[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 195 (Thursday, December 15, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S7208]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Business Before the Senate

  Mr. President, on the CR, the omni, and NDAA, last night, the House 
of Representatives passed a 1-week continuing resolution that will keep 
the government open long enough for us to pass a bipartisan yearlong 
omnibus. Negotiations keep trending in the right direction, but we 
still have a lot of work left to do and not enough time to do it unless 
we extend government funding for another week.
  Let me put it a different way. As of this morning, the Senate will 
now require consent from both parties if we want to pass a CR before 
funding runs out tomorrow at midnight. We should move quickly to avert 
a shutdown today, without any unwelcome brouhaha that has caused 
shutdowns in years past.
  Democrats are ready together at a moment's notice, and I hope 
Republicans will stand ready too. Both sides are going to spend a day 
to work on an agreement to get the week-long CR done. We should have no 
drama, no gridlock, and no delay on passing a weeklong CR.
  Just remember, those who demand something happen and risk shutting 
down the government almost always lose. Let me say that again: No 
drama, no gridlock, no delay. That is the recipe right now for avoiding 
a shutdown within the next 48 hours. I am very hopeful we will get that 
done with time to spare. For the last 2 years, the 117th Congress 
hasn't had a single government shutdown, not one, not even for a day. I 
hope we don't start now just as we approach the finish line. Recent 
history shows that those who risk shutdowns with hopes of scoring 
political points ultimately lose in the end.
  Once we pass the CR, we can make progress toward an omnibus. I have 
said it time and time again, a yearlong omnibus is the best and most 
balanced option to fund our government. An omnibus is the best approach 
because it will ensure that our kids, our veterans, our small 
businesses, and our military continue to have full access to vital 
services and programs they depend on. An omnibus is the most balanced 
approach because it would contain priorities both sides want to see: 
funding for Ukraine; the ECA, Electoral Count Act; and full 
implementation of CHIPS and Science; the PACT Act; and more. We worked 
so hard together on these bills. Let's now work together again to 
implement them fully.
  As we continue negotiating to pass a 1-week CR and an omni, both 
sides will keep working on an agreement to pass the NDAA, hopefully, 
today. We are trying to do it as soon as today. The NDAA has been a 
consistently bipartisan effort for every year for more than six 
decades. I do not expect this year to be any different, and I thank 
Chairman Reed and all my colleagues for their good work on this bill.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.