U.S. Senator Katie Britt Outlines Republican Plan for Government Funding, Urges Democratic Colleagues to Stop the Schumer Shutdown

'[T]he American people neither voted for this, nor [can] they afford it'

WASHINGTON, D.C.- U.S. Senator Katie Britt (R-Ala.) today spoke on the Senate floor ahead of the government funding deadline at midnight to urge her Democratic colleagues to prevent a reckless and preventable government shutdown.

Excerpts from Senator Britt's speech are below. The full remarks can be viewed here.

"Passing a clean CR this week is important for two reasons. First, passing the CR, of course, will avert a harmful and unnecessary government shutdown. No reasonable member on either side, Democrat or Republican, wants a government shutdown. Now, those aren't my words. Those are actually Senator Schumer's words from just over a year ago.

"Mr. President, I rise today because once again this Congress, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle, have decided to put politics ahead of the American people …

"But yet, instead of allowing this body to focus, this body to work, this body to function, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle have continued to play politics. And guess what? We're over it … This chamber is barreling towards a government shutdown. And make no mistake about it, there is no one to blame but the Democrats.

"Meanwhile, Republicans have put forth a clean CR. It funds the government for seven weeks. It puts forth no new partisan spending and, importantly, allows for us to have more time to get back to a semblance of regular order and pass bipartisan appropriations bills. Enacting these appropriations bills needs to be one of our top priorities, because while the Republican-led CR is the best option for right now, it is my belief we cannot continue to kick the can down the road … A long-term continuing resolution would keep spending at Biden levels, and the American people neither voted for this, nor [can] they afford it … We must return to transparency, to accountability, and to regular order.

"Republicans are here to work for the American people. And look, we're going to continue to do so. It is my hope that some of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle are committed to doing the same thing. Make no mistake, if the government shuts down, if federal workers go without a paycheck, if things go awry, that would be Democrats' burden to bear.

"It is past time the Democrats get serious and decide if they want to govern or if they just want to follow their leader. I hope that they choose actually doing the work of the American people and not making them pay the price for a Schumer Shutdowns.

"Mr. President, decisions need to be made in this very chamber tonight, and I hope that our colleagues on the other side make the right one. Let us continue to work for the American people. Let us do the job that we've already started on and are committed to finishing. And let us get this Senate back functioning for the very people that we serve."

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