Cornyn to Schumer: Clock is Ticking on Senate To-Do List
We have a lot of work we need to do before the end of the year.
We need to pass the defense authorization bill, 12 appropriations bills, an FAA reauthorization, and a farm bill.
I simply don't understand how the Senate can continue to coast at a glacial pace.
WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) urged Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) to end the Democrat-led Senate’s three-day work weeks and address the Senate’s growing to-do list, including passing a defense authorization bill, reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration, completing the regular appropriations process, and passing the farm bill. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.
“We have a lot of work we need to do before the end of the year. First in the docket is the National Defense Authorization Act.”
“Whether it’s China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, an on-time National Defense Authorization Act is absolutely critical.”
“[Senator Schumer] needs to carve out the floor time to make this a priority so we can move on to the Senate’s next big task, which is funding the government.”
“As part of the debt limit agreement last week, Senator Schumer agreed to bring up all 12 appropriations bills to the Senate floor by September the 30th.”
“This is a departure – what I hope will be a departure – from what we saw in 2021 and 2022 when the Congress, the Democratic-led Senate, did not pass a single appropriation bill until that omnibus bill came up in December.”
“The end of September is the deadline, and it’s also the deadline for two other major tasks. One is reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration.”
“I’m glad Senator Cruz, the Junior Senator from Texas, is leading those efforts on our side of the aisle. And then there’s the farm bill, which affects agriculture and food programs across the country.”
“If you include this week, the Senate’s in session only 10 weeks before then.”
“In those ten weeks, we need to pass the defense authorization bill, 12 appropriations bills, an FAA reauthorization, and a farm bill. And those are just some of the big-ticket and most urgent items on the to-do list.”
“Of course, there is the never-ending humanitarian and security crisis at the border. We need to continue our work to crack down on fentanyl trafficking, again, unleash the power of American energy, ensure that Ukraine – together with our allies – ensure that Ukraine has the tools they need to win its fight against the Russian invasion, and so much more.”
“I simply don’t understand how the Senate can continue to coast at a glacial pace.”
“The Majority Leader, who sets the floor agenda, needs to make sure that we buckle down and get this work done.”