[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 125 (Thursday, July 20, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S3438]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Appropriations

  Mr. President, now on appropriations, as the Senate works to finish 
the NDAA, we will also vote this morning on an important executive 
nominee, David Uhlmann to be Assistant Administrator at the EPA. Mr. 
Uhlmann is one of the Nation's top prosecutors of criminal polluters. 
He has broad support from leading officials from both former Democratic 
and Republican administrations.
  Off the floor, we will also make great progress on the appropriations 
bill.
  This morning, the Appropriations Committee is marking up three more 
bills, continuing the great work of our appropriators over the past few 
months. This is never an easy process, but hats off to Chair Murray and 
Vice Chair Collins. They are working really well together, and we are 
on track to pass all of our appropriations bills through committee, 
through regular order, with strong bipartisan support. It is hard to 
do, but they are doing a great job.
  It is precisely how the appropriations process should work--both 
sides coming together, finding common ground, and advancing bills that 
invest in American families, keep our communities safe, and keep our 
government open.
  It is this kind of bipartisan cooperation that prevented any 
government shutdown in the last Congress when Democrats had majorities 
in the House and in the Senate. Not one shutdown. Not even for a day. 
We didn't shut the government down. Americans don't want to see one 
this year.
  There is a lot of work to do, but today's markup is another example 
that our appropriators are moving forward on a good path, and I thank 
them again for their efforts.