US Senate minority leader to vote to advance House-passed spending bill

WASHINGTON

US Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said Thursday that he would vote to advance a House-passed government funding bill to avert a government shutdown.

"I believe it is my job to make the best choice for the country, to minimize the harms to the American people. Therefore, I will vote to keep the government open and not shut it down," Schumer told the Senate floor.

On Tuesday, the House of Representatives voted 217-213 to pass Republicans' six-month spending legislation backed by President Donald Trump to extend government funding through Sept. 30.

Schumer said that while the continuing resolution (CR) bill is "very bad," the potential for a shutdown has consequences for America that are "much, much worse."

"For sure, the Republican bill is a terrible option," he said, adding it doesn't address many of the country's needs.

Schumer said that a shutdown would give Trump and tech-billionaire Elon Musk "a carte blanche to destroy vital government services at a significantly faster rate than they can right now."

"President Trump and Republican leaders would like nothing more than to pull us into the mud of a protracted government shutdown. For Donald Trump, a shutdown would be a gift," he argued.

A government shutdown would lead to the shuttering of regional Veterans Affairs offices, leaving veterans without crucial services, he said.

With Republicans holding a 53-47 advantage in the Senate, eight Democrats are needed to join Republicans in supporting the measure to clear the 60-vote threshold and send the bill to Trump’s desk before current funding expires at 11.59 p.m. local time on Friday.