Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Senate Avoiding A Government Shutdown By Passing A Bipartisan Continuing Resolution
Washington, D.C. – Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the Senate passing a bipartisan continuing resolution that avoids a government shutdown while avoiding devastating cuts proposed by MAGA Republicans. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:
It has been a day full of twists and turns, but the American people can breathe a sigh of relief: there will be no government shutdown.
Democrats have said from the start that the only solution for avoiding a shutdown is bipartisanship, and we are glad that Speaker McCarthy has finally heeded our message.
In the end more Democrats supported this bill in the House than Republicans, proving bipartisanship was the best answer all along.
I want to thank my colleagues here in the Senate, especially our appropriators: yourself, Madame President, Vice Chair Susan Collins and Leader McConnell. Our bipartisan work in the Senate set the tone for the bill we are about to pass. Our bipartisanship made this possible and showed the House that they had to act.
We will keep the government open for 45 days with a clean CR, at current funding levels.
And we avoided all of the extreme, nasty, and harmful cuts MAGA Republicans wanted. No thirty percent cuts across the board. No thirty percent cuts to things like health care, to the Social Security Administration, to the nutrition programs for kids. Full reauthorization of the F.A.A. until December 31st.
And the poison pill amendments, of which there were scores, MAGA-inspired riders were all removed from the bill.
After trying to take our government hostage, MAGA Republicans won nothing.
So one more time: it is good Speaker McCarthy finally, finally heeded our message that bipartisanship was, and is, and remains, the only way. He could have made this decision weeks ago.
Now, I’ve said from day one this is a bridge CR, a temporary solution, not the final destination. We will not stop fighting for more economic and security assistance for Ukraine. Majorities in both parties support Ukraine aid, and doing more is vital for America’s security and for democracy around the world.
But this CR is still very good news for the American people. Today, MAGA extremists have failed, bipartisanship has prevailed, and both parties have come together to avert a shutdown.
Once again, thank you to Leader McConnell, Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, Vice-Chair Susan Collins, and members on both sides of the aisle who came together. Today’s CR would not have been possible without the Senate’s good work.
The Senate showed that bipartisanship was the only way. And the same will be true again in 45 days.
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