Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Calling On Senate To Pass The PACT Act Immediately

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the need to pass the PACT Act as soon as possible. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Every day that passes without action on the PACT Act is another day that our nation’s veterans have to do the unthinkable: fight for basic health care benefits they rightfully deserve.

Two months ago, the Senate overwhelmingly passed this bill that secured the largest health care benefit expansion for our veterans in decades.

We are dealing by and large with that exact bill again, so there is no justification to delay swift passage of the PACT Act any longer.

I am very hopeful that Republicans can work with Democrats to break through the impasse on the PACT Act immediately. We have offered Senators Paul and Senators Toomey votes on the amendments they’ve been calling for, set at a 60-vote threshold, just like the cloture vote has a 60 vote threshold.

We hope to reach an agreement where we can act on this bill as soon as today, but for that to happen our colleagues on the other side of the aisle should work with us in good faith.

There is no better message we can send to the veterans that have camped out for nights in front of the Capitol that their long wait—and the wait of veterans everywhere—is finally over. These brave Americans risked life and limb to keep our country safe, and the very least we can do is ensure they receive top care. I urge my colleagues to come together so we can get the PACT Act done ASAP, as soon as today.

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