[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 168 (Thursday, November 14, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6569-S6570]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Republican Leadership

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, yesterday, our Republican colleagues 
officially decided who will lead their conference beginning in the new 
year.
  Once again, I congratulate Senator Thune on being chosen by his 
colleagues as the next Republican leader.
  I have served with Senator Thune in this Chamber for many years, and 
I am glad to say we have found common ground on a number of different 
issues, including veterans' assistance, strengthening our national 
security, and more recently the Kids Online Safety bill, among other 
bills.
  We have gotten along well and worked together in the past. I look 
forward to finding ways to work together in the future. We will have 
our differences for sure, and we will make those differences known on a 
regular basis here on the Senate floor, but my friend from South Dakota 
can rest assured our side of the aisle will always seek to work in good 
faith and seek common ground whenever possible. But if the Senate is to 
be successful in the years to come, if we are to continue to be 
productive and effective in representing the American people as well as 
we have over the past 4 years, there are a few things the new 
Republican majority should not forget. Hopefully, they won't.
  Most importantly, Senate Republicans should continue to prioritize 
bipartisanship when they enter into the majority next year. On my first 
day as majority leader, I pledged to make bipartisanship a key part of 
how the Senate does its business. I said then--I have said it many 
times since--the Senate works best when both sides work together. Four 
years later, Democrats have not only kept our promise, but we have 
proven that bipartisanship can work in very significant ways. This 
majority was the most productive majority the Senate has had in 
decades, but that could not have happened had we not made the conscious 
choice to reach across the aisle.
  It was bipartisanship that cleared the way for the biggest 
infrastructure bill in a generation. It was bipartisanship that got the 
CHIPS and Science bill done and now hundreds of thousands of jobs are 
returning to the United States and we are making those chips here.
  It was bipartisanship that held the line against Putin and defended 
Ukraine.

[[Page S6570]]

  It was bipartisanship that made sure we saw zero government shutdowns 
under this administration. The list goes on: marriage equality, the 
first gun safety bill in decades, Kids Online Safety. All of these 
accomplishments were possible because Democrats were willing to work 
with the other side.
  We still have work to do in this Chamber before the year is out, but 
I am proud of the record we have built over the last 4 years, one that 
we accomplished by reaching across the aisle whenever the chance 
presented itself.
  I earnestly hope the next few years are as fruitful and collaborative 
as the last four. I earnestly hope bipartisanship continues because 
that is the only way we will be successful in the Senate, but that will 
be up to Senate Republicans to decide for themselves.