[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 145 (Wednesday, September 11, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S5414]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, with only a few weeks to go until the 
end of September, we have no time to waste when it comes to 
appropriations. We had planned for the Senate to consider bipartisan 
bills from the Appropriations Committee as soon as next week and make 
significant headway before a partial interim continuing resolution 
becomes necessary at the end of the month.
  To this end, Democrats and Republicans in both the House and the 
Senate, plus President Trump, formalized an agreement 1 month ago. It 
set up funding levels to inform the appropriations process, and 
everyone on both sides agreed there would be no poison pills, no 
partisan wrenches thrown into the gears.
  Unfortunately, yesterday brought some disturbing signals that 
Democrats may be rethinking that commitment. New poison pills are 
apparently being discussed. But everyone knows what we agreed to last 
month. In fact, back on August 1, I asked consent to print the entire 
terms sheet that everyone agreed to in the Record.
  So I maintain hope that Chairman Shelby and Ranking Member Leahy can 
oversee a smooth process and that we can move all 12 appropriations 
bills in a bipartisan fashion. Both sides have every reason to want a 
smooth appropriations process to proceed as we had planned. I hope that 
is exactly what happens in committee this week and on the floor soon 
thereafter.

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