Tom Cole: “I would like you to at least consider delaying changes to the program--these are pretty major changes--until next fiscal…”

It gives the nation and our constituents certainty, certainty that the government will remain open, certainty that our service members will be paid.

The only reason we’re doing it now is, first, the Senate Democrats, I think, have misused the filibuster, and honestly, the Republicans have let them misuse the filibuster.

The Senate has wasted the entire year and a half. They have not passed a single bill.

It reinforces support for key allies - like Israel and Taiwan - and directly counters threats from Communist China and other regimes that challenge our interests and principles.