Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Slamming Congressional Republicans For Prolonging The DHS Shutdown By Deferring To Stephen Miller’s Chaos Instead Of Passing Bipartisan Solutions

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke on the Senate floor to denounce Congressional Republicans for prolonging the Department of Homeland Security shutdown, as their internal divisions and deference to an unelected ideologue, Stephen Miller, have blocked bipartisan funding efforts. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Over the last two weeks, Americans were aghast watching two disasters unfold simultaneously - one abroad and one right here in this chamber.

Abroad, Donald Trump is escalating his ill-conceived Iranian incursion, threatening to wipe out an entire civilization, driving up gas prices with no plan, and no end in sight. And right here at home? Congressional Republicans are keeping the Department of Homeland Security shut down - because they cannot govern themselves, let alone this country. Why? Because Stephen Miller won't let them.

Stephen Miller - an unelected ideologue - is calling the shots on immigration policy in this country. Not Congress. Not Senators. Not the Appropriations Committee. Stephen Miller.

Here's the bottom line: Stephen Miller and Donald Trump refuse to accept commonsense, bipartisan reforms to ICE and Border Patrol. Republicans would rather keep DHS shuttered than cross the man who has made cruelty the centerpiece of this administration's immigration agenda.

Republicans are rejecting bipartisan reforms-reforms rooted in transparency, in oversight, in the rule of law-because they refuse to cross one man whose agenda is built on cruelty.

So let's be clear about what Republicans have chosen. What have Republicans chosen? What have Republicans chosen? Not a clean funding bill with commonsense reforms. Not bipartisan solutions. Republicans have chosen chaos. They're dragging the Senate through a painful, arduous, and partisan reconciliation process-not because it's the best path, but because it's the only way they can avoid accountability for how ICE and Border Patrol operate.

They would rather walk the plank politically-vote after vote, amendment after amendment than show a shred of independence from Stephen Miller. That is not leadership. That is not governing. That is dysfunction-plain and simple. And to make matters worse, they can't even agree among themselves on how to do it.

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