[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 152 (Wednesday, September 12, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S6116]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             APPROPRIATIONS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we will then turn back to 
appropriations. This week we will vote to approve the conference report 
that will fund energy and water, military construction and the VA, and 
the legislative branch.
  This week's bills contain $147 billion for projects ranging from 
waterways infrastructure to military family housing, to nuclear 
security and much more. This legislation equips the Army Corps of 
Engineers to carry out harbor maintenance, inland waterways 
restoration, and critical flood damage reduction efforts. It enables 
the Department of Energy to support groundbreaking research in 
computing systems and energy efficiency and to step up the security of 
our Nation's nuclear arsenal.
  The Military Construction and VA title funds overdue maintenance to 
operational facilities, as well as nearly $2 billion in support for 
military family and personnel housing, and it expands resources for in-
house VA medical services and broadens community options for veterans 
seeking vital treatment through funding of the VA MISSION Act.
  These are national priorities with local impacts that will be felt in 
every one of our States.
  In my home State of Kentucky, hundreds of millions of dollars will go 
toward training facilities at Fort Campbell and Fort Knox, 
infrastructure improvements in Appalachia, and environmental cleanup 
efforts in Paducah.
  I know all Senators can tell similar stories for their own States. So 
we are looking forward to taking another step forward on regular 
appropriations and passing this conference report this week.
  I want to thank Chairman Shelby and Senator Leahy for all they have 
done to keep this process going forward.
  Thanks also to the subcommittee chairmen, Senator Boozman and Senator 
Daines; Senator Alexander, who chaired the conference; and all of my 
colleagues on the Appropriations Committee.
  So let's pass this legislation and keep making progress together.

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