WASHINGTON D.C. - U.S. Senator John Boozman (R-AR) complimented Senate leaders for taking steps to try to enact all the appropriations bills and committing his support to accomplishing this, in a speech on the Senate floor.

“The American people are tired of the finger pointing that has stalled much of the work they sent us here to do, but I’m hopeful we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. That starts with trying to enact all appropriations bills through a regular process this year,” Boozman said in his speech.

Boozman joined the bipartisan effort on the Senate floor highlighting the need for regular order in the chamber and trying to enact the appropriations bills as a good example.

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The following is text of the speech as prepared for delivery:

Madam President:

Tonight I am here to compliment my Senate colleagues; Senators Inouye and Cochran and the members of the appropriations committee as well as Majority Leader Reid and Republican Leader McConnell as they commit to do their best to pass all appropriations bills.

Each one of us in this Chamber owes it to the American people to work together to help our country today and build a path of success for the future. Our Founding Fathers laid the foundation that allows the Senate to function effectively and efficiently but it requires working together. 

The American people are tired of the finger pointing that has stalled much of the work they sent us here to do, but I’m hopeful we are seeing a light at the end of the tunnel. That starts with trying to enact all appropriations bills through a regular process this year. 

Again, I applaud Majority Leader Reid, Republican Leader McConnell, and Senators Inouye and Cochran for agreeing to move forward on the appropriations bills.

Determining how we spend hard-earned taxpayer dollars is a basic responsibility of Congress. We know tough choices will have to be made in these appropriations bills, but moving forward is the right decision. 

This is an important step to reducing government spending and helping balance our budget while investing in programs Americans have come to rely on. Moving forward on these bills returns the Senate to its proper function and provides a framework of spending so the American people can see and understand where their hard-earned money is going. 

In recent days members of Congress have worked together to find solutions to the troubles Americans are facing. This level of cooperation was evident in the headlines. One newspaper reported “Washington is Talking Again.” 

This shouldn’t be the exception.  This needs to be the rule. I am hopeful the agreement on moving forward with appropriations bills through a regular process sets a new trend that will become the standard. 

I can see from the people who have spoken before me tonight and those who are waiting to talk, there is widespread bipartisan support for these efforts to continue. 

Our leaders’ efforts show the proper way for the Senate to function, and I encourage all of my colleagues to come together not only to help move forward on these bills, but on all bipartisan legislation, through regular order of the Senate, that will help get our economy and our country back on track.