Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Today’s Vote To Advance Critical Bipartisan Appropriations Legislation
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the importance and necessity of passing bipartisan appropriations legislation. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:
Today, Senators from both sides of the aisle will have a chance to affirm that bipartisanship still rules the day in the Senate appropriations process.
In a few hours, we will hold a cloture vote on the suspension of Rule 16, to override the stall tactics of one member who objected last week to waiving Rule 16. It’s yet another reminder that in both houses, a small group of hard-right Republicans are dead set to grind the gears of government to a halt.
For MAGA Republicans, it’s as if chaos is a virtue and cooperation a crime.
But I do not believe that is the view of most members in this chamber, Democrats or Republicans. The appropriations process has been a true bipartisan success story to date.
Our colleagues on the other side have asked for regular order, and we have worked with them to ensure we’ve done just that, just as we did on the NDAA bill.
Our colleagues on the other side have asked for amendments, and we have worked with them to consider amendments.
And we have worked side by side with our Republican colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to bring three bills to the floor: MilCon-VA, Agriculture, and Transportation/HUD.
It’s taken a lot of hard work, we’ve had plenty of disagreements as both sides normally do, but we have worked through them. It’s a reminder that even in divided times, it’s the hard work of achieving bipartisanship that produced results.
Today, we have a chance to make sure that all the good work of Appropriators is not wasted. Whether Republicans give us cloture or not, we on this side of the aisle are going to do our best to ensure that the minibus gets done. We have come very far, there is no good reason to turn back.
###
