Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Rising Gas Prices As A Result Of Trump’s Costly War With Iran

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) spoke on the Senate floor on the rising gas prices that are plaguing Americans every day as a result of Trump's costly war with Iran, and reiterated Democrats' plan to keep fighting to lower costs and fight the chaos and corruption of the Trump administration. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

As Americans pack up the car and fire up the grill ahead of Memorial Day, they are getting crushed by the skyrocketing costs of Trump's disastrous war in Iran.

With gas selling for over four and a half dollars a gallon - up nearly 45%, 45%, since this time last year - many Americans are canceling their Memorial Day plans because they simply can't afford the drive.

Americans can't afford a barbeque when the cost of the beef they put on the grill and the propane they use to fuel it are both going up too.

Republicans ought to take note that among the states that have seen the greatest increase in gas prices since the war started are the battleground states of Ohio, Michigan, and Alaska. One report said those are the three highest. They're the battleground states.

What did Donald Trump have to say yesterday about these surging gas prices? He said: "This is peanuts."

Can you believe this guy? Donald Trump thinks the hundreds of extra dollars Americans are shelling out at the gas station each month are peanuts, a pittance. What does he know? Does he ever fill up his own tank with gas? No.

Trump should tell the American people that he thinks it's a pittance and tell that to America's small businesses which suffered their biggest decline in two years last month because of the surge in costs.

Trump should tell that to America's farmers who are struggling to afford fuel for their tractors and agricultural equipment after facing rising costs from tariffs and now increased cost in fertilizer.

The GOP continues to stand by Donald Trump's handling of this war, but the cracks are starting to form.

Yesterday, Democrats convinced enough Republicans to break ranks and advance our War Powers Resolution to end Trump's war.

Our vote on our War Powers Resolution yesterday was an important step towards ending Trump's war, but we won't stop pushing and pushing and pushing until Republicans finally join us in ending this reckless war.

Democrats are going to keep the pressure up.

This has been a terrible week for Donald Trump and Republicans, and it will only get worse for our Senate Republicans during vote-a-rama because Democrats are going to force Senate Republicans to vote on amendment after amendment about Trump's ballroom, Trump's slush fund, and the rising costs of Trump's war. They're not gonna be able to hide. The American people are going to see the clear difference between the parties. We're for working people, we're for getting costs down, going after corruption, ending the chaos, and yet they, by backing Donald Trump, make all three worse.

I encourage the American people to watch this debate, though they already know what they'll see. Republicans fighting for Donald Trump, and Democrats fighting to lower costs.

And finally, to make matters even worse for this terrible week for Republicans, I'll utter one final word: Texas.

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