[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 28 (Wednesday, February 13, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S1290]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           Government Funding

  Mr. President, the final order of business this week is funding the 
government. I am very pleased and encouraged that Chairman Shelby and 
his counterparts have reached an agreement ``in principle'' to fully 
fund the government and fund important border security measures.
  No one wants another government shutdown. I am very glad Democrats 
abandoned their efforts to force a cap on the number of individuals 
that Immigration and Customs Enforcement could detain in the interior 
of the country. If Democrats' enforcement cap had been adopted, 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement would have been forced to release 
criminals already in detention onto our Nation's streets. I am pleased 
that Democrats decided to separate themselves from the radical anti-
border-security wing of their party. Instead, the deal will now give 
Immigration and Customs Enforcement the flexibility it needs to address 
surges of illegal immigration at our southern border.
  I am also very glad Democrats moved from their insistence on zero 
funding for physical barriers at the border. Barriers are an essential 
element of border security, and I am pleased this compromise will allow 
55 new miles of physical barriers in the Rio Grande Valley's sector, 
which is a high-priority area for the Border Patrol. That is double the 
number of new miles provided in fiscal year 2018 and nearly three times 
as many as would have been available under a continuing resolution.
  I thank Chairman Shelby and Members of both parties who have been 
working on a funding and border security deal, as well as the staffers 
who have worked nights and weekends, to help develop this agreement. I 
look forward to reviewing the final language and voting on a final 
funding and border security package later this week.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.