Durbin Urges Both Chambers To Pass The Senate CR And Fund The Government For The Sake Of The American People
Floor Speech
"The Senate I believe has taken a responsible, thoughtful approach to this [funding the government] We had a procedural vote in the Senate on the Senate bipartisan Continuing Resolution and 77 Senators voted in favor I would quickly add that the efforts of Senator Murray and Senator Collins in the Appropriations Committee leading up to this moment were historic in nature. It's been more than five years since we've come to the floor and actually debated spending bills and actually amended spending bills on the floor.
Unfortunately, over in the House, Speaker McCarthy has declared this bipartisan Senate CR dead on arrival Forreasons beyond my understanding, he has chosen the far-right rebellion of a few MAGA House Republicans over the continued orderly work of our government. He has chosen to put partisanship and politics above the American people. Forhowever long it takes the Speaker to gain control of this small faction of his party, essential social services will be slowed and federal employees and military servicemembers will go without paychecks for their families. This group of extreme Republicans is intent on slashing millions from social programs, and attaching their political agenda for the border, before they'll even begin to discuss keeping the government open. The American people deserve better. [They're] not a bargaining chip.
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I urge my House Republican colleagues to resist making shutdowns a five-year tradition. If we have the option of keeping the government funded while we continue to negotiate a longer-term funding plan, why put the nation through the pain? Funding the government is one of the essential parts of this job. It's time that we meet our responsibility and do it in a way that doesn't disrupt America's livelihood and well-being. We need to finish the full-year appropriations process. I urge my colleagues in both chambers to choose bipartisanship and pass the Senate Continuing Resolution so we can continue the important process of funding the government in a grown-up, responsible way for 2024."
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