Thune Discusses Republicans’ Commitment to Regular Order Appropriations

“We appreciate the fact that the House has now acted and passed the legislation that was sent to them by the Senate last week that funds the five appropriation bills that were included in that package.”

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WASHINGTON — U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today spoke at a press conference with Senate Republican leadership:

Thune’s remarks below (as delivered):

“Good afternoon, everyone.

“We appreciate the fact that the House has now acted and passed the legislation that was sent to them by the Senate last week that funds the five appropriation bills that were included in that package.

“And now we have fully 96 percent of the federal government funded.

“So that’s a good win, a good day for the appropriations process, a process which enabled a lot of our members – who in past years had not been able to participate, because many of these things were negotiated behind closed doors in the leader’s office – an opportunity to be heard, and a regular order when it comes to actually funding the government.

“So, very appreciative of what the House did today.

“That bill will be headed to the president, and we will have fully 96 percent of the federal government funded.

“What that means is there’s still another 4 percent that’s not funded and is operating on a two-week continuing resolution, which I had argued at the time was way too short to allow anything consequential to happen when it comes to resolving the issues around DHS.

“But that being said, the Democrats insisted on it, so those discussions will get underway.

“Katie Britt will lead that on our side, and but ultimately, that’s going to be a conversation between the president of the United States and the Democrats here in the Senate.

“What I hope it doesn’t devolve into is something that, you know, makes it harder, not easier, to deport and detain dangerous illegal aliens in this country.

“And I also hope that it focuses on protecting and ensuring that the law enforcement officers in this country are safe in their jobs, and that a lot of the tumult that we’ve experienced in some of our cities around the country starts to dissipate as they are able to effectively function and do what the American people expect them to do.

“So that’s what’s going to be happening, at least with respect to DHS.

“This week, as you know, we’re going to be dealing with confirming judges, and then we’ll be off to the next challenge.

“But a good accomplishment, I think, today, in terms of ensuring that 96 percent of the federal government will be funded, and I think that’s something for which the American people can be grateful.

“No federal employee should be taken hostage by a government shutdown, something I’ve said before, and something that the House reiterated with their action today.”