OFFICIALS LEGISLATION INTEREST GROUPS PUBLIC STATEMENTS COMMITTEES VETOES

Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2019

Floor Speech

Date: Jan. 24, 2019
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: National Security Government Operations Government Budget and Spending

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Mr. WARNER. Mr. President, I appreciate my friend, the Senator from Maryland, yielding time. I appreciate the fact that this may be the first time, at least in the last few weeks, where a group of Senators from both sides of the aisle are actually coming together to find agreement--not to score ``gotcha'' points but to find agreement. I promised the Senator I would be very brief.

It is clear this government shutdown needs to come to an end. My hope would be that as we move toward that conclusion, we will also look at the issues revolving around, particularly, low-paid Federal contractors who will get no relief when the government reopens. I also hope we can work together.

I have legislation called the Stop STUPIDITY Act. It is a good name. It may need further amendments that would try to prohibit future shutdowns being used by either party on a going-forward basis.

What I think we need to do, and I think other colleagues will acknowledge this, is let's take a 3-week, short- term CR. Let's consider the President's proposal. Let me be clear. The President is watching. This Senator will commit to good-faith negotiations. This Senator will commit to supporting increased border security beyond what we just voted on in the so-called Democratic proposal. I hope the President will take that kind of commitment for increased border security as a good-faith effort and will be responsive so we can get this government reopened on a short-term basis and that the kind of horror stories we all can recount about our workers, contractors, and oftentimes private businesses that surround those Federal installations--that will see no relief--can actually get their operations back open.

I thank my friend, the Senator from Maryland, for granting me this time. I thank the Senator from Alaska for leadership on her time. Let's see if this eight can go forth and multiply so, before this weekend is over, we can get our workforce back to work doing the people's business.

I yield back to the Senator from Maryland.

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