On the recordJuly 20, 2011
I remind Members, we are now moving to final passage on our first appropriations bill of this Congress. It has been 2 years since the Senate has passed a separate freestanding appropriations bill, but this is a bipartisan measure. It is marked to the House budget level, the Paul Ryan budget. We made difficult decisions cutting 24 separate military construction programs. We denied the Court of Appeals for Veterans Claims a new building. We came in below the President, about $1.2 billion below the President; $620 million below last year, and even $2.6 million below the House-passed bill. This is the bill that takes care of over 22 million veterans and our military construction needs. I thank Chairman Johnson for his work as we get the Appropriations Committee going again in a bipartisan way. With that, I yield back to the chairman. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Dakota.
