Today, during a speech on the Senate floor, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer (R-Neb.) urged her Democratic colleagues to join Republicans and vote for a clean funding resolution to reopen the federal government.

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Following is a transcript of Fischer’s remarks as prepared for delivery:

M. President,

It’s been 15 days since congressional Democrats shut down the federal government. Let’s call it what it is: a Schumer Shutdown.

In that period, we’ve voted 8 times on a clean continuing resolution — a straightforward, short-term bill that funds the government at current levels without adding partisan policies. This would give Congress time to finish the full-year funding bills responsibly.

Instead, Democrats pushed for over a trillion dollars in new spending and to – recklessly – eliminate the $50 billion Rural Hospital Stabilization Fund.

Why in the world would Democrats want to eliminate this crucial fund for our nation’s rural hospitals? It’s unthinkable.

The fact is the Democrats’ so-called “proposal” to reopen the government is packed with unrelated items. This includes COVID-era bonus payments, overseas “climate resilience” projects, and taxpayer-funded health care for non-citizens. That’s not responsible governing, and it’s not fair to American families.

House Republicans passed and sent to the Senate a clean CR. That means it has no poison pills, no policy riders on it. Democrats have rejected it 8 times. It’s time for Senator Schumer and his caucus to drop their partisan wish list and do their jobs.

Meanwhile, it was reported in Punchbowl News on October 9th that Chuck Schumer said, “every day gets better for us.” And by “us” he means the Democrat party.

If the Democrats think it’s better that our troops aren’t paid and that it’s better when people are worried about being furloughed, then that just shows their arrogance. That just shows they are tone deaf to the uncertainty and stress people are feeling. That just shows Chuck Schumer is in his Schumer Shutdown only for political theater.

This shutdown is hurting people. Farmers are losing access to federal support at a time when the ag economy is already strained. Construction projects that rely on federal funds are stalling. Air traffic controllers and federal employees face uncertainty about their paychecks. None of this is necessary.

Let’s be clear: A short-term funding bill is not the place for sweeping policy changes. If this continues, deeper cuts to essential services may follow — and that’s entirely preventable.

Remember, the House sent us a clean CR with no new policies included. It simply continues current funding until November 21st. Then we will take up appropriations bills that have strong bipartisan support already negotiated within and passed by the Appropriations Committee.

As a member of that committee, I am deeply committed to a transparent process. One where senators debate, amend, and vote on each bill individually – before the end of the fiscal year. All we’re asking is to reopen the government so we can continue this funding process. Leader Thune promised we would take the bills up – we have already passed three of them. Let’s show the American people bipartisanship and transparency and continue this important work.

So, why are we here, today, still shut down? Because the Democrats are more focused on appeasing the far left than on funding the government. I believe they are caving to political pressure when they should be fulfilling their most basic duty: keeping the government open and operating for their constituents.

Republicans’ goal is simple: reopen the government now, protect our military and families, and return to regular order.

At the end of the day, Americans deserve a functioning government, not political theater.

If just a handful of Senate Democrats join Republicans, we can end this shutdown.

I hope when we next vote to reopen the government, my Democratic colleagues with join us in doing the right thing.

Thank you, M. President. I yield back.