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Floor Speech
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Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I want to follow up on the statement made by the Republican Senate leader, and I agree with many of the things he said. We disagree with others. But there is a way for us to show our commitment not only to our troops but to the defense of causes that are important to America, and it is in his hands. It is known as the appropriations bill for the Department of Defense. It is known as the appropriations and budget for the United States of America.
Where are we now? We are on something called a continuing resolution. That means we haven't decided. We can't get an agreement from the Republican leader to move forward on the spending bills for this fiscal year, which began October 1. We are spending at last year's levels when the Biden administration has asked for more money for the Nation's defense, and who is stopping him? The Republican leader.
So he can't have it both ways and argue we need to invest more in the defense of America and then stop us from an appropriations process that does just that. Let's get it done. This should have been done before last October 1, and his cooperation means it can be done now.
Now, let me say there is another aspect to it. Many speeches are given about the rise in crime in America. I know this personally, representing the State of Illinois and the great city of Chicago. The number of violent gun crimes in this last calendar year was just shocking. When you look at all of the people who have been hurt and killed with the use of guns in cities across America, it is clear that we need to invest in our police force and law enforcement. Hold them accountable for the right values and the right conduct, but put in their hands the resources to protect us in our homes and our neighborhoods.
What is holding that up? The same decision by the Republican leader not to bring any appropriations bills forward for approval by the Congress. This is just mindless. You can't preach on one hand that you want to fund the police and then stop the appropriations process, which the Republicans in the Senate have done.
It is time to pass the Omnibus appropriations bill so the resources are going to ATF and to the U.S. Attorney's Offices and other law enforcement agencies that can help the State and local law enforcement efforts to try to suppress this violent crime.
So don't preach about the need for this money and then turn around and stop the effort here on Capitol Hill. Why aren't we voting on an Omnibus appropriations bill this week? Why? Why can't we get this done next week? It was supposed to be done last October, and it is time for us to do it.
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