[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 43 (Thursday, March 6, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S1589]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Government Funding
Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, the American people know our government
is too big, and it spends too much. The American people want to see an
end to this wasteful Washington spending. They want Washington to work
for them, not for Washington.
President Trump shares those views, and he wants government to work
both efficiently and effectively. He is putting a stop to waste, to
fraud, and to abuse. Democrats in this body are now, believe it or not,
threatening a shutdown--a shutdown of the Government of the United
States.
Shutting down the government is not an outcome that President Trump
wants. It is not an outcome that any of the Republicans want. It costs
money to shut down the government; and then it costs even more money to
open the government again.
These shutdown-Democrats are acting irresponsibly. Why are they doing
it? Because they want to defend the wasteful Washington spending that
has gotten the American people so upset. What kind of waste have people
been finding?
Let me point out, Mr. President, what we have been seeing that
President Trump and those working with him have been able to find in
terms of government waste:
$2 million to develop sustainable recycle models in the Balkans; $19
million on biodiversity conversations--conversations on biodiversity in
Nepal; $47 million to improve learning outcomes in Asia; $1.5 million
on ``voter confidence'' in Liberia, Africa; $21 million for voter
turnout in India.
That is why the Democrats want to shut down the government. They want
to continue this reckless Washington spending. They want to stop
Republicans from rooting out the waste, the fraud, and the abuse.
This government runs out of money in 8 days. We need to pass
legislation to get beyond that, but more and more Democrats in this
Congress are calling for a shutdown as this deadline nears. Here is a
headline from Politico this past week: ``Democrats are serious about a
shutdown.''
Here is another from The Hill this past week:
Democrats digging in against full-year CR as shutdown
deadline ticks closer.
Senator Andy Kim of New Jersey said:
Yes, Democrats would shut down the government.
Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey who is a member of the leadership
of the Democratic Party said:
Democrats will use every possible tool to stop President
Trump.
Senator Jeff Merkley from Oregon, what did he say? He said he is open
to shutting down the government.
Democrats in House leadership also refused to come to the table and
negotiate a spending deal.
The Senate should reject these reckless efforts. A shutdown strains
Border Patrol agents. A shutdown strains our military because we know,
Mr. President, Border Patrol agents and our troops will have to work
regardless, and they won't get paid during the shutdown. They get paid
later, but not during the shutdown. It makes very difficult to make
ends meet if the paycheck isn't there at the end of the week.
These brave men and women should not have to pay the price because
Democrats hate President Trump. These people make enough sacrifices on
behalf of keeping our Nation safe and secure. Congress should be
willing to make sure that they get a paycheck, not get caught in
political games.
Make no mistake, Mr. President, the American people want President
Trump's urgent action. They want it to continue. President Trump is
doing exactly what the American people voted for.
Democrats calling for a shutdown are failing the American taxpayers.
They are failing our servicemembers, and they are failing our Border
Patrol agents. They sat on their hands during President Trump's
inspiring address to the Nation the other evening. They oppose the
commonsense changes that Americans voted for.
If there is a shutdown, Mr. President, it will be driven by and
directed by the Democrats. Thank you, Mr. President.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Democratic whip.