[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 175 (Tuesday, October 24, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Page S5126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           Government Funding

  Mr. President, now, on appropriations, Democrat and Republican 
appropriators continue making progress on an agreement to move forward 
on three bipartisan funding bills here on the floor. We worked all last 
week to clear the objections from some of our Republican colleagues, 
and we kept talking over the weekend in good faith.
  We are not there yet, but it is my hope we can reach an agreement to 
begin voting on amendments very soon, in all likelihood by tomorrow 
morning. But, again, we need a little more time to keep working.
  Here in the Senate, unlike the chaos of the House, most Members on 
both sides want to see bipartisanship because we know that is the only 
way things move forward in divided government. A clean Senate 
appropriations process, without poison pills or dilatory tactics, is 
one of the best ways we can show our desire for bipartisanship is 
serious, and I am optimistic we are nearly, nearly there.
  I thank the Senate appropriators, Chairman Murray, Vice Chair 
Collins, and all the other Members, on both sides, for bringing us 
close to an agreement. I hope to see one very soon.