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Congressional Daily Record
This section captures a floor statement or debate entry. It mentions members such as Charles Ernest Grassley.
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August 3, 2026
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Download official Senate Record PDFReturn to issue contextMr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I am here to show my support for the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act.
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.
Now, I do prefer passing 12 appropriations bills. And 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.
Funding the Federal Government is a core responsibility of Congress. The fiscal year begins October 1 each year. 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. That resolution keeps the government open for business. If that fails, the unfunded parts of government shut down.
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. Three of them—one a full shutdown, and two partial shutdowns—have occurred in just the past 9 months. Unfortunately, it looks like we could be headed for a fourth before the end of the year.
only bad policy; it is bad politics. It has also shown not to be a great bargaining tool. By 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. And you know what? Eventually, government opens up and the bargaining tool instrument has not served the purpose of the Members that shut down the government.
government and even more to reopen it. And in a time of fiscal crisis like we have now, you shouldn't be wasting that kind of money. A 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. I believe Congress needs to stop governing from crisis to crisis, respect the appropriations process, and fulfill its constitutional responsibilities to fund the government.
Prevent Government Shutdowns Act. That act is introduced by Senator Lankford and Senator Hassan. 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. Moreover, it would implement rules designed to enforce the commonsense principle that if Congress doesn't do its job, Congress doesn't go home. Congress needs to work through regular order to fund the government Agencies to avoid our “Groundhog Day” approach to spending each year. Americans deserve better. They should not be asked to pay a price for congressional dysfunction.
sideshow of government shutdowns, so that is why I say: Let's enact the Prevent Government Shutdowns Act by Senator Lankford and Senator Hassan.
I yield the floor.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant executive clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.