Herb Kohl: “today I have the unenviable task of encouraging my colleagues to support the continuing resolution that lies before the…”

“today I have the unenviable task of encouraging my colleagues to support the continuing resolution that lies before the Senate. Loading all of the unfinished bills from last year into a continuing resolution that barely funds programs at adequate levels is not my idea of a job well done by the Senate. The Senate should have worked its will last year and passed these bills separately before the end of the fiscal year. But that is now water under the bridge. Our task today is to finish off this process so that we can move forward with a fresh start in a new year. The continuing resolution before us is a stripped down, bare bones version of a funding bill. It contains no earmarks--not a one. It provides the minimum funding needed to protect our rural communities, and keep our farming economy going. It provides support for critical research that helps keep our agriculture sector productive and put food on our tables--but we have left it up to the USDA to apportion these funds. Critical efforts to protect rural drinking water and grow rural housing were also maintained. In short, we did the best we could to protect rural America, save small farms, and maintain a safe and reliable food supply. I understand that some Members may not be happy with some of the difficult choices that we had to make. But the alternative is much worse.”