[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 48 (Tuesday, March 19, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2424-S2425]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           Government Funding

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, this week, the Senate faces one more 
test to complete its annual appropriations process, and the stakes 
really couldn't be higher for Americans' security at home and abroad.
  The work we have outstanding amounts to nearly 70 percent--70 
percent--of the discretionary budget. Once again, I am grateful to our 
colleagues on the Appropriations Committee for their commitment to 
regular order. I am especially grateful to Senator Collins for fighting 
to advance Republican priorities throughout the process, particularly 
in the Defense appropriations bill.
  Predictable annual allocations are essential to meeting national 
defense responsibilities. They allow for effective investments in 
modernizing our forces, developing new, cutting-edge capabilities, and 
expanding the industrial capacity that will drive long-term strategic 
competition. Needless to say, investments like these are especially 
critical right now as the gulf between

[[Page S2425]]

the threats we face and the Biden administration's willingness to 
address them seems to be growing wider. President Biden has just turned 
in his fourth straight budget request that would cut defense funding 
after inflation. So the work before us is gravely necessary, and I am 
encouraged that we are beginning this week with an agreement in hand to 
actually complete the process.
  Congress has secured a path forward to fund the Department of 
Homeland Security, which will allow us to complete the fiscal year 2024 
appropriations process in the coming days. As always, making headway 
depends on serious cooperation, and I am grateful to our appropriators 
and negotiators for their commitment to working in good faith. 
Providing for the common defense is among our most basic constitutional 
responsibilities, and we need to be honest with ourselves: Growing 
threats and increasing military requirements make fulfilling this 
responsibility even more critical.
  The legislation in front of us will not be Congress's last word, but 
it represents an important down payment, and I look forward to working 
with my colleagues to complete the annual appropriations process very, 
very soon.