Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On Republicans’ Refusal To Negotiate Driving The Government Toward Trump’s Healthcare Shutdown

Washington, D.C. - Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor slamming Republicans for bowing down to Trump and driving the country toward a healthcare crisis and a government shutdown, while Democrats fight to keep the government open and lower costs for the American people. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Today, all America can see the glaring contrast between Republican and Democratic priorities, as shown by the bills each party has introduced late yesterday.

Senators will have to choose to stand with Donald Trump, keep the same lousy status quo, and cause the Trump healthcare shutdown or stand with the American people, protect their healthcare, and keep the government functioning.

Today, we have a rare moment in the Senate where two bills come to the floor that truly crystalize the contrast between the two parties.

On the Republican side, Americans will see more of the same high costs, especially on healthcare, and more of the same failures of the last nine months.

Or instead, Republicans can vote to undo the destruction Donald Trump has inflicted on Americans' healthcare and work on a bipartisan bill, the only bipartisan bill that can win, to keep the government open.

That's what the Democrats offer the American people. The choice is clear.

Now, our Republican colleagues seem to think Americans are happy with the direction of this country

They're voting like they think the status quo is good enough, even though they've heard from so many of their constituents the fear of hospitals closing, of healthcare being diminished, and of premiums going way up by hundreds of dollars each month.

They've heard that from their constituents, but they stick with Donald Trump, who doesn't give a hoot about them.

Republicans are voting like the status quo is good enough. They are wrong.

Americans are tired of the status quo.

They are tired of Donald Trump's chaos and inflationary policies.

And by not even negotiating, by trying to make this partisan, Donald Trump and Republicans are shutting the government down.

People are paying more for groceries, paying more on their electric bill, and paying more for rent.

Even a cup of coffee has gotten more expensive under Donald Trump.

And healthcare in America has been plunged into crisis

Fifteen million Americans will lose their healthcare.

Premiums are set to go through the roof, by as much as hundreds of dollars each month and thousands of dollars each year.

The average American family can't afford that.

And Republicans, what do they say? Well, let's kick the can down the road.

Republicans say let's put it off, let's do it later.

But for Republicans, "later" means "never."

We should solve this healthcare crisis now.

People are already getting letters in the mail saying their premiums are about to go up next year by $300, $400, $500 or, God forbid, even more.

A new report today showed that if we extend these tax credits, the vast majority of the benefits will go to working and middle class families-to families that need help. That's what Democrats want to do here today.

Also, hospitals from Virginia to Nebraska, from Maine to California, are shutting down right now.

You know what that means?

If you live in rural America, the closest hospital to you might be hundreds of miles away.

You might not be able to see a doctor, and even if you can, you're going to pay more to see the doctor.

If you're an adult with parents who live in a nursing home, what's going to happen if that nursing home closes due to budget cuts?

Most families can't afford to take their parents in. There is no way they could provide the same care and expertise a nursing home could.

I've talked to long term care centers-in Republican districts no less-where doctors and nurses and healthcare workers and parents and seniors are frustrated and worried that the jobs are in peril and even more that their patients are in peril.

They cannot understand how Donald Trump and Republicans are so okay with cutting their funding.

In short, it is a betrayal.

But that is what the status quo looks like under Donald Trump.

And also, let me speak to my own colleagues here in the Senate who care about this institution and who-in normal times-would love to work together with the other side to make good things happen for the country.

Donald Trump and his little minion, Russell Vought, have made a total mockery of the Congressional appropriations process.

He has trampled over Congress's power of the purse.

He has unilaterally and illegally frozen, cancelled, and redirected hundreds of billions in Congressional funding.

Why the heck should the Senate vote on a budget if Russell Vought singlehandedly, with Donald Trump's support, undo it all?

And that includes funding for NIH research, includes public broadcasting, and so much else. It's all illegal.

It cannot be tolerated.

Why pass a budget if Russell Vought can unilaterally rescind it?

Every Senator should not stand for it, including our Republican colleagues. Democrats certainly won't.

Will Republicans?

Republicans cannot expect that another take-it-or-leave-it extension of government funding that fails to address healthcare costs is going to cut it for the American people.

What we should do instead is move forward with our Democratic proposal to work to keep the government open, to lower people's premiums, and to protect people's healthcare.

And finally, both sides should at least talk.

Donald Trump does not want to talk.

He has said to Republicans: "Don't even bother" to deal with Democrats.

That is Donald Trump saying he wants a shutdown.

You have to have two parties to pass a bill. If you say "don't deal with Democrats," they're saying they want a shutdown.

That's what Donald Trump said. He said he doesn't know the Senate procedure with 60 votes, or he doesn't know math because he only has 53.

Donald Trump is saying he wants a shutdown, and Leader Thune and Speaker Johnson should resist Trump's bullying.

They know the only way to pass a budget is with bipartisan negotiation.

In the four years when Democrats had a majority, there was never shutdown. Why?

We talked to our Republican colleagues and created bipartisan proposals. We sat down and talked, which is normally what happened, except our Republican colleagues-Leader Thune, Speaker Johnson-are too afraid to buck Donald Trump.

Well, the American people won't stand for Donald Trump's status quo. They don't like the Republican partisanship.

They expect both sides to come together and address the real needs they face today, from healthcare to the cost of living.

That is what Democrats offer the American people with our bill today.

Will Senate Republicans heed their call?

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