[Congressional Record Volume 172, Number 126 (Monday, August 3, 2026)]
[Senate]
[Pages S4401-S4402]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                           GOVERNMENT FUNDING

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am here to show my support for the 
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act.
  Before I do that, I want to express my support for the proposed 
continuing resolution and thank Senator Collins for her leadership to 
make sure government doesn't shut down if that continuing resolution 
gets to the President.
  Now, I do prefer passing 12 appropriations bills. And while I do 
that, I can say at the same time, it is my opportunity to tell my 
colleagues on the other side of the aisle to work with us and get the 
job done to avoid a government shutdown.
  Funding the Federal Government is a core responsibility of Congress. 
The fiscal year begins October 1 each year. If appropriations bills are 
not signed into law by September 30, lawmakers and the President must 
agree on the temporary spending resolution that is known as a 
continuing resolution. That resolution keeps the government open for 
business. If that fails, the unfunded parts of government shut down.
  Now, with increasing frequency, the minority party has used the 
threat or reality of a government shutdown to try and advance partisan 
political priorities. Over the past 10 years, we have seen five 
government shutdowns. Three of them--one a full shutdown, and two 
partial shutdowns--have occurred in just the past 9 months. 
Unfortunately, it looks like we could be headed for a fourth before the 
end of the year.
  History has repeatedly shown that shutting down the government is not 
only bad policy; it is bad politics. It has also shown not to be a 
great bargaining tool. By a bargaining tool, I mean there is some group 
of Senators or sometimes an individual Senator will say: We are going 
to shut the government down until I get some policy, that that 
individual wants or that group of people want. And you know what? 
Eventually, government opens up and the bargaining tool instrument has 
not served the purpose of the Members that shut down the government.
  It is a simple fact it costs taxpayers money to shut down the 
government and even more to reopen it. And in a time of fiscal crisis 
like we have now, you shouldn't be wasting that kind of money. A 
government shutdown reduces essential services to the American people, 
erodes the trust of the American people in their government, and limits 
the ability of Congress to conduct oversight over Federal Government 
operations. I believe Congress needs to stop governing from crisis to 
crisis, respect the appropriations process, and fulfill its 
constitutional responsibilities to fund the government.
  For that reason--and the reason I am here today is to talk about the 
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act. That act is introduced by Senator 
Lankford and Senator Hassan. This bill would make government shutdowns 
a thing of the past by providing an automatic continuing resolution 
should Congress fail to complete its job of passing appropriations 
bills on time. Moreover, it would implement rules designed to enforce 
the commonsense principle that if Congress doesn't do its job, Congress 
doesn't go home. Congress needs to work through regular order to fund 
the government Agencies to avoid our ``Groundhog Day'' approach to 
spending each year. Americans deserve better. They should not be asked 
to pay a price for congressional dysfunction.
  It is past time that we put an end to the recurring political 
sideshow of government shutdowns, so that is why I say: Let's enact the 
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act by Senator Lankford and Senator 
Hassan.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant executive clerk proceeded to call the roll.

[[Page S4402]]

  

  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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