(WASHINGTON, D.C.) – U.S. Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Chairman of the Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks today on the Senate floor regarding the consequences of Democrats’ shutdown for the U.S. Armed Forces and the need to pass full-year defense appropriations:
“Government shutdowns have real consequences. I’ve said so countless times.
“Incredibly, it seems to have taken Democrats a month to remember that the proverbial stove is, in fact, hot. And yet, they’re not ready to turn it off… Just turn it down a notch… Just low enough that they can take the political heat.
“My friend from Delaware is right: Our military deserves a lot better than a government shutdown that jeopardizes their paychecks and the services military families count on.
“During Democrats’ shutdown, the President has had to scrape together unobligated balances within the Defense budget in order to uphold the nation’s promise to servicemembers through another pay period.
“I certainly hope he won’t have to divert resources from urgent modernization again to make payroll in another two weeks. But that ball, of course, is in the Democrats’ court. And I hope they’ll realize soon that the surest way to help servicemembers and civilian DoD employees is to simply turn government funding back on… and pass full-year appropriations.
“I know my counterpart on the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, of all people, understands this. He knows what would really help our armed forces – because he and I worked closely together on a full-year bill for defense that would pay servicemembers and invest more in the capabilities they need to keep America safe.
“I’m grateful for Senator Coons’ collaboration on the bipartisan bill that earned overwhelming support in committee and would add $22 billion above the President’s defense request. This, by the way, is the bill that almost every Democrat voted against considering two weeks ago. I know the Ranking Member cares about the promises we make to the all-volunteer force and the challenges we expect them to face. I know he’s concerned about the erosion of Congress’ authority to set and fund national security priorities. So am I. And if we cannot appropriate, we will render ourselves irrelevant.
“The way to provide real certainty and deliver serious, full-year appropriations is to open the government and pass our bill. It’s that simple.”
