Tom Cole: “We have at least one, I think perhaps two, if the gentleman can make it back in time.”

The bill before us is a clean, narrowly tailored continuing resolution that keeps the government open and operating. Nothing more. Nothing less.

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

We will engage where it matters, we will invest where it counts, and we will demand accountability for every dollar spent.

For anyone questioning this legislation, the facts are simple — it extends the government funding deadline to Dec. 4, denying any party the opportunity to manufacture leverage before elections.