[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 176 (Wednesday, October 6, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Page S6929]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                              Debt Ceiling

  Mr. SCHUMER. Now, in America, Mr. President, we have always kept a 
basic promise: We pay our debts on time without exception. It has been 
a key to our economic success and our standing in the global markets 
across the world. Today, it is time for us in this Chamber to do our 
jobs and make sure those promises remain unbroken.
  In order to preserve the full faith and credit of the United States, 
the Senate must act and, by the end of this week, send a bill to 
President Biden's desk suspending the debt ceiling and allowing our 
government to keep paying its bills and meeting our outstanding 
obligations.
  Later this afternoon, the Senate will vote on cloture on the House-
passed message that would suspend the debt ceiling through December 
2022. If cloture is invoked, the Senate will then vote to pass this 
bill on a simple majority basis.
  Democrats have been clear from the start: We are going to do the 
responsible thing and vote to allow the United States to keep paying 
its bills. Every single one of us is going to vote for cloture this 
afternoon.
  For months, Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans have insisted 
they want a solution to the debt ceiling but only if Democrats do all 
the work by themselves. We have already presented Republicans with 
numerous opportunities to do what they say they want, including 
offering a simple majority vote so Democrats can suspend the debt 
ceiling on our own, as Republicans have asked, but each time, 
Republicans have chosen obstruction and have kept us, unfortunately, on 
a path to default. Republican obstruction on the debt ceiling over the 
last few weeks has been reckless; it has been irresponsible.
  Nonetheless, today, Republicans will have an opportunity to get 
exactly what they have kept asking for. The first and easiest option is 
this: Republicans can simply get out of the way, and we can agree to 
skip the filibuster vote so we can proceed to final passage of this 
bill.
  I yield the floor.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Senator from Wyoming.
  Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that I be 
allowed to complete my remarks and then the Senator from Pennsylvania, 
Mr. Toomey, be allowed to complete his remarks prior to the scheduled 
rollcall vote.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.