WASHINGTON, D.C. – U.S. Senator Thad Cochran (R-Miss.), chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, today offered the following statement regarding the failed cloture vote on the Continuing Appropriations Resolution for Fiscal Year 2016 and an ongoing effort to ensure continued funding for government operations:

 

“For the first time in six years, the Senate Appropriations Committee has approved all twelve of our funding bills.  All were written in a bipartisan manner, and most passed with significant Democratic support. 

 

“The Committee crafted these bills to reflect the nation’s changing priorities and new realities.  Our appropriations bills provide the highest level of support for our men and women in uniform, invest wisely in national priorities like medical and scientific research, and include specific oversight measures to rein in government overreach and promote the efficient operation of our federal government.

 

“The Senate’s repeated failure to debate and pass appropriations bills is an abdication of a fundamental congressional responsibility.  The minority party’s refusal to allow a vote on these bills has forced us to pass a Continuing Resolution just to maintain the most rudimentary operations of government. 

 

“I encourage my colleagues to join me in passing a Continuing Resolution to ensure continued government operations while we debate and pass appropriations bills on the Senate floor.”       

 

The Senate on Thursday did not reach the 60-vote threshold necessary to advance a continuing resolution introduced Tuesday to fund government operation through Dec. 11, 2015, while also prohibiting funding for Planned Parenthood.