[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 12]
[Senate]
[Page 16615]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            BUDGET AGREEMENT

  Mr. REID. Mr. President, Democrats have long called for bipartisan 
action to stop these devastating sequester cuts because they hurt our 
middle class and our military. With this agreement the Republican 
leader just mentioned, we have done just that. Democrats and 
Republicans have come to a responsible agreement that puts the needs of 
our Nation above the Republicans' partisan agenda. While this agreement 
is not perfect, it does address both investment in domestic priorities 
that benefit the middle class and defense spending. It helps us avoid a 
major threat to jobs and the general economy. The time to do away with 
the devastating sequester cuts that are harming our middle class and 
military is not in the future. It is right now. Democrats hope to end 
sequestration for the good of our great country.
  Our work is not done. I hope that we can continue to work together--
Democrats and Republicans--to pass this legislation and place the 
priorities of the American people ahead of partisan politics.

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