[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 131 (Thursday, August 1, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5280]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                     BIPARTISAN BUDGET ACT OF 2019

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today the Senate will turn our 
attention to legislation. We need to address the debt limit and secure 
the full faith and credit of the United States. We need to continue to 
secure the funding our national defense demands. Fortunately, the 
pending legislation will accomplish precisely that.
  In recent weeks, key officials on President Trump's team engaged in 
extensive negotiations with Speaker Pelosi and the Democratic House. 
Given the exigencies of a divided government, we knew that any 
bipartisan agreement on funding levels would not appear perfect to 
either side, but the administration negotiated a strong deal.
  First and foremost, it ensures our Federal Government will not 
approach any kind of short-term debt crisis in the coming weeks or 
months. It secures our Nation's full faith and credit and ensures that 
Congress will not throw this kind of unnecessary wrench into the gears 
of job growth and a thriving economy.
  What is more, despite the desires of the Democratic House, the 
administration has successfully kept far-left poison pills and policy 
riders entirely out of the process.
  We had heard that our Democratic colleagues across the Capitol were 
clamoring to take us backward on the issue of life, perhaps even 
targeting the Hyde Amendment or forcing more taxpayer dollars back 
toward Planned Parenthood. We had heard they were clamoring to try to 
handcuff the administration's important work on border security, but on 
those fronts, and many others, the far left was denied any such 
victories. There are no poison pills--a big win for the White House.
  I ask unanimous consent that the terms of this agreement and the 
specific prohibition of poison pills be printed in the Record.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed in 
the Record, as follows:

       Bipartisan Budget Agreement for Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021

       1. The 2019 Bipartisan Budget Agreement for fiscal years 
     2020 and 2021 (``Agreement'') is agreed to by the bipartisan 
     leadership of Congress and the administration of Donald J. 
     Trump. The bipartisan Congressional leadership and the 
     administration agree to cooperate in the Agreement's 
     implementation.
       2. The Agreement modifies the discretionary spending caps 
     imposed by the Budget Control Act (``BCA'') for fiscal years 
     2020 and 2021 pursuant to the table below. The spending cap 
     adjustments are intended to reflect the elimination of the 
     BCA sequester for two years, plus a slight increase in 
     spending for both defense and non-defense programs.
       3. The parties agree to partially offset the Agreement's 
     modifications to the discretionary spending caps legislation 
     by extending the BCA mandatory sequester and customs user 
     fees to achieve a total offset level of $77.4 billion as 
     scored by the Congressional Budget Office.
       4. The debt limit will be suspended for two years, through 
     July 31, 2021. No additional restrictions will be placed on 
     the Secretary's extraordinary measures authorities. The debt 
     limit suspension, spending cap adjustments, offsets, and any 
     necessary procedural matters, will be included as part of a 
     single piece of legislation.
       5. Appropriations bills: Specific spending decisions shall 
     be left to the members of the Appropriations Committees, with 
     302(b)s set through the regular process of the committees. 
     Congressional leaders and the administration agree that, 
     relative to the FY 2019 regular appropriations Acts, there 
     will be no poison pills, additional new riders, additional 
     CHIMPS, or other changes in policy or conventions that allow 
     for higher spending levels, or any nonappropriations measures 
     unless agreed to on a bipartisan basis by the four leaders 
     with the approval of the President. Current transfer funding 
     levels and authorities shall be maintained, and any 
     modifications must be agreed to on a bipartisan basis by the 
     four leaders with the approval of the President. Any 
     emergency spending levels must be agreed to on a bipartisan 
     basis by the four leaders with the approval of the President.
       6. The agreement also establishes a new cap adjustment for 
     FY 2020 to help ensure the necessary resources for the 
     decennial Census are provided.
       7. Senate Leaders agree that if a bill has been reported on 
     a bipartisan basis from the Senate Appropriations Committee 
     and is consistent with the BCA spending caps, and has the 
     support of the Chairman and the Ranking Member, they will 
     work together to minimize procedural delays. The Majority 
     Leader will continue to consult with the Democratic Leader to 
     sequence bills in a bipartisan way, and acknowledges that 
     bipartisan concurrence is required to expedite the 
     consideration of any appropriations bill.
       8. The President, Congressional leaders and the leadership 
     of the Appropriations Committees shall work together to reach 
     bicameral and bipartisan agreement on the orderly and timely 
     consideration of FY 2020 appropriations bills to avoid a 
     government shutdown, and a 12-bill omnibus. The President, 
     Congressional leaders and the leadership of the 
     Appropriations Committees shall also work together to reach 
     bicameral and bipartisan agreement on the orderly and timely 
     consideration of FY 2021 appropriations bills to avoid a 
     government shutdown, and a 12-bill omnibus.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   Fiscal Year  Fiscal Year  Fiscal Year
                                       2019         2020         2021
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Defense Base.....................       647.00      666.500      671.500
Defense OCO......................         69.0       71.500       69.000
    Defense subtotal.............      716.000      738.000      740.500
Nondefense Base..................      597.000      621.500      626.500
Census Adj.......................        - - -        2.500            0
    Nondefense base plus               597.000      624.000      626.500
     adjustments.................
Nondefense OCO...................          8.0        8.000        8.000
    Nondefense subtotal..........      605.000      632.000      634.500
        Total....................    1,321.000    1,370.000    1,375.000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Adjustments permitted under current law for disaster relief, wildfire
  suppression, program integrity, and 21st Century Cures Act continue.
Agreement calls for increased OCO funding in FY 2020 (relative to FY
  2019) of + $2.5 billion for defense funding. Defense OCO returns to FY
  2019 levels in FY 2021.

