Patrick Leahy: “a continuing resolution to March 10 is short-sighted and wholly unnecessary. It imperils our national security, and it…”

“a continuing resolution to March 10 is short-sighted and wholly unnecessary. It imperils our national security, and it ignores the real pain and consequences of inflation. Without funding from a full-year omnibus appropriations bill, the NDAA we passed this evening is a broken promise, the bipartisan PACT Act goes underfunded, and VA medical care falls at least $7.5 billion short. While some of my colleagues are quick to raise the alarm about our southern border, a CR into March does nothing to address the influx of migrants at our border now. It does nothing to help communities ravaged by drought, hurricanes, flooding and fire. While families feel the pain of inflation, a CR into March does nothing to provide them with relief. We have a bipartisan, bicameral framework in place that should allow us to complete an omnibus appropriations bill early next week. A CR into March asks us to abandon our work without offering a different or viable alternative. I urge my colleagues to reject that proposal and allow us time to complete our work. Vote on Motion to Concur The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question occurs on agreeing to the motion to concur with the Lee amendment.”