[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 18 (Wednesday, January 31, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S291-S292]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                          Supplemental Funding

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, every last Member of this body knows what 
is on the line as we work on the national security supplemental. From 
securing our southern border to helping our friends in Israel and 
innocent civilians in Gaza, to showing strength in the Indo-Pacific, 
and, of course, standing with Ukraine, the Senate's very resolve and 
courage is being put to the test.
  A month ago, I said the only way we will rise to the occasion is if 
both sides are serious about finding a bipartisan compromise. The 
negotiation was never going to be easy. In fact, we all knew it would 
be immensely difficult.
  Nevertheless, I said Democrats were willing to treat these 
negotiations with the seriousness they deserve. And for months, we have 
been true to our word, working with Republicans on border security, 
listening to their proposals, and coming to agreement on a vast range 
of issues.
  We have not concluded negotiations. So we will keep going to get this 
done.
  Democrats have always been ready and willing to have a debate on the 
border. We want to get this done. We have continued to work to get this 
done, and we remain committed--we remain committed--to bipartisanship. 
Both sides will have to give.
  It is unfortunate, but, frankly, not surprising, that many on the 
hard right are mightily trying to sink the bipartisan work happening 
here in the Senate. But, in the Senate, our responsibility is clear: We 
need to put the needs of our country above the interests of party 
politics because the security of our southern border is on the line; 
the security of Israel is on the line; the health and safety of 
innocent Gaza civilians are on the line; the stability of the Indo-
Pacific region is on the line; and, finally, as every Senator on both 
sides knows, the survival of Ukraine is on the line.
  It will be 2 years since Vladimir Putin began his illegal, savage 
campaign against the Ukrainian people. American military assistance has 
been one of the most important lifelines for Ukrainian fighters since 
the start of the war, but now that aid has run out.

[[Page S292]]

Congressional action is required if we want to send additional military 
assistance.
  The matter here is very simple, as President Zelenskyy told us in 
December. Ukraine will win the war against Russia if more aid is 
approved by Congress, but, if no more aid is approved, Putin will win.
  We dare not hand Eastern Europe over to Vladimir Putin. The 
supplemental is how we ensure that Western democracy is protected.
  The work is not easy. It is very hard. There are still some issues 
outstanding, but we remain committed to bipartisanship, and we will 
keep working because we want to get this done.