Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senator Jeff Bingaman today voted to approve a bill that funds federal agencies for the remainder of fiscal year 2011, which ends on September 31.  The measure was approved 81-19.

"With this vote, we finally have agreement on legislation to fund the federal government, and avoid a shutdown.  This measure contains some cuts that make sense, and funds areas of the federal government that I believe are important priorities.  While it's not a plan I like in all respects, I do believe it is an important step toward deficit reduction.

"It's time now to turn to the difficult negotiations over next year's budget.  The beginning of the next fiscal year will come up quickly, and I believe we need to have a budget in place by that time."