[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 50 (Thursday, March 21, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S2482]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           Government Funding

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, earlier this morning, the legislative 
text for the final six appropriations bills was released, I am happy to 
say, clearing another hurdle toward our ultimate goal of funding the 
Federal Government. I thank the appropriators, their staffs, and 
everyone involved for working themselves to the bone to release these 
bills. I imagine some folks here in the Capitol are past the point of 
exhaustion.
  This funding agreement between the White House and congressional 
leaders is good news that comes in the nick of time. When passed, it 
will extinguish any more shutdown threats for the rest of the fiscal 
year, it will avoid the scythe of budget sequestration, and it will 
keep the government open without cuts or poison pill riders.
  It is now the job of the House Republican leadership to move this 
package ASAP.
  Just like the funding bills Congress passed 2 weeks ago, this package 
avoids draconian Republican cuts on major Democratic wins that help 
American families, American workers, and America's national defense. We 
have secured an increase in childcare services. We boosted disease 
research and prevention. We funded school mental health programs and 
suicide prevention--so needed in this modern world in which we live. We 
are strengthening the border with new resources for frontline 
personnel. We are investing in safer, more secure elections. We 
Democrats are very proud of both. The hard right pushed for cuts that 
would have impacted K through 12 education and services for low-income 
families. Democrats stopped it. The hard right wanted to add terrible 
poison pill riders to attack freedom of choice. Democrats stopped that 
too.
  Now Congress must now race to pass this package before government 
funding runs out this Friday. Once the House acts, the Senate will need 
bipartisan cooperation to pass it before Friday's deadline and avoid a 
shutdown.
  I want to thank President Biden, Speaker Johnson, Leader Jeffries, 
and Leader McConnell for their leadership. I also thank Chairwoman 
Murray and Vice Chair Collins and their staffs, as well as my own 
staff, for their tireless leadership of the Appropriations Committee 
throughout the entire process. I don't think they got any sleep from 
about Saturday to today. I really thank particularly Meghan Taira and 
Ray O'Mara from my staff, who did such a strong job on this.