[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 210 (Wednesday, December 20, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6071-S6072]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          SUPPLEMENTAL FUNDING

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, there will be no more rollcall votes this 
year. But make no mistake, the winter recess will be a busy and 
important few weeks for the U.S. Senate. Negotiations will continue 
around the clock, reaching an agreement on a critical national security 
supplemental.

[[Page S6072]]

  As I speak right now, the negotiators are in a room down the hall 
trying to make more progress. I came by a few minutes ago to thank all 
of them for their hard work and encourage them to continue. The future 
not only of Ukraine but of our country and the Western World depends on 
it. Challenging issues remain, but we in this caucus are committed to 
addressing needs at the southern border and to helping our partners and 
allies confront and deter serious threats in Israel, Ukraine, and the 
Indo-Pacific. The Senate will not let these national security 
challenges go unanswered.
  When we return in the new year, we hope to take swift action on the 
national security supplemental. Passing a national security 
supplemental is not going to be easy. It is one of the hardest things 
this Senate has undertaken in a very long time. It will take 
compromise, good faith, and recognition from both sides that nobody is 
going to get everything they want.
  Democrats will continue to work in good faith with our Republican 
counterparts to get things done. We will not abandon our principles on 
border, but we will work to find common ground wherever we can. Let me 
be clear: It will take cooperation from serious-minded Republicans to 
get this done. Again, it will take cooperation from serious-minded 
Republicans to pass a national security supplemental.
  I know there are some on the other side who will never vote for it, 
but there are many who understand the need to both give Ukraine and 
Israel humanitarian aid for the civilians in Gaza and the Indo-Pacific 
the help it needs and to help fix our border--doing it in ways that are 
consistent with our principles.
  Democrats will continue to take these negotiations seriously, and we 
urge the majority of Republicans on the Senate side who understand that 
this is real and very important to join with us in helping get this 
done. Doing it together, Leader McConnell and I issued a statement last 
night that showed we both hope to get this done.
  If we fail in this moment, if the United States abandons our friends 
in Ukraine to Vladimir Putin, history will cast a shameful and 
permanent shadow upon all of us. It is a matter of the highest urgency 
that we get this right, and that is precisely what we will work toward 
in the new year as soon as we return.

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