Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republicans Failing To Meet Americans’ Needs And Pushing The Government Toward A Shutdown

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor to call out Republicans' partisan continuing resolution, warning that it fails to meet the needs of the American people, preserves the damaging status quo of the past nine months, and risks a government shutdown. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Yesterday, Speaker Johnson and House Republicans released a partisan CR that failed to meet the needs of the American people.

Republicans have been calling their bill a "clean" CR. But "clean" is the wrong word.

It's a partisan bill. It had no input from Democrats.

And most importantly, because it had no input from Democrats, it's a status quo bill. And Americans don't want the status quo.

With tens of millions being kicked off health insurance, with healthcare premiums set to skyrocket next year, with people paying more for groceries and for energy costs and for rent, and people struggling because of Donald Trump's tariffs, people need help!

That's what they're telling us, from one end of the country to the other. They're not happy with the direction America is going. The American people want their leaders to address their needs, and that's just what Democrats are fighting for.

The last thing the American people want is the status quo bill that continues the chaos and high costs of the last nine months.

But the Republican bill, not only is it partisan, but it's a status quo bill.

It changes nothing.

It continues the chaos and high costs of the last nine months.

And Democrats say no way.

We need to answer people's needs. When they tell us prices are going through the roof, when they tell us their healthcare is at risk, they want us to be there.

And so we need to sit at the table and talk to our Republican colleagues, so the American people's needs can be taken into account in a bipartisan negotiation.

But the Republican CR is certainly not the right answer. And Republicans are causing a shutdown by not negotiating and by not being willing to answer the country's needs.

The American people deserve better than the Republicans' failed agenda. They deserve better than keeping the status quo, because there's been such damage done in the last nine months.

Soon, Senate and House Democrats will release our own proposal to keep the government open with a short-term extension that properly meets the needs of the American people.

Our bill will represent the right path to avoid a shutdown by addressing healthcare costs and cuts, by preventing premiums from going up, and by restoring and extending Congressional funds for things like NIH that Donald Trump and Russell Vought are illegally halting.

Once both sides put forth proposals, and ours will be coming shortly, Republicans will face a choice: to keep following Donald Trump into a reckless shutdown that he seems to want or to finally come to the table and work with us.

Remember: it takes sixty votes to get anything passed in the Senate. That means Democratic input is a necessity to improve the lives and lower costs for the American people, because Republicans are not doing a thing to make things better. This is not optional. It's necessary. Republicans know that.

And yet, Donald Trump has told Republicans "don't even bother." He said "don't even bother" negotiating with Democrats. And they have, unfortunately, dutifully obeyed.

By not even bothering to talk to Democrats, Republicans are paving the road that leads to a shutdown. That is deeply troubling for the American people. They expect Donald Trump and Republicans to do their jobs and to address their needs and to keep the government open by working like adults with the other side, not just saying it's my way or the highway, particularly when their way represents a status quo that the American people abhor.

And mark my words: the American people will blame Donald Trump if a shutdown happens.

Finally, I'll say it again because it's important.

Democrats don't want a shutdown. But Republicans cannot shut Democrats out of the process and pretend like the last nine months have been business as usual. There is nothing business as usual about kicking 16 million people off healthcare. There is nothing business as usual about Donald Trump illegally stealing and cancelling federal investments approved by Congress, even for NIH research, which may save children with cancer's lives. There is nothing business as usual about Donald Trump tearing up budgets, ignoring the law, and picking winners and losers for things as vital as disaster relief.

Republicans know that these abuses can't just continue, as if everything is just fine. Everyone knows that Americans are frustrated with the status quo, frustrated with costs going up and up and up, and frustrated with Donald Trump injecting so much chaos into their lives.

And Republicans think it's fine to keep the status quo going? No questions asked? No negotiation or discussion? Give me a break.

In the Senate, it takes sixty votes. So that means Republicans will need to work with us. If they can't even bother to have a conversation with Democrats, then it's Republicans who the American people will know are causing a shutdown in two weeks.

We still have some time. I pray it doesn't happen.

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