Chuck Grassley

Mr. President, Positioning · 13 wordsI am here to show my support for the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act.Positioning Thanks · 37 wordsBefore I do that, I want to express my support for the proposed continuing resolution and thank Senator Collins for her leadership to make sure government doesn’t shut down if that continuing resolution gets to the President.Thanks Claims · 8 wordsNow, I do prefer passing 12 appropriations bills. The ask · 41 wordsAnd while I do that, I can say at the same time, it is my opportunity to tell my colleagues on the other side of the aisle to work with us and get the job done to avoid a government shutdown.Vague promise Claims · 134 wordsFunding the Federal Government is a core responsibility of Congress. The fiscal year begins October 1 each year.¹ If appropriations bills are not signed into law by September 30, lawmakers and the President must agree on the temporary spending resolution that is known as a continuing resolution.² That resolution keeps the government open for business. If that fails, the unfunded parts of government shut down. Now, with increasing frequency, the minority party has used the threat or reality of a government shutdown to try and advance partisan political priorities. Over the past 10 years, we have seen five government shutdowns.³ Three of them--one a full shutdown, ⁴and two partial shutdowns--have occurred in just the past 9 months.⁵ Unfortunately, it looks like we could be headed for a fourth before the end of the year. Reasoning · 29 wordsHistory has repeatedly shown that shutting down the government is not only bad policy; it is bad politics. It has also shown not to be a great bargaining tool. Anecdote · 42 wordsBy a bargaining tool, I mean there is some group of Senators or sometimes an individual Senator will say: We are going to shut the government down until I get some policy, that that individual wants or that group of people want.Anecdote Aside · 4 wordsAnd you know what?Aside Reasoning · 22 wordsEventually, government opens up and the bargaining tool instrument has not served the purpose of the Members that shut down the government. Claims · 20 wordsIt is a simple fact it costs taxpayers money to shut down the government and even more to reopen it. Reasoning · 19 wordsAnd in a time of fiscal crisis like we have now, you shouldn’t be wasting that kind of money. Claims · 33 wordsA government shutdown reduces essential services to the American people, erodes the trust of the American people in their government, and limits the ability of Congress to conduct oversight over Federal Government operations. The ask · 24 wordsI believe Congress needs to stop governing from crisis to crisis, respect the appropriations process, and fulfill its constitutional responsibilities to fund the government. Procedure · 18 wordsFor that reason--and the reason I am here today is to talk about the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act.Procedure Claims · 62 wordsThat act is introduced by Senator Lankford and Senator Hassan.⁶ This bill would make government shutdowns a thing of the past by providing an automatic continuing resolution should Congress fail to complete its job of passing appropriations bills on time.⁷ Moreover, it would implement rules designed to enforce the commonsense principle that if Congress doesn’t do its job, Congress doesn’t go home. The ask · 22 wordsCongress needs to work through regular order to fund the government Agencies to avoid our ``Groundhog Day’’ approach to spending each year. Positioning · 15 wordsAmericans deserve better. They should not be asked to pay a price for congressional dysfunction.Positioning The ask · 17 wordsIt is past time that we put an end to the recurring political sideshow of government shutdowns, Procedure · 6 wordsso that is why I say: ProcedureThe ask · 13 wordsLet’s enact the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act by Senator Lankford and Senator Hassan. Procedure · 11 wordsI yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.Procedure