Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On MAGA Republican Extremism And Introducing New Senate Resolution To Denounce Donald Trump’s Call To Defund Law Enforcement
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of introducing a Senate resolution denouncing former President Donald Trump’s call to gut funding to the Department of Justice and the FBI. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:
Today, the Governor of Florida is meeting with a group of hard-right GOP extremists here in DC.
As the governor comes to the nation’s capital, the ink is still not dry on the bill he signed a few days ago banning practically all abortions in Florida after just six weeks.
The Florida law is not the only one: over a dozen states in the country now have near total bans on abortion.
Idaho, for instance, is now the first state to explicitly outlaw out of state travel for abortions. That’s sinister.
Freedom of choice is not the only victim of GOP radicalism. Over 11,000 Americans have now died from gun violence in the U.S. this year, in school shootings, birthday parties, New Year celebrations.
But what do Republicans do in response? They pose with machine guns on their Christmas cards. They gin up the NRA. They even expel state representatives who dare speak out against GOP inaction, as the Tennessee State House did to two members of color earlier this month.
Republican radicalism is even taking aim at law enforcement. A few weeks ago, President Trump called for cutting funding to the Department of Justice and the FBI, because of personal grievances. And to date, we have still yet to hear Speaker McCarthy or any Republican leader speak up against this dangerous idea.
But there is good news: the members of this chamber will have a chance to do the right thing and stand up for federal law enforcement later this week.
That’s because today I will be introducing a resolution denouncing the former president’s call to cut funding to our federal law enforcement, and Senators will choose between standing with President Trump and his dangerous, dangerous view that we ought to cut funding for law enforcement and the FBI, or will they stand with public servants who keep America safe.
Again, where will they stand: with the former president's dangerous call to cut funding to federal law enforcement or with the American people who want to be safe?
The FBI and the DOJ do critical work to protect our communities, against drug trafficking, gun violence, terrorism, and so much more. We just yesterday in New York saw an example, where federal law enforcement arrested two individuals for running a secret unauthorized Chinese police station right in the middle of lower Manhattan.
Do Republicans agree with President Trump that funding for federal law enforcement who guard against terrorism and CCP encroachment should be cut or even eliminated? Again, this is the kind of resolution that should pass unanimously.
If Senate Republicans block this provision, they’ll be telling the American people that the GOP has been utterly consumed by extremism, where not women, not schools, not even federal law enforcement are safe.
###
