Unanimous Consent Request--S. 4392

Floor Speech

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Mr. WYDEN. I strongly favor smart, effective policies to deal with it.

The reason I can't support what he has proposed is that defunding infrastructure does not make sense, and that has long been the position of the Senate.

The money that is being discussed here has been supported unanimously over three particular initiatives here in the Congress. The authors of this, and I would say this specifically, have been Senator Cornyn, a member of the leadership on the other side of the aisle, and our colleague from California, Senator Padilla.

Let me repeat that. We have gone through this three times with strong bipartisan support from Republican leadership--our colleague from Texas, Senator Cornyn--and Senator Padilla from California. The reason why is that we have said we can come up with smart policies on the border and also maintain our infrastructure.

Unfortunately, the funding that my colleague is talking about would harm the effort to ensure we build the roads and the bridges and that we deal with lead pipes in schools. That is what we are talking about. That is why the States and the localities have been such strong supporters of this.

My colleague serves on the Finance Committee. There are a number of areas where we have worked together. I will note that this week in the Finance Committee, a number of our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have talked about how they want to generate more growth--a smart idea. Put me down as interested and wanting to work in a bipartisan way.

Well, the reality is, you can't generate big-league economic growth with little-league infrastructure, and that, unfortunately, is what is going on here. Where we agree that we ought to be tackling a very serious issue--the southern border--we disagree on the method of funding that effort.

I think defunding infrastructure is the end result of what my colleague is talking about, and it turns upside down the bipartisan coalition that has allowed us to use that money at the State and local levels with Republican leadership and our friend from California.

So that is why I have to object. Therefore, I do object this evening.

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Mr. WYDEN. Madam President, just very briefly, having participated in these debates--this specific discussion now, on several occasions-- again, my friend and I just have a difference of opinion. Senator Cornyn and Senator Padilla have repeatedly talked about this being for the roads and bridges and dealing with lead pipes in schools. That is so central to the brighter future we all--Democrats and Republicans-- want for our country.

So as we wrap up, I want it understood that I share my colleague's view about how serious the southern border is. What we differ on is how we are going to pay for it. And defunding infrastructure--which Senator Cornyn and Senator Padilla set out to do, and I think in a very smart way--is not the way to go.

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