[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 174 (Tuesday, October 21, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S7695]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           GOVERNMENT FUNDING

  Mr. DAINES. Mr. President, I am here to make some comments about my 
friend Bill Mercer, whom we are actually going to vote on here on the 
floor in a minute, but I wanted to set the record straight on 
something. I am tired of the lies being spread around.
  There is a lie about what is happening here in Washington, and the 
lie is this: Republicans control the Presidency, the House, and the 
Senate, so it is on the Republicans for shutting it down. That is a 
lie. It takes 60 votes to get something done here in the U.S. Senate. 
We are looking for five Democrats to join us.
  It is already bipartisan. Three Democrats have joined us. If five 
more join the Republicans, we have done this 11 times in voting for 
this clean CR, which Democrats have done repeatedly under Joe Biden's 
watch. If five Democrats join us, we will open the government back up. 
But just wanted to set that straight at home. Yes, Republicans have 
majority control of the Senate, but it takes 60 votes to get an outcome 
here in Washington. We have 53 Republicans, if five Democrats join us, 
we will get this done.

                          ____________________