[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 25 (Tuesday, February 8, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S550]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Continuing Resolution

  Mr. President, on one final matter, yesterday, the House of 
Representatives introduced legislation to keep the Federal Government 
open and funded through mid-March. Avoiding a government shutdown in 
the near term is an obvious, commonsense step. But our military 
commanders and their civilian bosses badly need our country to escape 
the hamster wheel of chronic continuing resolutions. The urgent task of 
continuing to modernize and strengthen our military requires 
predictable budgeting and advanced planning. So I am glad the 
bipartisan, bicameral conversations about a long-term funding agreement 
are continuing.
  Let me briefly reiterate some basic facts that are known to everybody 
here in Congress. I have been saying since last year that three basic 
boxes will need to be checked for a government funding deal to pass the 
Senate and make it to the President's desk.
  No. 1, the agreement will need to honor the longstanding, bipartisan 
norm that spending growth for our national defense receives parity--
parity--with spending growth for nondefense. We live in a world that is 
too dangerous for Democrats to go hog-wild on domestic programs and 
welfare. Instead, we need to refocus our attention on resourcing our 
great-power competitions with Russia and China in equal measure.
  No. 2, any agreement will need to preserve longstanding, bipartisan 
policy riders. Again, this is just the bipartisan norm. The Hyde 
amendment prevents taxpayers from having to fund abortions against 
their will. Another rider prevents the IRS from weaponizing political 
bias and targeting citizens. In a 50-50 Senate, we obviously need to 
honor the bipartisan status quo on legacy riders.
  No. 3, likewise, any agreement will need to keep new partisan poison 
pills out of the process.
  That has been the big picture for months now--parity for defense, 
keeping longstanding bipartisan policy riders in, and keeping new 
poison pills out. With these basic things, a bipartisan deal should be 
achievable. Without them, it will be impossible.
  I thank Ranking Member Shelby for his tireless work. I hope our 
Democratic colleagues in both Chambers will fully embrace this 
noncontroversial framework, which has been clear to everybody literally 
for months, so that Congress can soon deliver the full-year funding 
that our servicemembers need to keep us safe.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum 
call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.