[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 202 (Friday, December 21, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Page S8012]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           GOVERNMENT FUNDING

 Mrs. FEINSTEIN. Madam President, I rise today regarding 
President Trump's reversal of his commitment to support a short-term 
government funding bill and defer further spending negotiations until 
February.
  The Senate voted late Wednesday night on bipartisan legislation to 
avoid a government shutdown right before Christmas. I supported that 
legislation, and my position has not changed. I do not support 
President Trump's wall proposal, and I do not believe the President 
should shut down the government over it.
  Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell scheduled a vote on a 
straightforward, 7-week continuing resolution because the White House 
committed to him that President Trump would sign it into law. The 
Senate voted on that legislation with the understanding that the 
President would sign it and defer any further debate over his wall 
until February.
  President Trump's reversal of his commitment to sign the continuing 
resolution has now placed the Federal Government on the brink of a 
shutdown.
  Everyone knows that Trump's border wall proposal cannot get the 60 
votes it needs in order to pass the Senate. That is an inescapable fact 
that the President needs to finally accept.
  I cannot support the version of the short-term continuing resolution 
that the House passed last night. The $5.7 billion in wall funding 
added by House Republicans is accompanied by no meaningful 
justification from the White House. Earlier this year, President Trump 
requested $1.6 billion in wall funding. That was the amount requested 
in the President's official budget submitted to Congress. That was the 
amount that would be provided under the spending bill approved by the 
Senate Appropriations Committee. Now, however, the President says he 
needs $5 billion.
  The House version of the short-term continuing resolution also 
contains almost $8 billion in disaster funding that would help victims 
of this year's devastating wildfires, which I would support. However, 
this disaster funding is not necessary now as when Federal disaster 
assistance accounts retain sufficient balances for the purposes of 
immediate recovery needs.
  Unfortunately, due to the timing of the vote and difficulties 
incurred in returning to Washington, DC, I was unable to cast my vote 
in person. This statement in the Congressional Record is intended to 
make clear that, if present, I would have voted no.
  Thank you.

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