Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Need For Republicans To Work With Democrats In A Bipartisan Way To Keep The Government Open And Funded

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the need for Republicans to work with Democrats in a bipartisan way in order to fund the government and avoid a Republican shutdown. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

In less than a month, Republicans will face their greatest test under the Trump administration: whether or not they will work in a commonsense, bipartisan way to keep the government open and funded.

The only way – the only way – to avoid a shutdown is to work in a bipartisan way, with a bill that can get both Democratic and Republican votes in the Senate.

As I’ve said for months, Democrats want to keep the government open in a bipartisan, commonsense way. That’s why we supported bipartisan appropriations bills in July.

But the ball now is in Republican’s court, in Leader Thune’s court, in Speaker Johnson’s court.

Republicans cannot expect Democrats to go along with a partisan bill.

Let me repeat that: Republicans cannot expect Democrats to go along with a partisan bill that they concoct without any input and without any changes that America wants and that Democrats are fighting for.

Republicans cannot expect Democrats to go along with a partisan bill.

We’re not going to bail Republicans out of their own chaos, out of their own failed policies.

If the Republicans choose the “go at it alone” approach, if they continue to pass legislation that raises costs and devastates the American people, if Republican Senators keep bowing down to Donald Trump even though they know what he's doing is unpopular and they know he's in a bubble – talking to rich people and nobody else thinking he can bamboozle everybody else – they will be responsible if a shutdown happens.

And as everyone knows, the clock is ticking.

We have fewer than 13 legislative days to go – but so far Republican leaders have been MIA. They just don't know what to do.

At the start of the August recess, Leader Jeffries and I wrote to Republican leaders saying let's have a sit-down. Let’s talk about how to keep the government open.

We heard nothing.

Leader Jeffries and I last week reached out again to sit down, to talk, to plan a strategy for keeping the government open. Again crickets. Nothing. We have heard nothing. And time is short.

So, what are Republicans going to do?

I know they're struggling. I know they're divided in their caucuses, both in the House and Senate. And while the House and Senate Republicans are divided, we Democrats are unified. Leader Jeffries and I and our two caucuses are in lock step – we want bipartisan negotiations and a truly bipartisan bill.

So, what are the Republicans going to do?

Do they want to continue their “our way or the highway” approach?

Are they going to continue to go it alone?

Are we going to continue to hear nothing from them?

Are Republicans going to keep giving the finger to everyone in Washington who wants to seek commonsense bipartisan governance and solutions?

I hope not, because that is the path that leads to a shutdown – a Republican shutdown, a Trump shutdown.

Republicans can't just say they want to avoid a shutdown. They’ve got to prove it.

They need to sit down with us, work with us on something Democrats can support. And actions speak louder than words.

We need to see some action from Republican leaders showing they are serious about preventing a shutdown at the end of the month.

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