[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 175 (Tuesday, October 24, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5125-S5126]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           Government Funding

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, last week, President Biden addressed the 
Nation from the Oval Office to affirm that America will stand with her 
friends and allies in the face of authoritarians like China, Russia, 
and Iran, who seek to annihilate democracy.
  The future of democracy around the world faces the greatest threat 
since the end of the Cold War. At this pivotal moment in history, 
America is once again called upon to rise to the occasion and to lead 
the way.
  President Biden has now sent Congress a supplemental funding request 
with aid for our ally and partner Israel, aid for our friends in 
Ukraine, and funding to outcompete the Chinese Government and secure 
our southern border from threats like fentanyl. We must pass this 
supplemental as soon as we can with bipartisan support for a simple and 
important reason: It will make the world safer for the United States, 
for our allies, and for our democratic values.
  In Europe, Vladimir Putin continues his onslaught against the 
Ukrainian people, and it is foolish to think he will stop there. In the 
Middle East, Hamas's brutal terrorism murdered the most Jewish people 
in a single day since the Holocaust and threatens our strongest ally in 
the Middle East. Democrats and Republicans alike know that if Putin, 
Hamas, or other adversaries succeed, it would endanger Americans around 
the world.
  Now that Congress has received the President's request, I will make 
it a top priority for the Senate to act quickly, decisively, and most 
importantly, with strong bipartisan conviction.
  Bipartisanship must lead the way as we take up the President's 
supplemental request.
  To my Republican colleagues, let's work together to ensure that this 
process remains bipartisan, because only things that win support from 
both sides will make it to the President's desk.
  Democrats and Republicans agree we must stand with Israel. So let's 
pass this supplemental, with humanitarian aid to help civilians in Gaza 
and elsewhere, as soon as we can.
  Democrats and Republicans also agree we must stand with Ukraine. 
After all, over 70 Members voted for Ukraine funding last month in our 
CR. So let's pass this supplemental as soon as we can.

[[Page S5126]]

  And both sides want to outcompete the Chinese Government, secure our 
border from threats like fentanyl, and provide humanitarian aid to 
minimize civilian casualties in both Israel and Gaza.
  All of these priorities are bipartisan. All of these provisions are 
included in the President's request. So let's get to work in the coming 
weeks to pass this supplemental package quickly and with strong 
bipartisan support.
  With the House of Representatives in paralysis, the Senate will not 
wait to act. We will step into the breach and make sure the business of 
legislating continues. And if we act with enough bipartisan conviction, 
I believe it would go a long way to pushing the House to getting its 
act together and following suit.
  The world will watch very closely what actions we take in Congress 
over the next couple weeks. We must send an unmistakable message to the 
country, to our allies, and to our adversaries that America will always 
spring to the defense of our allies in their hour of need. That is why 
we must pass this supplemental as soon as we can.