U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), serving as Senate Majority Whip, addressed the Senate Floor ahead of a vote on the first bipartisan appropriations bill of the session. Barrasso emphasized a return to regular order in the appropriations process, which he said had been disrupted in recent years.
“Republicans believe in a Senate that debates, that amends, that votes. We believe in regular order, not top-down control,” Barrasso stated.
Barrasso criticized former Majority Leader Chuck Schumer for not bringing 11 bipartisan appropriations bills—passed by committee last year—to the Senate floor for debate and vote. He attributed this to unilateral decisions by Schumer, which he argued led to dysfunction and gridlock within the legislative body.
“Last year, 11 out of 12 funding bills passed the Senate Appropriations Committee. They were passed through regular order. They had strong, bipartisan support. Many were unanimous. Yet not a single one of those overwhelmingly agreed-up bills reached the Floor of the United States Senate. Why? Because then-Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blocked each and every one of them. He let these 11 bipartisan appropriations bills die on his desk,” Barrasso said.
He added: “As Majority Leader, Senator Schumer had the power to bring each of these bills on the Floor of the United States Senate. He refused. Senator Schumer unilaterally shut down the appropriations process.”
The current bill under consideration funds veterans’ healthcare, strengthens military readiness, and improves housing for service members and their families—a measure that received broad support in committee with a 26-3 vote.
“This bill to fund veterans’ healthcare and military readiness and housing should unite us – not divide us,” Barrasso noted.
He further described restoring regular order as essential for accountability and transparency in government spending: “The appropriations process is how Congress fulfills our most basic legislative duty. That duty is controlling the power of the purse.”
Barrasso warned against another potential government shutdown if Democrats do not participate fully in negotiations: “If Democrats walk away from this process again – simply to protect wasteful Washington spending – they will be the ones sabotaging the Senate and shutting down the government.”
In closing his remarks, Barrasso called on colleagues from both parties to join Republicans in supporting regular order: “Republicans are committed to restoring regular order, transparency, and trust… The question is, will Senate Democrats join us? Or will they drag the country into another Schumer Shutdown?”
