Schumer Floor Remarks Following Republicans Blocking The Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act

Washington, D.C. — Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) today spoke on the Senate floor after Senate Republicans blocked the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act, which passed the House by voice vote a week ago. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Now, before I get into the subject of this pending vote, I do want to thank my colleagues from Illinois and Connecticut for their bringing this important topic before the Senate: President Trump's refusal to condemn violent white supremacist groups in the presidential debate.

We've hardly heard anything out of most of our colleagues. And no one –  no one, no one – is going to buy the argument that it came too suddenly. White supremacy hasn't come too suddenly.

The president's remarks have been out there for several days. It is the flimsiest of excuses to avoid criticizing the president even when every American of decency, the overwhelming majority of all Americans would know he should be condemned. And they don't care if you're Democrat, Republican; liberal, conservative.

You never know how low President Trump can go. But his refusal to condemn white supremacy is among the lowest things he has done, and boy oh, boy there's lots of them lined up. And I'm ashamed at my Republican colleagues, ashamed, for America, for decency, have chosen to block this.

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