[Congressional Record Volume 171, Number 117 (Tuesday, July 8, 2025)]
[Senate]
[Page S4245]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                               RESCISSION

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, the July work period and rescissions--
this July 4, Donald Trump and Republicans wreaked havoc on our country. 
On a day when Americans are supposed to celebrate our independence and 
our blessings as citizens of this great Nation, Donald Trump signed one 
of the most destructive pieces of legislation in modern history--the 
biggest giveaway to billionaires ever, the biggest cuts to Medicaid, 
devastation to our healthcare economy and America's clean energy 
economy, with millions of projected job losses--so many job losses that 
it could well cause us to fall into recession. When it is harder to 
find jobs, more people get fired, and prices go up.
  This vote will haunt our Republican colleagues. It will haunt them 
every time a rural hospital closes. It will haunt them every time 
seniors are unable to get home care. It will haunt them as premiums go 
up, as the uninsured rates spike, as kids go hungry, as jobs disappear, 
and as our adversaries grow stronger while America grows weaker.
  Frankly, many Republicans knew perfectly well their own bill would 
hurt people back at home. Yet they voted yes anyway. Why? It is simple 
to answer that. Why did they vote yes anyway when they knew it was 
wrong? Because they are afraid of Donald Trump.
  Now we return to session at the start of a new work period. Very 
soon, Senate Republicans are expected to bring to the floor at Donald 
Trump's behest a so-called rescissions package that will gut critical 
investments in public broadcasting and weaken America's standing 
abroad, on a simple majority vote--not the 60 votes required 
traditionally as appropriations bills move forward. Will Senate 
Republicans bow down to Donald Trump yet again or will they actually 
show backbone and stand up for their constituents?

  These investments were negotiated on a bipartisan basis between 
Democrats and Republicans as part of the government funding process, 
and with a simple majority vote, Republicans could take away the 
investments they all voted for--many of them voted for and renege on 
their word and spoil--spoil--the bipartisan appropriations process. 
That is a road Senate Republicans would be wise not to go down.
  If Republicans cave to Donald Trump and gut these investments agreed 
to by both parties, that would be an affront--a huge affront--to the 
bipartisan appropriations process. It is absurd to expect Democrats to 
play along with funding the government if Republicans are just going to 
renege on a bipartisan agreement by concocting rescissions packages 
behind closed doors that can pass with only their votes--not the 
customary 60 votes required in the appropriations process. The 60-vote 
process almost always ensures bipartisanship.
  Worse, there are alarming reports that Donald Trump plans to bring 
additional rescissions packages down the line to codify the DOGE. These 
rescissions may be small compared to the rescissions they will put on 
the floor later. Look at the new budget that Trump has proposed.
  There have also been reports that OMB Director Russell Vought--and 
perhaps the President himself--promised hard-right Republicans in the 
House additional cuts on programs they detest as a way to secure the 
votes for their big, ugly bill. These cuts may be unlawful if the 
reports prove true.
  This is not a bait and switch; it is a bait and poison to kill. It is 
not a bait and switch; it is a bait and poison to kill. This is deeply 
troubling and will threaten to further poison bipartisanship--a crucial 
ingredient for this institution to function.
  I urge Senate Republicans to press ``pause'' on their partisan 
rescission package and instead work with Democrats on a bipartisan 
appropriations process to fund the government. That bipartisan process 
has begun in the Appropriations Committee, and I am hopeful more 
progress will be made later this week as the committee begins their 
markups on the first three bills.
  So, again, Senate Republicans have a choice to make. They can keep 
bowing to Donald Trump. They can continue walking on eggshells, trying 
not to upset him, giving him what he wants even at the cost of breaking 
the law and hurting the people back home. Or they can do their jobs. 
They can stand up to Donald Trump and reject this rescission package 
that would gut funding for critical programs with a simple majority 
vote. They can work with Democrats on a bipartisan, good-faith 
negotiation to fund the government later this year.
  This is not just about one rescission package. This is not just about 
one appropriations process, as important as those are. This is about 
the role of Congress as a coequal branch with the Executive, as the 
Founding Fathers proposed. Most importantly, this is about protecting 
the well-being of Americans back home.

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