[Pages S6625-S6626]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          LEGISLATIVE SESSION

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    NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2026--Resumed

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Under the previous order, the 
Senate will resume consideration of S. 2296, which the clerk will 
report.
  The senior assistant executive clerk read as follows:

       A bill (S. 2296) to authorize appropriations for fiscal 
     year 2026 for military activities of the Department of 
     Defense, for military construction, and for defense 
     activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe military 
     personnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for other 
     purposes.

  Pending:

       Wicker/Reed Amendment Modified No. 3748, in the nature of a 
     substitute.
       Wicker (for Ernst) Amendment No. 3427 (to Amendment No. 
     3748), to require the Comptroller General of the United 
     States to conduct a study on casualty assistance and long-
     term care programs.
       Thune Amendment No. 3863 (to Amendment No. 3427), relating 
     to the enactment date.
       Thune Amendment No. 3864 (to the language proposed to be 
     stricken by Amendment No. 3748), relating to the enactment 
     date.
       Thune Amendment No. 3865 (to Amendment No. 3864), relating 
     to the enactment date.
       Motion to recommit the bill to the Committee on Armed 
     Services, with instructions, Thune Amendment No. 3866, 
     relating to the enactment date.
       Thune Amendment No. 3867 (to (the instructions) Amendment 
     No. 3866), relating to the enactment date.
       Thune Amendment No. 3868 (to Amendment No. 3867), relating 
     to the enactment date.


                   Recognition of the Minority Leader

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The Democratic leader is 
recognized.


                           Government Funding

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I want to be very clear about something. 
When Donald Trump goes on FOX News and says to Republicans ``Don't even 
bother to deal with Democrats,'' when he says out loud that he doesn't 
need or want our votes, that means Donald Trump wants a shutdown--make 
no mistake about it.
  Trump can say a million times he doesn't want a shutdown, but he is 
acting as if he absolutely wants one. His words say one thing, but his 
actions say another. He is ordering Republicans not to even bother 
working with Democrats. He is telling Republicans to ``fight back'' 
against ``the radical left democratic demands.'' He is telling them to 
vote yes on a partisan CR that fails to meet the needs of the American 
people and had no Democratic input.
  These are the kinds of actions a President takes when he wants a 
shutdown: closing negotiations; forcing partisan votes; ignoring the 
needs on healthcare, on costs, and on so many other issues of the 
American people.
  It is the same story with Leader Thune and Speaker Johnson. They are 
doing exactly what Donald Trump wants. They say they want a vote on a 
partisan CR as soon as possible here in the Congress, but they have 
refused even to sit down at the table with Leader Jeffries and me, 
despite repeated requests.

[[Page S6626]]

  So, look, our Republican colleagues can say whatever they want, but 
it is clear as could be that they want a shutdown. They can say they 
don't; they are acting as if they do. They can try to play the blame 
game, but their actions tell a different story. Their actions show 
clearly they want to shut things down because they don't want to 
negotiate with Democrats.
  And it is more than that. It means Republicans don't want to help the 
American people with the crisis they have created, raising people's 
costs, particularly their healthcare costs. They don't want to do 
anything about the crisis they have created for their hospitals despite 
the outcry from hospitals, hospital workers, and patients from one end 
of the country to the other. They don't want to do anything about the 
fact that people's premiums are going to shoot through the roof. They 
don't want to stop the rampant and illegal abuses of Donald Trump when 
he steals or cancels congressional-approved funding for medical 
research--medical research--or other things.
  By refusing to sit down with Democrats, Republicans are telling the 
American people that they are happy to help Donald Trump burn this 
country down; they are happy to let the government shut down.
  The American people don't want Republicans to shut the government 
down. The American people expect Republicans who are in charge to sit 
down and negotiate, as any responsible leaders would do. They expect 
Republicans to do their jobs.
  On Friday, Donald Trump said on ``Fox & Friends'' that he all he 
needs is Republican votes. He is wrong. He doesn't know how to count. 
It takes 60 Senate votes for anything to pass. That means you need 
Democratic votes. That is a plain fact. To get those votes, he needs 
some input from Democrats. We particularly want to talk about people's 
high costs--particularly in healthcare--created by the Republican Big 
Beautiful Bill. Those are the plain facts.
  If Donald Trump says no negotiations at all, then it is Donald 
Trump's shutdown.


               Welcoming Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew

  Mr. President, now on a happier note--His All-Holiness Patriarch 
Bartholomew I. I would like to welcome this morning to Washington His 
All-Holiness Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, the spiritual leader 
of all the world's orthodox Christians. It is an honor to have His All-
Holiness with us this week in our Nation's Capital. He is a great 
example not only to the world's Christians but to people of all faiths 
and to everyone who seeks peace, justice, and unity in a world in 
desperate need of all three.
  I particularly commend the patriarch for his legacy as an advocate 
for protecting our planet, for interfaith dialogue, and for justice for 
every corner of the Earth.
  We welcome Patriarch Bartholomew I to Washington this week. We thank 
him for his leadership, and we wish him the best during his stay here.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant executive clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for 
the quorum call be rescinded.


                   Recognition of the Majority Leader

  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The majority leader is recognized.

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