Schumer vows to pass clean government funding patch

Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said his chamber would seek to pass a continuing resolution free from “poison pills or Republican extremism” to keep the government open ahead of an end-of-the-month deadline.

In a dear colleague letter released Sunday, Schumer said the Senate would seek to avert “a pointless and painful government shutdown” as lawmakers complete what’s scheduled to be their final three weeks in Washington before the fall elections.

Schumer’s path would also place the chamber at odds with the Republican-controlled House’s plan to pass a short-term funding patch that includes a provision requiring proof of citizenship in order to register to vote in federal elections, something opposed by President Joe Biden’s White House and key Senate Democrats.

“As I have said before, the only way to get things done is in a bipartisan way,” Schumer said. “Despite Republican bluster, that is how we’ve handled every funding bill in the past, and this time should be no exception.”

Schumer vowed his chamber would also continue to approve “well-qualified judges and nominees” and vowed to pursue bipartisan bills like the annual defense policy bill, “rail safety, lowering the cost of insulin and prescription drugs, and artificial intelligence, among others.”

“While we won’t be able to achieve all of these goals before the election, it is my hope that our Republican colleagues will work with us to make as much progress as possible,” the New York Democrat wrote.

The September work sprint comes as Democrats face an uphill battle to maintain their effective 51-seat majority. A number of incumbents, such as Sens. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio), face tough races for reelection.

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