Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Important Business Before The Senate Before The End Of The Year
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the important work that must be done before the end of the year. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:
When the Senate returns after Thanksgiving, Senators can expect a very busy few weeks to finish our work before the end of the year.
Both sides must continue working together to keep the government open beyond the December 20th deadline.
Letting the government shut down just before Christmas would be asinine, plain and simple, and nobody wants that to happen. Well, there may be a few in the other chamber who do, but they’re a distinct minority.
We must also pass the annual defense authorization bill, to provide for our troops and hold the line against America’s adversaries abroad.
We have passed the NDAA every year for over the last six decades. With so much going on around the world – in the Middle East, the Indo-Pacific, in Europe, and beyond – passing the NDAA is as critical as it’s ever been. We intend to get it done.
We also hope to make progress on the farm bill, to avoid going over the so-called dairy cliff at the end of December.
Chair Stabenow released text of her bill earlier this week, and I want to commend her for drafting a strong bill that provides for farmers and ranchers, as well as working families through nutrition programs.
Democrats are ready to work with Republicans to get the farm bill done.
Another issue we hope to get done is disaster aid. Both sides know we need to act, because both sides represent states that have been impacted by disaster.
Earlier this week, the Biden Administration released a comprehensive plan for disaster aid that does a lot of very good things. It replenishes not just programs housed within FEMA – which is what most Americans think about when they think of a disaster response – but other programs across the federal government that are dangerously low on funding, if not totally depleted.
A few days ago, I highlighted the important role that the SBA’s disaster loan program plays in times of crisis. Another one I want to mention is Department of Transportation funding to repair and reconstruct our highways and roads. When disaster strikes, and highways and roads are damaged and rendered impassable, it brings everything else to a standstill. Aid is slower to arrive, getting people out of danger is harder, and entire communities can be left isolated.
This is just one example of why we need to pass a robust disaster aid package. I hope to work with Republicans to get it done as soon and as robustly as possible.
Finally, as I’ve said, when we return after Thanksgiving we’ll pick up right where we left off confirming more of President Biden’s judicial and executive nominees.
So, it will be a very busy and consequential few weeks in the Senate when we return. And I thank my colleagues for their cooperation.
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