[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 136 (Thursday, August 16, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5671-S5672]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             APPROPRIATIONS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, the Senate is back in session this 
August for a simple reason: We have more to do for the families across 
America who count on us to work hard and to fight for them. That is why 
the next legislation the Senate will consider is a pair of critically 
important appropriations bills that will fund our national defense, 
along with the Department of Labor and the Department of Health and 
Human Services.
  Talk about subjects that are vital to the American people, at stake 
is a 2.6-percent pay raise for U.S. servicemembers, the largest pay 
raise for troops in almost a decade; the equipment, tools, and training 
they need to complete their mission; and funding to support the 
necessary programs we just authorized when the John S. McCain National 
Defense Act became law earlier this week.
  At stake are billions of dollars to fight back against the opioid 
crisis, hundreds of millions to support and retrain American workers 
who need a boost back into the labor force, hundreds of millions more 
for employment training specifically for our veterans, funding for the 
Centers for Disease Control and the National Institutes of Health, and 
Federal funding for our Nation's schools. I have only scratched the 
surface. There will be plenty of time in the days ahead to discuss and 
detail all of the ways this legislation will help our country, as well 
as to consider amendments.

  Yesterday was a promising start. We agreed to proceed to these two 
important funding bills by consent after we wrap up the nominations 
that are before us today. Now we need to keep up the collaboration.
  There is a reason why it has been quite some time since we have 
completed a full, regular process. There is a reason why, for example, 
it has been 15 years--15 years--since the Senate passed the Labor, 
Health, and Education bill in time for the start of the fiscal year.
  This process is not easy. It is hard work for our Appropriations 
subcommittees and the full committee to craft this legislation. Then, 
on the floor, we need cooperation from both sides to process 
amendments, while resisting the temptation to turn the appropriations 
process into a free-for-all on all manner of policy issues. But this 
year, that is exactly what we are doing.
  The Senate has already passed 7 of 12 bills. In the next several 
days, we will consider Nos. 8 and 9. Once we finish them, they will 
encompass more than 87 percent--more than 87 percent--of total 
discretionary spending--two more big strides toward avoiding another 
omnibus and appropriating the taxpayers' money in the right way.

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