BISMARCK– U.S. Senator Kevin Cramer (R-ND) joined his colleagues in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), requesting a plan regarding how the chamber will vote on and pass the 12 appropriations bills, which have been approved by the Senate Appropriations Committee, avoiding an omnibus spending package.

“The core constitutional responsibility of the United States Congress is the power of the purse, to set and authorize appropriations which fund the operations of the United States Government,” the senators wrote. “Since 1977, Congress has only successfully completed its appropriations work of taking up, debating, amending if necessary, and passing all appropriations bills prior to the end of the fiscal year on September 30th four times. This is unacceptable. The American people deserve better.”

Last week, both chambers passed a continuing resolution (CR) which averted a government shutdown prior to the end of the fiscal year on September 30, 2023. The CR will keep the government funded until November 17, 2023. With just 43 days remaining until government funding expires, the senators believe they have the best opportunity in decades to complete their work.

“We urge you to present a plan to the Republican Conference for how you intend to pass the remaining appropriations bills and conference them with the House in a manner that respects an open amendment process and which does not end in a December omnibus spending package,” the senators wrote.

“There is no more important work for the Senate during this time than debating, amending, and passing appropriations bills without resorting to a giant package dumped on the conference right before the December holiday. If you commit to this process, including an open amendment process, we believe there will be consent in the Senate to expeditiously consider these bills,” the senators concluded.

In addition to Senator Cramer, cosigners of the letter include U.S. Senators Rick Scott (R-FL), John Thune (R-SD), John Barrasso (R-WY), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Shelley Moore Capito (R-WV), Mike Braun (R-IN), Katie Britt (R-AL), Ted Budd (R-NC), John Cornyn (R-TX), Mike Lee (R-UT), Ted Cruz (R-TX), Cindy Hyde-Smith (R-MS), Ron Johnson (R-WI), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Roger Marshall (R-KS), Eric Schmitt (R-MO), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tommy Tuberville (R-AL), and Roger Wicker (R-MS).

Click here to read the full letter.