Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Need For Bipartisan Action To Avoid An Unnecessary And Harmful Government Shutdown
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the floor regarding the need for bipartisan action this week to avoid a government shutdown. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:
The Senate gavels back into session with a lot that Congress must do, but with little time to act.
In less than a week, the federal government will begin to shut down, unless both sides – both sides – work together to extend funding.
Meanwhile, the moral obligation for Congress to help the people of Ukraine, and fortify our own national security, grows heavier with each passing day.
And it’s imperative that we make real progress in the coming weeks towards our ultimate goal of finishing the appropriations process.
These are just a few of the tasks facing Congress as winter turns to spring. The margin for error on any of these is razor thin. And unfortunately, the temptation to choose chaos and disorder – instead of cooperation – will be strong for some here in the Capitol.
By now, it is clear that when serious-minded Democrats and serious-minded Republicans engage each other with a desire to get things done, with a desire to get to yes, good things happen – even in divided government. We avoid shutdowns. We invest in the American people. We make our country stronger.
The Senate ended the last work period with a powerful example of bipartisanship – a resounding 70 votes passing the national security supplemental. It wasn’t easy to get it done, but now that we succeeded, it should serve as a model for both chambers moving forward.
Over the recess, negotiators in both chambers continued the difficult work of the appropriations process.
While we’ve made some good progress on a number of fronts, unfortunately our House Republican colleagues are still struggling to figure themselves out. There’s a lot of uncertainty over how the House will proceed in the coming days, so I ask all Senators to keep their schedules flexible.
Senate Democrats have been crystal clear: we want to avoid a government shutdown. We want to work with all our House counterparts to spare the American people of the pain that a shutdown would bring. But for that to happen, Congressional leadership must resist the centrifugal pull of extremism emanating from the hard-right. We must resist basing our choices on what people like Donald Trump want Congress to do. We need to remember our responsibility to the American people, and do our jobs.
Even a partial shutdown would mean chaos and pain for the American people. And let me just list a few examples of why that’s true.
A shutdown of the Agriculture Department would threaten higher food costs for all Americans, threaten critical services for farmers and rural communities – from homeownership programs to food banks – and delay access to critical programs just as spring is arriving.
A shutdown of the Veterans Administration would close our veteran outreach offices and thereby freeze critical programs that support our nation’s heroes – those who risked their lives for us.
A shutdown of the Housing Department would leave American families high and dry without key federal housing loan support, potentially causing rent and housing prices to spike.
A shutdown of the Transportation Department would risk travel delays and travelers’ safety by freezing the hiring of air traffic controllers.
This is just the tip of the iceberg. A shutdown would also throw a wrench into our economic recovery. It would raise costs, just as inflation has returned closer to normal levels. It would make communities less safe.
I am hopeful – hopeful – that pragmatic Republicans will engage in responsible governing by working with Democrats to avoid a shutdown this week. Senate Democrats want to do the right thing and keep the government open. I hope the House continues to work with us in good faith to make that happen. But time is short. Time is short.
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