  Mr. McCONNELL. Now, perhaps more importantly--particularly to my 
Republican colleagues and to me--this legislation sets a sufficient 
funding level for our national defense.
  Over the past few months, as we have worked through important 
legislation like the NDAA, we have been reminded of one glaring 
reality: The forces that seek to harm the United States and our 
interests are ever-changing, and they demand the full attention of a 
fully equipped, modern, and ready military.
  Since President Trump took office, Republicans in Congress have made 
remarkable progress. Working together, we have begun rolling back the 
damage caused by the previous administration's neglect, atrophy, and 
misguided approach. We have begun to rebuild and restore our military. 
We have taken important steps toward modernization, so we aren't just 
rebuilding the capabilities we need today but investing in those we 
will sorely need tomorrow.
  I trust none of my colleagues are under the illusion that our work is 
finished. As our adversaries grow stronger, critical gaps remain in our 
ability to counter expansion, influence campaigns, and direct acts of 
violence toward America and our allies around the world.
  The bipartisan funding deal is the opportunity--the only opportunity 
on the table--to continue filling in these gaps before it is too late. 
So make no mistake, Russia is not waiting idly by as we sort out 
whether to deliver full funding to missile defense or uphold our 
support of partner forces in Europe. China will not scale back its own 
aggressive ambitions and military investments if Americans decide to 
take a breather ourselves. Iran's financing of terrorist organizations 
and regional troublemaking is not going to stop if we stop investing in 
our own ability to check their efforts and project power.
  So if we say we are serious about countering threats to our homeland, 
our allies, and our men and women deployed overseas, then we have to 
actually deliver on our promise to equip our forces for the job.
  We have to invest in improved readiness to help our military 
commanders plan for emerging challenges--in research and development to 
support the U.S. military of the future--and in rock-solid support for 
our alliance commitments, which help preserve the peace and extend the 
reach of our values.
  This deal is an opportunity to do exactly that. This is the agreement 
the administration has negotiated. This is the deal the House has 
passed. This is the deal President Trump is waiting and eager to sign 
into law. This is the deal that every Member of this body should 
support when we vote later this morning.

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