Sen. Majority Leader Schumer Announces Bi-Partisan ‘Stopgap Bill’ with Ukraine Funding

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that Senate Democrats and Republicans collaborated throughout the weekend to craft a stopgap bill. On Tuesday, they reached an agreement, which Schumer hailed as a “commendable, pragmatic, and bipartisan measure.”

In a speech delivered on the Senate floor on Tuesday afternoon, Schumer emphasized that this bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) is a temporary fix, designed to foster cooperation and steer clear of extreme measures. He stressed that it will enable them to continue working towards fully funding the federal government, sparing American families the turmoil of a shutdown.

“This bipartisan CR is a temporary solution, a bridge toward cooperation and away from extremism,” Schumer said during a speech on the Senate floor on Tuesday afternoon. “It will allow us to keep working to fully fund the federal government and spare American families the pain of a shutdown.”

“The clearest path forward is a standard short-term continuing resolution. Delaying action on short-term funding doesn’t advance the ball on any meaningful policy priorities,” he said.

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) announced that Senate Democrats and Republicans collaborated throughout the weekend to craft a stopgap bill. On Tuesday, they reached an agreement, which Schumer hailed as a “commendable, pragmatic, and bipartisan measure.”

In a speech delivered on the Senate floor on Tuesday afternoon, Schumer emphasized that this bipartisan Continuing Resolution (CR) is a temporary fix, designed to foster cooperation and steer clear of extreme measures. He stressed that it will enable them to continue working towards fully funding the federal government, sparing American families the turmoil of a shutdown.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) characterized the agreement as a “standard short-term continuing resolution,” asserting that it provides the time needed for the complete appropriations process to unfold. He urged his colleagues to collaborate during the week to avert any possibility of a government shutdown, emphasizing that such an event would be an unwarranted disruption to the Senate’s crucial agenda.

“At the end of the day, a government shutdown would be an unnecessary disruption of the important work of the Senate’s agenda,” McConnell said. “So I would urge each of my colleagues to work this week to avoid one.”

“Sen. Collins, Sen. Murray, and our colleagues on the Appropriations Committee have worked diligently to help the Senate fulfill our commitment to funding the government through regular order. As that important work continues, colleagues in both chambers are rightly concerned about a number of distinct priorities,” he added.

Schumer disclosed that the detailed text of the CR would be unveiled shortly. He affirmed that the deal’s provisions would maintain current funding levels, honor their commitment to Ukraine, and initiate the distribution of disaster relief.

The Senate stopgap includes $4.5 billion for Ukraine. The agreement now paves the way for a potential clash with the House, where Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA) insisted that Ukraine aid should be addressed separately from government funding.