[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 34 (Monday, February 26, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S978]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           Government Funding

  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, as Congress returns to Washington 
this week, the deadline to avoid a partial lapse in government funding 
is fast approaching.
  Without action by Friday, the country would face needless disruptions 
to agriculture, transportation, military construction, and essential 
services at the VA.
  So I will say at the outset what I have said every time Congress has 
faced this threat: Shutting down the government is harmful to the 
country. And it never produces positive outcomes--on policy or 
politics.
  What is more, a shutdown this week is entirely avoidable. The Senate 
passed full-year appropriations for each of these important areas 4 
months ago, and our House colleagues have produced full-year 
legislation of their own. We have the means and just enough time this 
week to avoid a shutdown and to make serious headway on annual 
appropriations. But as always, the task at hand will require that 
everyone rows in the same direction: toward clean appropriations and 
away from poison pills.
  Needless to say, millions of Americans will be watching carefully to 
see whether and how Congress fulfills its responsibilities this week.
  American farmers and ranchers, like the Kentuckians visiting 
Washington this week, expect us to take the challenges they face in 
feeding our Nation seriously. Veterans who swore to protect and defend 
expect us to keep our promises to care for them when they return 
home. In the coming days, we will need to do just that.