SE Nebraska News

U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), a senior member of the Armed Services and Appropriations Committees, appeared on FOX Business’s “Mornings with Maria” to discuss recent efforts to address Russia’s actions in Ukraine and ongoing work on Senate appropriations bills.

During the interview, Fischer commented on President Trump’s approach to the conflict in Ukraine, stating: “I think the President was very plain in his comments. We're running out of patience with Putin. He's the aggressor here. He continues to just increase his bombing on civilians, so we're seeing senseless killing.

“The President was very strong in his comments that he is cutting that 50 day time period, and it's because Putin needs to come to the table. He needs to negotiate. We have to stop the killing, and we have to be able to protect civilians, and that's what the President's focus is. He also mentioned sanctions, I support that on Russia to be able to use sanctions. I support the President being able to use every tool that he has in that tool box in order to bring Putin to the negotiating table.”

Fischer also addressed progress within the Senate Appropriations Committee regarding government funding legislation. She noted: “Senator Thune promised when he ran for Leader that he would put appropriations bills on the floor so that the American people can see this transparency. In the committee we work in a bipartisan way. We have open hearings, we have an open markup, but we need to take them up on the floor.This is one thing that Senator Schumer and the Democrats did not do. They did not do it.

“So, the American people, besides not seeing government funded at appropriate levels, we had to move into these really bloated omnibuses or with wasteful continuing resolutions. We shouldn't be doing that. We need to have debate on the floor. We need to take votes on the floor so the American people see what the priorities are that the United States Senate has in using their tax dollars to fund the government. That's what accountability is all about. So, I hope my colleagues on both sides, Republicans as well, give consent on these bills so that we can get them in a in a minibus, a small package, get them to the floor and be able to fund government in a responsible, transparent manner.”

The discussion comes as Congress works through multiple individual funding bills aimed at increasing transparency and avoiding large omnibus packages or temporary funding measures.