Cord Byrd: “I intend to vote for the continuing resolution. Mr. President, enactment of the thirteen Fiscal Year 1996 Appropriations…”

“I intend to vote for the continuing resolution. Mr. President, enactment of the thirteen Fiscal Year 1996 Appropriations Bills has been a long and arduous process. As Senators are aware, the departments and agencies funded under five FY 1996 Appropriations Bills are presently operating under a one day Continuing Resolution (the thirteenth continuing resolution this year). That continuing resolution expires at midnight tonight. Further continuing resolutions will not be necessary for FY 1996 if the Senate adopts the pending measure and if it is signed into law by the President by midnight tonight. Title I of this Conference Agreement contains the Fiscal Year 1996 appropriations for the following appropriations subcommittees: Commerce, Justice, State; D.C.; Interior; Labor-HHS; and VA-HUD. In addition, Title II includes emergency and supplemental appropriations totaling $2.125 billion. Contained in that amount are funds for emergency disaster assistance payments to States and communities throughout the nation which have suffered devastation from floods, tornadoes, and other natural disasters. These amounts are fully paid for by rescissions and other offsets contained in Title III of the measure. In total, H.R. 3019 provides net spending totaling $159.4 billion.”