[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 192 (Monday, December 12, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7089-S7090]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                                Omnibus

  Madam President, on the omni, as we keep working on confirming more 
judges and advancing the defense authorization bill, both sides also 
continue negotiating a deal for a yearlong

[[Page S7090]]

omnibus. Over the weekend, appropriators held positive and productive 
conversations, enough that both sides are moving forward in good faith 
to reach a deal, even if it is not going to be everything both sides 
want.
  Later this week, Members should be prepared to take quick action on a 
CR, a 1-week CR, so we can give appropriators more time to finish a 
full funding bill before the holidays.
  I am optimistic we could take action on a CR rather quickly and avoid 
the shutdown that neither side wants--and that is a 1-week CR. The 
benefits of an omnibus are as many as the number of citizens in 
America.
  All of us are better off when the government is fully equipped to 
provide vital services millions rely on. One group who very much needs 
an omnibus are our veterans.
  Last week, the VA wrote Congress a letter warning that a CR would 
mean a $10 billion shortfall for the VA. That means fewer healthcare 
workers on the job, it would mean a surge in the backlog of claims, 
and, God forbid, it would throw a wrench in the VA's plan to implement 
something that we are also proud that we passed on a bipartisan basis 
this summer: the PACT Act.
  There is no reason we need to go down this road. The brave Americans 
who have served our country in uniform should never have to suffer the 
consequences of failing to fund the government; but, unfortunately, 
that is the risk they face as of right now if we don't finish the job.
  So to all my colleagues, let's continue negotiations in good faith. 
Both sides are going to have to give in order to get it done, but it 
will be worth it if it means doing right by our veterans, our 
servicemembers in uniforms, our kids, their families. That is what is 
at stake here in this process to fund the government.