Providing for Congressional Disapproval Under Chapter 8 of Title United States Code, of the Rule Submitted By the Internal Revenue Service Relating to ``Interim Guidance Simplifying Application of the

Floor Speech

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Mrs. FISCHER. Mr. President, I am here today to talk about the recent progress made by the U.S. Senate. We have officially passed 11 of the 12 government funding bills, and I am hopeful that my Democrat colleagues will come to a reasonable agreement so that we can get the Homeland Security funding bill over the finish line soon.

It is essential that we get this bill passed for FEMA funding, for our TSA agents, for our Coast Guard officers, and for our Nation's cyber security. That is all part of this bill. In fact, I think it is about 80, 85 percent of this bill. But first and foremost, funding the Federal Government is Congress' most basic responsibility, and it is also the most important. When Congress fails to do that job, the consequences reach beyond Washington. The harmful impacts include delayed services, uncertainties for families and businesses, and eroded trust in government.

Our recent progress stands in sharp contrast to where we were just a few years ago. This body had not passed a single government funding bill in this Chamber before August, and that was since 2018. And that failure was not accidental. Under the previous Democrat majority leader, Senator Schumer, the Senate was repeatedly blocked from holding full votes on appropriations bills. That approach was unacceptable to many Members on both sides of the aisle.

It was not until just over a year ago when we elected Senator John Thune as majority leader that this body recommitted itself to doing the work. Under Leader Thune's leadership, the Senate is once again advancing funding bills through what we call regular order.

We are restoring transparency. We are restoring accountability, and we are restoring deliberation to the appropriations process. I am grateful to Leader Thune for bringing these bills to the floor, and I look forward to continuing our work to pass the remaining measure and responsibly fund our government.

In addition to keeping the government open, passing funding bills, it is an opportunity to bring back Nebraska tax dollars that we send to Washington every single year. To do this, my team works really closely with localities back home. We make sure to get their input on how their Federal tax money is spent.

In the funding bills that we passed thus far, I am proud to have secured millions of dollars in critical investments for the State of Nebraska. One of my top priorities was securing critical funds for Offutt Air Force Base in the Defense appropriations bill. In total, we obtained $83 million for the United States Strategic Command, the 55th Wing, and the 557th Weather Wing--all of those are based at Offutt.

These funds are going to strengthen national security, and they are going to enhance Nebraska's role in that.

In the agriculture and rural development funding bill, I secured $16 million for the USDA's Agricultural Research facility at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. This investment will support research that benefits Nebraska producers and strengthens American agriculture.

In the Commerce-Justice-Science funding bill, I secured over $7 million for radio communications and equipment upgrades for Nebraska law enforcement. Nearly a dozen counties reached out to my office asking for help replacing outdated systems and gear. With these upgrades, officers will be able to communicate, and they will be able to respond faster. And this will improve safety for both our first responders and also the communities that they serve.

I also worked to secure $8.8 million in the Interior and Environment funding bill. These funds are going to be used to upgrade aging water treatment plants and sewer systems in McCook, Greeley, Farwell, Gothenburg, Genoa, Shelby, Valparaiso that were beginning to require really costly repairs--taxpayer dollars going home.

These projects are going to help secure safe drinking water and sustainable infrastructure for residents across these counties.

And after the EPA deemed the Santee Sioux Nation's water source ``not consumable,'' I secured $8.25 million to deliver safe drinking water to that Tribe. This is a necessity that no community should be without.

Finally, in the Energy and Water Development bill, we had $14.6 million so that we can restore irrigation tunnels on the Gering-Fort Laramie Canal. This need was identified after a catastrophic tunnel collapse that left 55,000 acres of farmland without reliable irrigation. Now this investment will protect regional economic stability and reduce financial pressure on local ag producers.

These projects, they reflect what I believe Federal funding should do: listen, work with localities so that we can invest in practical needs that improve daily lives. It is imperative that elected officials continue to have influence over this process. We really cannot leave these decisions to unelected bureaucrats in Washington who don't know where McCook, NE, is, who don't know the issues facing the Santee Sioux Nation, who don't understand where Greeley is, where Gothenburg is--and some, probably, where Omaha or Lincoln are.

Just as important in bringing Federal tax dollars back home, it is providing that tax relief to Nebraska taxpayers. Many of these projects would otherwise fall on our local property taxes, which are considered very high in the State of Nebraska. It will shift the burden onto families, farmers, and small businesses. So when we can fund these priorities with Federal dollars that Nebraskans have already sent to Washington, it provides a major boost for our communities, and it is also a shining example of responsible government.

I am proud of the significant progress that this body has made under Senator Thune's leadership. We are finally restoring regular order, transparency, and accountability to the government funding process.

This is a win for Nebraskans, and it is a win for all Americans.

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