Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Senate Democrats Continuing Work To Confirm President Biden’s Highly Qualified Nominees And Fund The Government

Washington, D.C. –  Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor regarding Senate Democrats working to fund the federal government and confirming President Biden’s nominees. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Senate Democrats will continue working with our Republican and House counterparts on the vital task of passing an omnibus package to fund the federal government, avoid a shutdown, and assure that government effectively serves American people.

This morning, I will meet with Democratic appropriators to discuss the state of negotiations as we work towards the omnibus. I'll be meeting with Speaker Pelosi in that meeting as well. Later today the four corner appropriators—Chairman Leahy, Ranking Member Shelby, Chairwoman DeLauro, and Ranking Member Granger—will also meet to continue their talks.

We need to have an omnibus fund the government: that is the goal we are working towards and I want to thank my colleagues for their diligence and leadership.

Separately, today the Senate will continue confirming the President’s highly qualified nominees.

Because of a growing backlog of noncontroversial nominees—which a small handful of Republicans continue to obstruct—I filed cloture two weeks ago to move forward on 20 individuals, and today we will have votes on three of these nominees.

We are prepared to work late into the evenings this week to get these nominees confirmed without further delay. 

Confirming these nominees is a top priority for the Senate this week: they will serve on our federal judiciary, advance America’s diplomatic and economic interests, and work to strengthen our national security. The vast majority of these men and women were reported out of committee with strong bipartisan support and normally would pass through this chamber with consent without a lengthy process. Instead, because of a handful of obstructionist Republicans, the Senate will take the necessary votes to confirm these nominees.

Every president deserves to staff their team with individuals he sees fit, and we in the Senate will keep working to make sure President Biden has his nominees confirmed so they can carry out their mission of serving the American people.

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