Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Ahead Of The Bipartisan Senate Vote To Advance The Venezuela War Powers Resolution

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) today spoke on the Senate floor calling on Senators to vote for the Venezuela War Powers Resolution and reassert constitutional authority over Donald Trump’s dangerous military adventurism. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

First, I want to thank Senator Kaine for his great leadership on this issue, Senator Schiff, and Senator Paul for working with me on this resolution. If there was ever a moment for the Senate to find its voice, it is now.

The Senate must act now to stop Donald Trump’s folly.

Today, the Senate must assert the authority given to it in the Constitution on matters of war and peace.

And we must send Donald Trump a clear message on behalf of the American people: no more endless wars.

If any of my colleagues doubted what Trump was up to, here's what he said last night to The New York Times. They asked him, how long are we going to stay in Venezuela? A month, six months, a year?

Donald Trump said, “I would say much longer.”

Donald Trump's ready for an endless war in Venezuela and lord knows where else. The American people are not. The American people want us to focus on the number one issue they face, rising costs, the affordability crisis, but instead Donald Trump and too many of our Republican colleagues are saying, let us spend our treasure—and maybe even American lives—on Venezuela and other areas far afield.

How can the American people watch this and not just groan and grimace and ache and fear? When America has tried to do this kind of nation building, this kind of regime replacement in the past, it's led to the American people paying the price in treasure and in blood.

So now we have the opportunity to stop. We're very close. We urge our Republican colleagues to join us. Tell the American people you want to focus on what they care about: the cost of groceries, the cost of health care, the cost of electricity, and other goods.

The contrast between what's happening in the House and the Senate today is glaring. In the House, there will be, from what I am told, a good number of Republicans who will join in saying extend the tax credits for three years. Leader Thune has refused to even put that on the floor.

But what's happening here, the ability, the strength, the constitutional authority of the congress to say no to endless wars. No sending all our money down to Venezuela and lord knows what other countries. Again, just look at this, my Republican colleagues: here is what Trump said on oversight of Venezuela. He said it could last for years. They asked him a year longer? He said I would say much longer.

How many of you want to see us bogged down in Venezuela for a whole bunch of years? If you don't want to see that, if you want to focus on the costs the American people are facing, and reduce them, vote with us, vote yes on this very important resolution.

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