Leader Schumer Floor Remarks Demanding House Republicans Stop Endangering Our National Security And Vote To Fund DHS

Washington, D.C. - Today, Senate Democratic Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) spoke on the Senate floor demanding that House Republicans stop delaying and vote to pass funding for the Department of Homeland Security instead of trying to push through up to $140 billion for ICE and Border Patrol and $400 million for President Trump's gold-plated ballroom. Below are Senator Schumer's remarks, which can also be viewed here:

Last night, Donald Trump confirmed what I've been saying for weeks: Speaker Johnson and House Republicans are holding up funding for the Department of Homeland Security - they are holding it up, Republicans, not Democrats.

The White House said it, in fact. The White House put out a memo urging House Republicans to stop dithering and pass the DHS bill that every Democrat and every Republican in the Senate passed unanimously, not once but twice.

For weeks, Republicans have tried to pin the blame for their shutdown on Democrats. The Trump administration just exposed how preposterous that lie is.

Republican dysfunction is endangering our national security. House Republicans have been so busy fighting one another in the House that FISA may expire.

Republicans, get your act together! Our national security depends on it. While Democrats have been trying to fund the Secret Service, TSA, Coast Guard, CISA, FEMA, and other crucial agencies, Republicans have been trying to jam through as much as another $140 billion dollars for Trump's rogue agencies.

And while Democrats have been working diligently and assiduously to try to lower Americans' costs, Republicans want to splurge on a $400 million, gold-plated ballroom for the president.

The last thing Americans want us spending their tax dollars on is a gilded palace for Donald Trump. What will Trump ask Americans to pay for next, a moat?

What else could $400 million get Americans? A year of childcare for 30,000 families. Skills training for 50,000 new electricians, plumbers, and welders. Disaster loans for 10,000 households. And so much more.

Keep in mind that just one month ago today, Donald Trump said "there's not one dime of government money going into the ballroom."

Then put your money where your mouth is, President Trump. Stop trying to waste Americans' hard-earned tax dollars on this extravagance and get your party to work with Democrats to keep the American people safe.

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