U.S. Senator John Barrasso (R-Wyo.), the Senate Majority Whip, spoke on the Senate floor ahead of a vote concerning six bipartisan appropriations bills intended to keep the federal government open and maintain public safety. The vote is set to determine whether these bills will proceed, as a potential government shutdown looms at midnight on Friday.
Barrasso emphasized the bipartisan nature of the legislation, stating: “On the Senate Floor today are six bipartisan appropriations bills. Bills that keep America safe. Bills that keep the government funded and open. Bills Senate Democrats helped to draft. Bills a majority of House Democrats voted for. These bipartisan bills fund the rest of the government for the remainder of the fiscal year. Every Senator should vote yes. Americans are counting on their government to stay open and keep them safe.”
He criticized Senate Democrats for considering blocking debate on these bills, saying: “Today, Senate Democrats are threatening to block these bills. Not just vote against them. Block them from even being debated. Once again, Democrats are threatening to shut down the government.” Barrasso warned that if progress stalls and a shutdown occurs, it would result in several immediate consequences, including halted funding for FEMA during severe winter weather events, missed paychecks for military personnel, and disrupted operations at airports due to lack of funding for TSA agents and air traffic controllers.
Barrasso recalled previous shutdowns, attributing blame to Democratic leadership: “We all remember the Democrat shutdown at the end of last year. That was the longest shutdown in American history. It was the politics of pain.” He further argued that another shutdown would not affect existing immigration laws or enforcement but would have wide-ranging negative effects.
He noted that Republicans have previously supported significant investments in border security and immigration enforcement: “That’s because Republicans already put into law the largest investment in border security and immigration enforcement in history.”
Describing what is at stake with this week’s vote, Barrasso stated: “These bills make America safer. They fund disaster assistance through FEMA. They hire thousands of new air traffic controllers. They fund TSA agents, the Coast Guard, and our military. They give our troops a well-earned pay raise. They support housing assistance for vulnerable families. They improve roads, bridges, and ports across the country. They upgrade our nation’s outdated air traffic control system.”
He praised Senator Susan Collins (R-Maine), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, for her work in advancing these bills through months of negotiations.
Barrasso concluded by urging all senators to support advancing these appropriations measures: “It is time for the Senate to vote. All Senators should vote yes to avert a painful shutdown. Republicans will keep working with Democrats to keep the government open. Our country deserves safety and security – not another government shutdown.”
