Cord Byrd: “we are now 69 days into the fiscal year and only 2 of the 12 appropriations bills are public law. The Senate now has…”

“we are now 69 days into the fiscal year and only 2 of the 12 appropriations bills are public law. The Senate now has before it a third continuing resolution that funds 13 of the 15 executive branch Cabinet departments through February 15. When it comes to funding bills for domestic agencies, the majority leadership is apparently satisfied with a restrictive continuing resolution. Eight of the 12 bills were never even debated in the Senate. When it comes to caring for our veterans, the education of our children, the health of our elderly, and the ability of our deteriorating infrastructure to sustain a growing economy, the majority leadership is satisfied with a rubberstamp continuing resolution, kicking the decisions down the road to the next Congress. This dismal performance is not the result of the work of the Appropriations Committee. The Appropriations Committee did its work and, on a bipartisan basis, reported all 12 of its bills by July 26. Chairman Cochran did an outstanding job in leading the committee. Sadly, the appropriations process, once again, has fallen prey to politics. Next year, the 110th Congress will have to complete the 2007 appropriations bills, a war supplemental, and the 2008 bills. This will be a huge challenge. However, in the bipartisan tradition of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I am committed to working with my colleagues to meet this challenge.”