WASHINGTON, Feb. 2 -- Sen. John Thune issued the following press release:

U.S. Senate Majority Leader John Thune (R-S.D.) today delivered the following remarks on the Senate floor:

Thune's remarks below (as delivered):

"Mr. President, on Friday the Senate passed five of the six remaining appropriation bills - defense appropriations; Transportation and Housing and Urban Development; Financial Services and General Government; Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education; and National Security and Department of State.

"In all, five appropriation bills that funds all those various programs and agencies, Mr. President.

"It's been a long road to get here, with the process most notably interrupted by the Democrats' 43-day shutdown in the f...