Going into Partial Government Shutdown
Senate Votes to Proceed to Funding Legislation
U.S. Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) issued the following statement after the Senate voted to proceed to legislation to fund the remaining appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2019, including an announcement from Senate Majority Leader McConnell on a commitment to working with the White House on an agreement that can pass both houses of Congress and receive the president’s signature:
“I’m disappointed we could not reach an agreement tonight. Funding the government is a fundamental part of our responsibility to govern. We all should commit to end this partial shutdown as soon as possible,” Senator Murkowski said. “I am encouraged that the Majority Leader, along with the Minority Leader in the Senate, made a public commitment tonight to keep working to find a solution to funding the government and addressing border security in a manner the President will accept. We owe it to the American people to do our jobs, and govern.”
Both chambers of Congress have approved, and the President has signed, five of the 12 appropriations bills for Fiscal Year 2019, which together account for approximately 75 percent of the federal budget. The bills not yet enacted are for Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies; Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Financial Services and General Government; Homeland Security; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies; State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies.
