looking to work in a bipartisan way, this is, probably, the best 
sprout of bipartisanship that has bloomed in a long time in this body.
  The fact that the parties are working together to prevent nongermane 
amendments that are intended just to create ruckus and the fact that 
even germane amendments that are regarded as poison pills are not being 
added to the bills here in the Senate really bodes well for 
cooperation. I wish it were the same in the House, where it is strictly 
a partisan process. The fact that the Senate is working together on 
appropriations bodes well for future legislation, including one farm 
bill that some people have an interest in who are in this body--many of 
us, actually--including, of course, the senior Senator from the great 
State of Kansas.
  I hope this appropriations process can continue this way--with 
bipartisanship, knocking out poison pill amendments, sticking together, 
and getting a good bill done. The fact that yesterday, I think there 
were--how many votes?--just a handful of votes against the first 
minibus of three of the Appropriations Committee's bills bodes well for 
the future.
  I would also caution to say there may be some extraneous forces, some 
even down the other side of Pennsylvania Avenue, that might want to 
blow this whole thing up. If we can stick together, we can make this 
happen in a good way, for the good of the country, in terms of the 
specific bills and in terms of bringing us back together again to get 
things done.
  That is the optimistic note of the morning. Maybe we will have more.

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