[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 142 (Tuesday, September 5, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S3871]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           Government Funding

  Mr. President, this month, of course, Congress needs to address our 
Nation's most pressing needs with timely appropriations, and we need to 
keep the lights on come October 1.
  Back in January, I pointed out to Washington Democrats the new normal 
they faced. The American people have elected a divided government and 
demanded that we work together on our most basic governing 
responsibilities.
  Well, as I have reminded our colleagues regularly since then, that 
has meant funding the government through regular order. It has been 
encouraging to see Senator Collins, Senator Murray, and our colleagues 
on the Appropriations Committee make serious headway in that direction, 
and next week, we will aim to pass the first batch of their work out 
here on the floor.
  I have also made clear that the Senate's top priority must be keeping 
the American people safe; and this month, we will have a chance to do 
that with supplemental appropriations for urgent national security and 
disaster relief priorities.
  We need to continue to invest in America's defense industrial base, 
both to support our partners in today's fight and to help our own 
forces deter tomorrow's threats. And as our colleagues from Florida and 
Hawaii know all too well, emergency personnel are working overtime to 
help communities shattered by natural disasters over the summer.
  So the Senate reconvenes with our work cut out for us and a deadline 
fast approaching. I hope each of our colleagues has returned ready to 
do their part.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Illinois.