[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 214 (Monday, December 13, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9102-S9103]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Business Before the Senate

  Madam President, now, on other Senate business and Build Back Better, 
in addition to making progress on nominees, the Senate has been doing 
the hard work of putting ourselves in a position to finish our other 
high-level priorities for the rest of the year.
  Last week, we advanced bipartisan legislation that will enable this 
Chamber to address the debt ceiling on a fast-track basis. For the 
information of all, the Senate will act tomorrow to prevent default. 
The Senate will act tomorrow to prevent default.
  The Senate could also begin processing the annual Defense 
authorization bill--negotiated on a bipartisan, bicameral basis--as 
early as tomorrow. Between now and the end of the year, Members should 
also expect we will hold votes to confirm even more of the President's 
nominees.
  And on a parallel track, the Senate is moving forward on the 
reconciliation process so we can vote on President Biden's Build Back 
Better Act before the Christmas holiday. Committees that received 
reconciliation instructions have been submitting their final text to 
the Parliamentarian, the Congressional Budget Office, and to our 
Republican counterparts.
  Throughout the week, both Republicans and Democrats will hold 
bipartisan Byrd bath meetings with the Parliamentarian. Meanwhile, I 
will also continue to meet with my colleagues, and I know the President 
will also continue discussions with them as we hammer out the final 
details of Build Back Better.
  This remains a laborious process, requiring a lot of precision and a 
lot of pieces moving together. I want to thank my colleagues and their 
staff and especially the Parliamentarian and her team for their 
dedication and focus as we approach a vote on the floor.
  The work is not yet finished, but we are working hard to put the 
Senate in a position to get the legislation across the finish line 
before Christmas.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Oregon.

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