[Congressional Record Volume 165, Number 172 (Wednesday, October 30, 2019)]
[Senate]
[Page S6262]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                             APPROPRIATIONS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, tomorrow the Senate will vote on 
funding for the national defense. It will offer a test for our 
Democratic colleagues: Will their party's impeachment obsession crowd 
out even the most basic governing responsibilities?
  Unfortunately, it seems we may already have our answer. The 
Democratic leader said at a press conference yesterday that his party 
intends to filibuster funding for our Armed Forces. Democrats have 
plenty of time and energy for their 3-year-old journey to impeach the 
President, but they can't get to yes on funding our servicemembers. 
That is about as clear a statement of priorities as you could get 
around here.
  Just a few days ago, U.S. Special Forces executed a daring mission 
and took out the founder of ISIS. It was the clearest possible reminder 
that the national security of the United States and the missions of our 
servicemembers do not pause for partisan politics. But less than a week 
later, for political purposes, Senate Democrats say that they will 
refuse to secure funding for those very same missions.
  Washington Democrats have talked up a storm in recent days, 
criticizing the administration's approach to Syria and the Middle East. 
Lots of talk--but, apparently, they are not concerned enough about the 
Middle East and fighting ISIS to actually vote for the funding that 
keeps the missions going.
  Consider this. If Democrats filibuster this defense funding, as they 
threatened to, they will literally be filibustering the exact kind of 
military assistance for Ukraine over which they are trying to impeach 
the President.
  Let me say that again. This legislation is what appropriates the 
money for the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative, which is 
precisely the program that Democrats are trying to impeach President 
Trump for supposedly slow-walking. Yet, tomorrow, right here in the 
Senate, they say that they are going to filibuster funding for the 
exact same program.
  Only in Washington--only in Washington will you see a show like that.
  They want to impeach the President for delaying assistance to Ukraine 
while they block funding for the program themselves. I would say it is 
unbelievable, except that is exactly what is happening.
  Look, I think it is pretty clear that our Democratic colleagues do 
not have a great affinity for President Trump. But the country cannot 
afford for Democrats in Congress to take a 1-year vacation from any 
productive legislation just because they would rather obsess over 
impeachment.
  ISIS and other radical terrorists are not going to hit the pause 
button because Democrats will not fund the U.S. military. Strategic 
competitors like Russia and China are not going to hit pause because 
Democrats would rather hurt the White House than fund our military 
commanders.
  Look, Congress needs to do its work. We need to fund our Armed 
Forces. Tomorrow's vote will tell us which Senators are actually ready 
to do it.

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