Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Importance Of Senate Procedure And The Decision To Vote Against Advancing The GENIUS Act

Washington, D.C. – Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor to defend Senate Democrats’ decision last week to vote against advancing the GENIUS Act, criticizing the Majority for attempting to force a vote on an unfinished bill and emphasizing the importance of upholding Senate norms and legislative transparency. Below are Senator Schumer’s remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Finally, I want to say a little about last week. There are those on the other side of the aisle now shedding crocodile tears that, last week, the Minority asserted its right not to proceed to a bill that has zero legislative text. Imagine – imagine, they said – the nerve of the Democrats not voting for a bill when there's no text. How crazy can they be?

We asserted our rights, very simply, to continue the legislative process; to allow time to reach agreement. The Majority – in an act of political stubbornness, but also stupidity – asked people to vote on a bill they had never seen.

They tried to force a vote before Senators even had text to know what they were voting on. And then they get upset that we all voted no?

They shouldn’t be surprised. Least of all my good friend the Republican Leader, who in his first speech as Majority Leader said “one of my priorities as leader will be to ensure that the Senate stays the Senate.”

Well, in the Senate, we've always had a text of a bill before we vote on it. I'd say that to my friend, the Majority Leader.

Democrats were perfectly appropriate, fair, and correct in asserting our rights.

If this Senate is to work, the Majority must allow it to work.

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