[Congressional Record Volume 164, Number 188 (Thursday, November 29, 2018)]
[Senate]
[Pages S7219-S7220]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                             Appropriations

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, next Friday, appropriations expire for 7 
of the 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year 2019, and we are in good 
faith negotiations with our Republican counterparts here in the 
Congress to get them enacted. The good news is that because of the 
bipartisan work in the Senate, approximately 75 percent of the Federal 
Government is funded for 2019. The bad news is that the 7 bipartisan 
appropriations bills are hanging in the balance for one reason and one 
reason only--President Trump.
  President Trump has said that he wants to shut down the government 
unless he gets $5 billion from the American taxpayers for an 
unnecessary border wall. The President hasn't even tried to get Mexico 
to pay for it, as he promised in his campaign over and over and over. 
He hasn't outlined a plan to deal with eminent domain concerns or even 
a plan as to how it would be built. He hasn't even spent the $1.3 
billion Congress allocated last year in the fiscal year 2018 budget for 
border security--fences, drones, technology--which actually makes 
sense. Now he is asking, having not spent that money, for more. So this 
isn't actually about border security. This is the President's way of 
trying to manufacture a shutdown to fire up his base.
  Make no mistake. The President is the only person who holds the 
ultimate responsibility for a government shutdown. He can decide if we 
are going to have one or not have one. He, certainly, has the power to 
shut down the government, but he has two very reasonable ways to avoid 
one.
  First, he could agree to sign the bipartisan DHS appropriations bill 
that the Senate Democrats and Republicans have already agreed to, which 
includes $1.6 billion for border security on top of the $1.3 billion 
that President Trump still hasn't spent from last year. It is just what 
we have done in previous years--funding for fencing on the border where 
the experts say it makes the most sense. It would protect our border 
far more effectively and far more quickly than any wall.
  Leader McConnell voted for that bill. Chairman Shelby voted for it, 
as did Senator Rubio. Even Senator Graham, the President's strongest 
supporter and closest ally in the Senate, voted for that bill. Now, all 
of a sudden, it seems that the Republicans, afraid to buck the 
President even when they know he is wrong, want to renege on that 
agreement to go along with the President's shutdown plan. But it 
doesn't have to be that way. This bipartisan negotiated deal remains on 
the table and would, certainly, receive more than 60 votes in the 
Senate.
  Second, if the President doesn't want to agree to that bipartisan 
bill, we could avoid a shutdown by passing a continuing resolution for 
the Department of Homeland Security. We think it should be for a whole 
year. It would keep the government open and still provide another $1.3 
billion for border security on top of the $1.3 billion the President 
has not yet spent. Again, this option would, certainly, receive more 
than 60 votes in the Senate.
  So President Trump has a simple choice of two good bipartisan 
options. If he decides to support either the bipartisan DHS bill or a 
continuing resolution, I am confident that both would pass by 
comfortable margins. The only position that cannot garner 60 votes is 
the President's position. He is adamant

[[Page S7220]]

about having a partial shutdown. He keeps repeating over and over that 
he wants a shutdown. Make no mistake about it. He is the only reason 
there would be a shutdown.
  If President Trump wants to throw a temper tantrum and shut down some 
Departments and Agencies over Christmas, that is, certainly, within his 
power, but he has two more sensible options available to him. It would 
be a shame if the country suffered because of a Trump temper tantrum. 
It is the President's choice.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa.