McConnell Urges Democrats Not To Filibuster Critical Funding for Defense
‘Even though we all agreed not to insist on poison pills or change existing presidential authorities, Democrats are threatening to filibuster Chairman Shelby’s clean defense bill over their disagreements with the president on immigration policy. I hope that doesn’t happen. I hope our Democratic friends allow the process to move forward when we vote today. The stakes are high. We’re talking about critical resources for the missions of the Department of Defense.’
WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor regarding the need to fund the government:
“Today, the Senate will have an opportunity to take the first procedural step toward keeping the federal government funded and open. At the end of July, the White House and the Speaker of the House reached an agreement to guide the appropriations process. Both parties, both chambers, and both sides of Pennsylvania Avenue agreed to terms.
“We laid out topline funding targets for defense and non-defense. We swore off poison pill policy riders. And unlike the past several budget deals -- which took almost a full year to negotiate while appropriations languished -- we finished this year’s deal much earlier to ensure we had enough time to move appropriations bills. In other words, congressional leaders and the president laid the groundwork for a sensible, bipartisan funding process.
“But instead, over the past week and a half, we’ve seen our Democratic colleagues suggest they may try to shoehorn their longstanding disagreements with President Trump into this appropriations process. Even though we all agreed not to insist on poison pills or change existing presidential authorities, Democrats are threatening to filibuster Chairman Shelby’s clean defense bill over their disagreements with the president on immigration policy.
“I hope that doesn’t happen. I hope our Democratic friends allow the process to move forward when we vote today. The stakes are high. We’re talking about critical resources for the missions of the Department of Defense. Our military commanders have told us this funding is vital to keeping pace with Putin’s Russia, China, and all their efforts to harm American interests. Just days ago, Saudi Arabian energy facilities literally went up in flames after what appears to be a massive, coordinated attack by Iran.
“In a world this dangerous, uncertain funding and continuing resolutions will not cut it for our national defense. Our men and women in uniform do not deserve to have the funding for their tools, their training, and their own pay raises used as leverage by Senate Democrats to try and extract concessions from the White House. I would urge each of my colleagues to join me today in taking this first step toward fulfilling our obligation to keep this country safe and secure.”
Related Issues: Appropriations, Russia, Iran, America's Military, China
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