Majority Leader Schumer Floor Remarks On The Need For Action On Key Legislative Priorities Before The End Of The Year

Washington, D.C. - Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) today spoke on the Senate floor on the need for Congress to reach a bipartisan agreement to fund the government, pass the NDAA, and approve disaster relief funding before the end of the year. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Next week is going to be very busy here on the Senate floor, where we have a number of legislative priorities to complete before the end of the year.

We must, for one, continue working on confirming more of President Biden's nominees. Voting on well-qualified nominees is our job, it is our responsibility, and we're going to continue working on nominees so long as this session of Congress continues.

Second, as I've mentioned, we will finish passing the NDAA. Members should be prepared to take the first procedural vote early next week.

We must also pass an extension of government funding, to avoid a shutdown right before Christmas.

The only way we prevent a shutdown is through bipartisan cooperation, without any last-minute poison pills that only create controversy. We can't have that, it has never worked in the past, and adding poison pills at the eleventh hour would only make the risk of a Christmas shutdown greater.

Thankfully, I am pleased that so far talks have remained productive. Negotiators continue working around the clock to reach an agreement. They're meeting early in the morning, they're meeting late at night, and they will work through the weekend if necessary.

I want to thank Chair Murray, Ranking Member Collins, appropriators in the House, and House Leadership for their cooperation on getting a CR done.

I also hope we can reach an agreement to pass a strong disaster package before the end of the year, as part of the CR.

Democrats continue to work on the disaster package. We know one thing: just as both parties represent communities affected by disasters, both parties must take passing disaster aid seriously. We urge our Republican colleagues to keep working with us and get us as generous a package as possible, because there's so much damage out there and so many communities need help.

Right now, the federal government faces its own looming disaster: the vast majority of funds intended for emergency disaster relief have nearly dried up.

We have very few resources left for helping small businesses, helping farmers, helping people rebuild their homes, helping communities fix their main streets, and repair their highways. This is a problem for states across the country, in every part of the country whether they be red or blue, whether they be represented by Democrats or Republicans. And unfortunately, but necessarily, the only fix is congressional action.

Democrats are working with our colleagues on the other side on a reasonable proposal to help cities and towns and rural areas rebuild. We hope to reach an agreement soon.

###