Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Urging Senate Republicans To Support Democrats’ Legislation To Fund TSA

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke on the Senate floor urging Senate Republicans to support Democrats' unanimous consent request to fund TSA while Senators negotiate on reforms to rein in ICE. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks:

In a few moments, my friend and colleague, the Senator from Nevada [Senator Jacky Rosen (D-NV)], will offer a unanimous consent request that is very simple. It funds TSA. No conditions, no ifs, ands, or buts. It just says we are funding TSA.

If Republicans want to see our TSA workers get paid, they should not object. It's very simple. We know we need to straighten this out. Many people have different formulas. But plain and simple, you want to fund TSA with no conditions, no preconditions, just yes or no. No ands, ifs, or buts. Do not block the [resolution].

If Republicans block this resolution, well, no, they don't want to fund TSA because this is the simplest, quickest, easiest way to do it. Our colleagues on the other side said, "Oh, no, we don't want to fund it unless we have a compromise or we have a deal on other parts of ICE and CPB." That is holding the TSA agents and the American people hostage. We're not holding any hostages. We're just saying we need to fund TSA. We need to fund it now. No ands, ifs, or buts. No questions asked. No preconditions.

The American people will see. The Rosen proposal is simple. If Republicans block it, they're standing in the way of funding TSA now.

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