[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 161 (2015), Part 13]
[Senate]
[Page 18644]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                      FINISHING THE SENATE'S WORK

  Mr. REID. Madam President, this year is quickly drawing to a close, 
as I mentioned earlier. That means the Senate has precious few days 
left to finish vitally important legislative matters, and it is not a 
small list. Before we leave this year, we need to address funding to 
prevent a government shutdown, a surface transportation bill, the 
elementary and secondary education conference report, important 
expiring tax provisions, including those for the middle class, not just 
for the big corporations, and a growing backlog of nominations, 
particularly those involving national security positions.
  Each of these matters I just mentioned is essential. We have to get 
them done, and we don't have a lot of time to do it. There is certainly 
no time for demagoguery and political distractions such as repealing 
Obama Care or defunding Planned Parenthood that have been the hallmarks 
of the Republican Congress. Instead, I hope my Republican colleagues 
will work with Democrats to accomplish all of the Senate's work in a 
timely fashion.
  Madam President, Senator McConnell and I have finished our remarks. 
What now is the business of the day?

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