Cord Byrd: “I want to assure all Senators that the Appropriations Committee intends to address the $3.1 billion increase proposed in…”

“I want to assure all Senators that the Appropriations Committee intends to address the $3.1 billion increase proposed in the Senator's amendment when the Senate takes up the $100 billion supplemental that the President sent to the Congress this week. I have every expectation that the supplemental will be before the Senate next month. Today marks the 131st day of fiscal year 2007. We are debating H.J. Res. 20, a joint funding resolution for the nine remaining appropriations bills that were not completed during the 109th Congress. The Republican leadership, during the 109th Congress, left us with a great deal of unfinished business in the appropriations process. Only 2 of the 11 appropriations bills were enacted into law. Thirteen of the fifteen Federal departments--all but Defense and Homeland Security--are limping along through February 15 under a very restrictive continuing resolution. This is not the fault of the Appropriations Committee. Under the very able leadership of Chairman Thad Cochran, all of the fiscal year 2007 appropriations bills were reported from the committee by July 20. All of the bills were bipartisan bills, with all but one of the bills approved, 28 to nothing, in committee. Unfortunately, the Republican leadership chose not to bring domestic appropriations bills to the floor before the election and then chose not to finish those bills after the election. Instead, Congress passed three very restrictive continuing resolutions.”