Barbara Mikulski: “here I am in the Chamber again exactly 24 hours 30 minutes from when I was gaveled down from trying to complete the…”

“here I am in the Chamber again exactly 24 hours 30 minutes from when I was gaveled down from trying to complete the VA-HUD bill. I was on the floor 24 hours 30 minutes ago, standing up for veterans, trying to protect the environment, and working very closely and enthusiastically on a bipartisan basis with the chairman of the subcommittee on appropriations for veterans, housing, the environment, and other independent agencies. We were only 2 hours and about five or six amendments from being gaveled to come to cloture on the bill. As I was gaveled down, I was just heartsick that we could not take 2 more hours to finish the bill. Instead, this went on for 30 hours, and I am puzzled what has been accomplished by it. I know what wasn't accomplished by it. We did not finish the appropriations bill yesterday. Because we didn't finish the appropriations bill yesterday, we essentially said to millions of American veterans that we are going to put you on hold.”