Patrick Leahy: “I know Senators are waiting on movements on both sides, but I just want to reiterate what I said earlier this afternoon.…”

“I know Senators are waiting on movements on both sides, but I just want to reiterate what I said earlier this afternoon. We have before us a message from the House--the omnibus. I would point out that both Republicans and Democrats have had an enormous amount of input into this for over the past several months. I know that because the Appropriations Committee staff has worked so hard on it--again, both sides of the aisle. Earlier today, I put into the Record the names of members of my staff who have worked on this. I would just mention to other Senators, there are many times I would be on phone calls with them and conference calls at 10 and 11 at night. I can then go to bed. They were still there at 2 or 3 o'clock in the morning. I know that a number of them have given up time with their families over the weekend. I would be checking in with them or come down and meet with them, but I could go home. They kept on working. I think we have to understand, if it were not for such dedicated staff members, this Senate could not exist. We have a complex package before us, but in a way, what we have here is a simple matter. Everybody has had input into it. As chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee, I tried to make it open to everybody. The vice chairman, Senator Shelby, a close friend of mine, has done the same on his side. People have been heard. Now comes the time when we have to vote. The government runs out of money at midnight tomorrow.…”