Chuck Schumer: Republicans Have A Little Over 20 Days To 'Get Serious' About Government Funding

During remarks on the Senate floor Wednesday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) spoke about government funding.

Transcript

00:00I ask unanimous consent that form be dispensed with.

00:03Without objection.

00:04Now, Madam President, we have a little over 20 legislative days left

00:08for Republicans to get serious about funding the government.

00:13That's not very much time.

00:15As always, the best way forward is this, bipartisan cooperation.

00:22Senate Democrats, for our part, are working in good faith

00:25to counter the devastating actions of the Trump administration on the American people.

00:35And in this case, the bill reverses doge cuts to veterans.

00:40That's a very good thing.

00:41These doge cuts were so cruel to our veterans.

00:45Ultimately, Senate Republicans will have to join us to save all of our constituents

00:49from the proposals we have seen from the administration and from the House Republicans.

00:55Now, yesterday, the Senate took the first vote on the MilCon VA bill.

01:01This bill is not perfect, but it's a good step forward.

01:05It reverses some of the terrible cuts from Doge against our veterans,

01:10our veterans who defend us, who risk their lives for us,

01:15who volunteer to serve their country.

01:18And then, when they need help, to cut, cut, cut, cruel, mean, un-American.

01:25The Senate version, thank God, is significantly stronger

01:29than the House version in protecting our members.

01:33And my colleague from Georgia has done good work

01:36shepherding this legislation on the Democratic side.

01:40We hope to have a good process for this bill on the floor.

01:43Republicans should allow amendments and a robust floor process.

01:48This bill shows the process can still work,

01:51but much, much more needs to be considered.

01:54But Senate Democrats know we can't take anything for granted,

01:58and we'll expect our colleagues to show their commitment to bipartisanship

02:02on all future appropriations bills.

02:05Because for weeks, for weeks, they have tainted the Senate

02:09with their partisan reconciliation tax bill

02:11and the rescissions package.

02:14This process won't work

02:15if they listen more to Donald Trump and Russell Vogt

02:19than to the needs of the American people back home.