Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republican Obstruction Of The National Defense Authorization Act
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor after multiple Republicans repeatedly obstructed votes on amendments proposed by Senators of both parties to the National Defense Authorization Act. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks:
Democrats have been working in good faith for several days—actually, for several months really—to pass this defense legislation.
The bill before us was produced through a bi-partisan committee process and included the input of at least three fifths of Senators from both sides of the aisle. It is unfortunate that we cannot move forward tonight.
Yesterday, we agreed to delay the initial cloture vote after the Armed Services Committee’s Ranking Member requested more time to work on a Managers’ package, to include even more input from Members.
The Managers’ package now includes 57 amendments: 27 from Republicans; 27 from Democrats and 3 bipartisan amendments.
Further, we just proposed votes on 18 amendments, 3 of which are bipartisan and 8 of which Republican-led amendments. We could start voting on them tonight.
But, unfortunately, the other side won’t agree. Or some on the other side won’t agree.
Democrats have demonstrated all year that we are more than willing to work on good faith on amendments here on the floor.
This year more amendments have received roll call votes than during any of the past four years.
Members on both sides want to get this done so these delays are unfortunate.
There is no good reason to keep delaying—we should move the process forward.
