WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Ben Cardin (D-Md.), Chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, made the following remarks after Senate passage of the latest Continuing Resolution (CR) for Fiscal Year 2024, which began October 1, 2023.

“Congress has avoided another self-inflicted wound by passing this Continuing Resolution. A shutdown of the federal government, even a partial shutdown, would be irresponsible and wasteful, and needlessly hurt American workers and taxpayers. I am relieved that we now have a path forward to enact a series of bipartisan appropriations measures over the next few weeks. 

“We cannot keep kicking this fiscal can down the road. Our economic and national security cannot keep absorbing these fiscal blows and the perpetual instability. I urge all my colleagues – House and Senate – to be responsible and reasonable stewards of taxpayer funds and keep any poisonous, partisan measures out of the appropriations packages. Numbers must be consistent with our topline spending agreements. We cannot keep litigating the same issues over and over. There must be space for compromise and definitive action. The American people want us to do our jobs and keep the government functioning.”