[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[Senate]
[Page 5507]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                       THE APPROPRIATIONS PROCESS

  Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, we will return to the consideration of 
the energy security and water infrastructure funding bill today. As we 
do so, I wish to remind colleagues of the importance of returning to 
regular order and working through the appropriations process.
  A return to regular order means empowering Senators from both sides 
to make more responsible judgments as to how taxpayer dollars are 
spent. It means allowing Senators to better represent the voices of 
their constituents throughout the legislative process. Beginning the 
process early means giving Senators from both sides more opportunity to 
debate and offer ideas they think might make these bills even better.
  This is the way the appropriations process is supposed to work, and 
with a little cooperation, we can keep it moving forward this week.
  The bill before us will support energy innovation and waterway 
infrastructure. It will promote commerce and public safety. It will 
help maintain our nuclear deterrence posture.
  These are priorities that should be important to all of us. So let's 
continue to work today and move this bill forward.

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