If we do not do them right, maybe it will be nice news. But if we do them right, we are going to get a lot of bad news.

Instead of doing tax reform like President Reagan did in 1986 where he took 10 months and got 97 votes in the Senate because it was bipartisan, we did 41 days and there was really no opportunity for those of us who have done a lot of tax…

But we could not get a single Republican vote.

So you think this is a good move?

Changes to trade agreements or tariff policies on the part of the United States and its trading partners that impede trade could have significant adverse effects on aggregate economic activity; whereas, the removal of trade barriers…

I have noted a number of individuals, especially the OMB Director, describe CBO scoring of the House Republican health care bill as 'absurd'; 'the days of relying on some nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office to do that work for us has…

I think that is a fundamental mismatch.

But the second half of it was, we have to get out of continuing resolution mania and get back to real budgeting again.

All of your testimony, and the testimony of the equivalent panel last week, are about national security. This is national security.

One, a guarantee of a debate and vote around permanent protection for Dreamers, which is very important.

When we reached a deal yesterday so the Government would open, there are really two components to the deal.

I can't understand it, other than we are dealing with a President who said he thought shutdown was good, and his chief budget official thinks the shutdown is cool.

That is true. The continuing resolution--they forced us to wait until a 10 p.m. vote Friday night--did not include funding for community health centers.

That is correct. Had there not been objection, we would have reopened the government.

They actually would. My constituents in Virginia view the gimmick use of a CR as essentially a slow-motion shutdown, and they are asking us--Federal employees, troops, Secretary of Defense--let's really do a budget and do it the right way.

The Senator is correct. Again, I would remind the Senator that had we voted down the continuing resolution Thursday, we would have had an entire day Friday to find a bipartisan accord to keep the government open. But the majority leader…

I thank the Senator. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Illinois. Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 1301

I appreciate the deference of my colleague from Hawaii. I also echo the comments about friendship with our junior Senator from Alaska. This is a matter that is of deep importance to Virginia, and I rise to talk about why we are here on a…

I do not modify my request. This is a vote that has been noticed for later in the evening, and the colleagues who would be asked to vote on it are not here. So I do not agree to modify my request. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection…

It is, Senator. I believe Democrats asked for both a 1-day and a 3-day extension to find a budget. That is true.

They would not entertain either amendments, nor would they entertain the 1- or 3-day extensions we sought to keep the government open.

That is correct. I think the point the Senator has made about locking up the amendment is important. The bill that came over from the House, we should have been able to debate and potentially make it better and acceptable to Members of…

I rise to talk about why we are here, but I will just begin with a definitive statement: There is not one of the 49 Democrats in this Chamber who wants the government to shut down. And I will conclude with this, but I will just state that…

We hope to include as we have the Higher Ed Act discussion that would make Pell Grants available for shorter-term courses.

Senators Grassley, Coons, and Kaine have the Net Price Calculator Improvement Act that would streamline the net price calculator.