Tom Cole: “I urge a ``no'' vote on the previous question, and I reserve the balance of my 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.

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.

I hold the Democrats in the Senate most responsible, but I don’t excuse the Republicans for letting them do it.