Thank you all for staying. We had a couple of meetings there. It was Frank and honest. I think we need more

frank and honest conversations on Capitol Hill. So I was happy to participate in this. We did that as a group and then I had a one-on-one for a period of time

with the president, just he and I in the Oval Office. Let me say this. When I showed up today,

my purpose was to express what I believe is the obvious truth and that

is that we must take care of America's needs first. When you talk about America's

needs you have to talk first about our open border. I've been, I believe in maybe 20-something states over the last

several weeks, going around the country, appearing at events with my colleagues colleagues and we're hearing from the

American people of all parties and all persuasions and all cities and all

states who feel this acutely they understand the catastrophe at the border is

affecting everyone.

And it is top of mind for all the American people for that reason.

So I brought that issue up repeatedly today in that room and again one-on-one with the

president.

I think that's our responsibility

uh... to bring that up the other big priority for our country of course

is the funding of our government

and we have been working in good faith around the clock every single day

for months and in weeks and over the last several days,

quite literally around the clock to get that job done.

We're very optimistic.

I hope that the other leaders came out here and told you the same.

We believe that we can get to agreement on these issues and prevent a government shutdown,

...