Senator Cochran floor remarks on five-month omnibus spending bill

Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Thad Cochran takes the floor before a vote on passage of a government funding bill that its levels are within limits set by the Budget Control Act, contains funds badly needed to improve armed forces readiness and defeat terrorist group ISIL, including the largest investment in border security in nearly a decade. Cochran lists out additional funds for defense, funding increases for research at the National Institutes of Health, combating the opioid epidemic that has plagued communities, for the FBI, cyber activity and over 150 rescissions, consolidations or program terminations in the bill, noting that it is based on 12 appropriations bills, although his committee had reported all 12 bills for two years in a row.