It’s time for Democrats to drop the games, pass the clean stop-gap bill we’ve already put forward, and join us in returning to a responsible, regular appropriations process.
Work to pass a clean stop-gap bill and return to a responsible, regular appropriations process.
Occurrences
By keeping spending at current levels, this measure would have provided us the time we need to pass all of our appropriations bills.
Evidence
Today, Senate Democrats deliberately forced a shutdown and blocked a clean extension of current spending levels in favor of a nearly $1.5 trillion package of far-left priorities. By forcing a shutdown, Democrats have deprived service members of their hard-earned paychecks, halted grants to state and local law enforcement, jeopardized care for seniors, and frozen critical services for Americans. It’s time for Democrats to drop the games, pass the clean stop-gap bill we’ve already put forward, and join us in returning to a responsible, regular appropriations process.
Today, Congress should be hard at work for the American people. We should be working through the NDAA and passing our appropriations bills through regular order. We can’t do any of this because our colleagues on the other side of the aisle have decided to force a government shutdown. Last night, all but three voted against a stop-gap funding measure that would keep government open through November 21. By keeping spending at current levels, this measure would have provided us the time we need to pass all of our appropriations bills. Eight of the twelve have passed through committee with strong bipartisan support. Three of them—agriculture, legislative branch, and military construction-veterans affairs—already passed on the floor with wide margins. By passing these appropriation bills, we are ensuring that our government moves from a Biden budget to a Trump budget—which is exactly what the American people voted for. Instead of joining us to restore regular order, Democrats are holding the government hostage to ram through $1.5 trillion in additional spending. $1.5 trillion. With our national debt at $37.5 trillion and climbing, this effort is grossly irresponsible. It’s time for Democrats to come to the table and pass the stop-gap measure. Since last year, they have voted for current spending levels five times—most recently in March. Under President Biden, they voted to pass clean CRs like this one 13 times. Last year in this very chamber, the Senate Minority Leader put it perfectly: “This is what the American people want to see: both sides working together and governing responsibly…No chaos. No spectacle. No shutdown.” I know that every Republican agrees. Let’s end the chaos. Let’s end the spectacle. Let’s end the shutdown. Now is the time to get to work for the American people.
Motion to proceed to Calendar No. 168, H.R. 5371, a bill making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2026, and for other purposes. John Thune, John R. Curtis, Tom Cotton, Chuck Grassley, Bernie Moreno, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Rounds, Eric Schmitt, Tommy Tuberville, Todd Young, James Lankford, Roger F. Wicker, Rick Scott of Florida, Jim Justice, John Barrasso, Mike Crapo, Cindy Hyde-Smith.
5371, a bill making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2026, and for other purposes. John Thune, John R. Curtis, Tom Cotton, Chuck Grassley, Bernie Moreno, Marsha Blackburn, Mike Rounds, Eric Schmitt, Tommy Tuberville, Todd Young, James Lankford, Roger F. Wicker, Rick Scott of Florida, Jim Justice, John Barrasso, Mike Crapo, Cindy Hyde-Smith.
S. 2882: Continuing Appropriations and Extensions and Other Matters Act, 2026. On Cloture on the Motion to Proceed -- Voted No (Oct. 9, 2025).
The official Blackburn Senate news page lists recent lookback-window posts dated 07/04/2026, 07/02/2026, 06/29/2026, 06/23/2026, 06/18/2026, and 06/12/2026; the listed items concern America 250, fraud, the KIDS Act, China technology legislation, deepfakes, and Kik, not stop-gap appropriations or regular appropriations process actions.
On passage of H.R. 5371, as amended, the Senate vote result was Bill Passed, 60 yeas to 40 nays. The measure was described as a bill making continuing appropriations and extensions for fiscal year 2026. Blackburn (R-TN) voted Yea.
Congress.gov shows H.R. 5371 became Public Law No. 119-37 on 11/12/2025. CRS summary states the act ends the government shutdown that began on October 1, 2025, by providing FY2026 continuing appropriations for most federal agencies through January 30, 2026, and full-year appropriations for agriculture, military construction and veterans affairs, and legislative branch programs.
On passage of H.R. 6938, the Senate vote result was Bill Passed, 82 yeas to 15 nays, with 3 not voting. The measure was described as a bill making consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. Blackburn (R-TN) voted Yea.
Congress.gov shows H.R. 6938 became Public Law No. 119-74 on 01/23/2026. CRS summary says the bill provides FY2026 appropriations and includes 3 of the 12 regular FY2026 appropriations bills: Commerce-Justice-Science, Energy and Water Development, and Interior-Environment.
On passage of H.R. 7148, as amended, the Senate vote result was Bill Passed, 71 yeas to 29 nays. The measure was described as a bill making further consolidated appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2026. Blackburn (R-TN) voted Yea.
Assessments
Blackburn publicly pushed for a stop-gap funding measure, supported moving forward on H.R. 5371, and voted for final passage of the FY2026 continuing appropriations law that ended the shutdown. That shows concrete same-term work and partial achievement of the stop-gap goal. However, the enacted vehicle was not clearly a clean CR, because it included full-year appropriations and extensions, and the broader promise to return to a regular appropriations process was only partly met through several appropriations bills and consolidated packages rather than full regular order for all twelve bills.
The evidence shows that Senator Blackburn actively advocated for, supported, and made legislative efforts toward passing a clean stop-gap bill and returning to a regular appropriations process. She supported motions to proceed with bills for continuing appropriations, voiced criticisms of opposing party actions that she claims blocked these efforts, and repeatedly called for the return to 'regular order.' However, the ultimate passage of both a 'clean' stop-gap bill and a fully restored regular appropriations process did not occur as intended, with evidence of government shutdowns and persistently irregular appropriations cycles. Thus, while substantial effort is clearly documented, the full promise was only partially fulfilled.
Multiple pieces of evidence show that Senator Blackburn made public statements advocating for a clean stop-gap bill and a return to a regular appropriations process, and her name was listed among senators supporting motions to proceed with relevant continuing appropriations bills. However, there is no conclusive evidence that a clean stop-gap bill was successfully passed and implemented, nor a full return to responsible appropriations regular order achieved. Some further votes, such as voting against cloture on an alternate continuing resolution, suggest that while she took serious legislative steps consistent with her promise, the overall promise was only partially fulfilled.
Multiple pieces of evidence show that Senator Blackburn took active legislative and public steps to advocate for a 'clean stop-gap bill' and returning to a regular appropriations process. She supported motions to proceed on appropriations and continuing resolution bills and made numerous public statements criticizing the opposing party for stalling such measures. However, not all key bills passed or resulted in a full return to regular appropriations; a government shutdown occurred regardless of these efforts. Thus, the promise was only partially fulfilled, with demonstrated significant effort.