[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 214 (Thursday, December 18, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S8903]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Appropriations

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, when I became majority leader, I made it 
very clear that I was committed to funding the government through the 
regular order consideration of appropriations bills, not through an 
omnibus or long-term CR, oftentimes written behind closed doors.
  The regular order process gives Senators from both parties the 
fullest chance to make their voices and the voices of their 
constituents heard, which is why I am disappointed that we will not be 
moving to our second package of appropriations bills tonight.
  Republicans were ready to go, but, unfortunately, my Democrat 
colleagues are not there yet. Hopefully, they will get there.
  Republicans have worked hard all year to get us back to taking up 
appropriations bills through regular order. We had a positive start 
with the Senate passing three appropriations bills before the August 
State work period, something that hadn't been done here since 2018.
  Then we hit a setback when Democrats decided to shut the government 
down for 6 weeks. That was disappointing, obviously.
  But I want this body to know that I remain as committed as ever to 
funding the government through the regular order process. And when we 
come back, after the holidays, we are going to redouble our efforts to 
get this government funded and prevent any repeat of the Democratic 
shutdown.
  I hope that my Democrat colleagues will join us. I hear them speaking 
to that effect, and I will take them at face value. And I hope that we 
can work together to fund the government in the way it should be 
funded, through regular order and the appropriations process.

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