In large part. the appropriations bills presented before us have been seriously flawed. so much so that Republicans themselves cannot agree on them. As Republican House and Senate conferees continue to bicker in back rooms. several hundred thousand Federal employees are home. waiting for a paycheck that is not coming. The socalled faceless. nameless bureaucrat waits. wondering how he or she will put food on the table. make the next mortgage payment. or prepare for the coming holiday season. Thousands of citizens wait to obtain a passport. a visa. file for Social Security. and so on. Congress has once again failed the American people. It is time to put this budget impasse behind us.