[Congressional Record Volume 168, Number 200 (Thursday, December 22, 2022)]
[Senate]
[Page S10061]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                       BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, it was very late last night for those of 
us who were here and the staff. At 2 a.m. is when we finished, 2:01, to 
try to reach an agreement on finishing the omnibus bill. We are getting 
ever closer to reaching an agreement, but we are still not there. I 
hope that we will lock in an agreement sometime later this morning.
  In the meantime, we will start today with a vote on the confirmation 
of Franklin Parker to serve as Assistant Secretary of the Navy.
  I want to thank my colleagues from both sides of the aisle for their 
cooperation. I thank the clerks for being here late, late last night as 
we waited and waited and waited for an agreement, which hasn't yet 
come, and for showing up early this morning.
  And I hope we can finish the omnibus today. There is no reason why we 
can't. The bill is so important to get done because it will be good for 
families, for veterans, our national security, even for the health of 
our democratic institutions. To go to a CR or, even worse, a government 
shutdown, would be a huge disservice at any time, but particularly in 
the holiday season, to the American people.
  To ensure that we minimize any delays, I ask Members to stay near the 
floor and be ready to get voting when the time comes. If we can keep 
this process moving, we can finish in time for Members and staff to get 
home for Christmas safely, before the blizzard wreaks havoc across much 
of the country.
  I yield the floor.

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