Heidi Alexander: “I will save most of my remarks for after the vote, but I wish to make two kinds of remarks. One is to give an update on…”

“I will save most of my remarks for after the vote, but I wish to make two kinds of remarks. One is to give an update on the bill, where we are. The second remark is to restate my reasons why I will not vote for cloture on the Cotton amendment. First, in terms of where we are, we have the Cotton amendment at 10:30. The Senator from California and I have agreed--and I think our staffs and the Republican and Democratic leaders have discussed it--that there could be a vote for Senator Cardin and Senator Fischer at 60 votes, a voice vote on Senator Flake. That is it. Then we would have another cloture vote if we need it and a vote on final passage. In my view, and I believe in terms of Senator Feinstein's view, we ought to easily be able to finish the bill today. I think we should finish it today. I thank the Republican leader, Senator McConnell, for starting the appropriations process earlier this year than it ever has been started before. I thank the Democratic leader, Senator Reid, for working with us through some difficult issues we had on this first bill that we didn't expect and to make it possible for us to come to what looks like a prompt conclusion. This is an important bill. The Senators know that. We have had nearly 80 Senators contribute parts of this bill. Some are very important to their States and this country.…”