[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 146 (Monday, September 11, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4338-S4339]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Appropriations

  Mr. President, finally, on approps, this week, the bipartisan 
appropriations process continues here in the Senate. Tomorrow, we will 
take the first procedural vote on a package of three appropriations 
bills: Military Construction-Veterans' Affairs, Agriculture, and 
Transportation-HUD.
  Earlier this year, Democrats and Republicans reached an agreement on 
next year's spending levels as part of our work to avoid default, and 
these bills honor that agreement. Reaching bipartisan consensus on 
these bills certainly wasn't easy, and it took plenty of compromise, 
lots of negotiations, and an understanding that neither side would get 
everything it wanted. But each of these bills received unanimous 
support in committee--these three bills--from Republicans and 
Democrats.
  So thanks to the leadership of Chair Murray, Vice Chair Collins, and 
appropriators from both sides for moving forward. This is what a 
functional legislative body looks like. Disagreements don't paralyze 
the process.
  Now, as we process these appropriations bills through the floor, 
Congress must also avoid a pointless government shutdown later this 
month. I cannot stress enough that bumbling into a shutdown right now 
would not only be entirely unnecessary, it would cause immense harm to 
the American people. It could undermine so much of the progress we have 
made to lower costs, grow our economy, and restore the tens of millions 
of jobs lost during the worst days of COVID. It would also derail 
Congress from our work on so many important things, like lowering the

[[Page S4339]]

cost of insulin, prescription drugs; aiding our fellow Americans hurt 
by natural disasters; outcompeting the Chinese Government; and so much 
more. All of this would be undermined by a government shutdown. We 
certainly don't need to go down that road. The Senate has shown that 
bipartisan compromise is entirely possible even in these divided times.
  When the House gavels back into session tomorrow, I implore House 
Republicans to follow the Senate's example and reject all-or-nothing 
tactics, to reject unrealistic, extreme demands. Don't let 30 people 
way out on the extreme dictate what the House does. Instead, the House 
should work in a bipartisan fashion to keep the government open beyond 
September 30. The only way we will avoid a shutdown is through 
bipartisanship in both Houses, and the time is short to get it done.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The 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 ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.


          22nd Anniversary of the September 11, 2001, Attacks

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, today marks 22 years since terrorists 
shattered a peaceful morning in New York, Pennsylvania, and here in 
Washington; 22 years since enemies of America's freedom and leadership 
killed 2,977 innocent people; 22 years, but the shock of that day and 
the pain of loss are still every bit as real.
  Today, we remember the parents and the children and spouses and 
siblings who never returned home. We thank the first responders who ran 
toward danger in service of others. And we honor the servicemembers, 
intelligence professionals, and law enforcement officers who kept 
America safe since that awful day. But today is not just about 
remembering the past.
  Year after year, September 11 is a reminder of our commitment to 
confront growing threats from global terror and to preserve the tools 
and authorities our national security community need to carry out this 
essential mission.