Senator Susan Collins delivered a passionate plea on the Senate floor, urging her colleagues to support the Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations package to avert a government shutdown. Collins emphasized the importance of passing the bipartisan legislative package without delay to continue serving the American people.

Collins warned of the potential consequences of a government shutdown, highlighting the impact it would have on various departments and services. She questioned, “Why in the world would we want to shut down government and stop serving the American people?” Collins pointed out the potential effects on departments such as Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, military construction projects, Veterans Benefits Administration, Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Department of Energy, and the Army Corps of Engineers.

Addressing misconceptions about the appropriations process, Collins clarified that each of the bills in the package had undergone thorough consideration, debate, and amendments. She emphasized the importance of fulfilling the fundamental duty of funding the government and urged her colleagues to vote in favor of advancing the appropriations package.

Collins concluded her remarks by expressing hope for robust debate and amendments in the future while underscoring the necessity of clearing the current bills. She urged her colleagues to prioritize the needs of the American people and fulfill their responsibilities in funding the government.

The six-bill Fiscal Year 2024 appropriations package successfully cleared a procedural hurdle in the Senate and now awaits final passage. The House of Representatives had previously approved the legislation with a strong bipartisan vote. With the impending threat of a partial government shutdown, Senator Collins and her colleagues are working to ensure the timely passage of the appropriations package.