Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) signaled on Sunday that he would not allow the upper chamber to consider a short-term spending measure that is combined with an election integrity bill, setting up a clash with the GOP-led House that has pushed for reforms to shore up security of the voting process with regard to noncitizens.
In a letter to colleagues, Schumer previewed what the Senate will be working on over the next few weeks now that lawmakers are returning to Washington, D.C., following the summer recess, and warned that a government shutdown could happen this fall without Congress reaching a deal for an extension to fund the various federal agencies by the end of September.
“We all know what is at stake: crucial funding for health care, infrastructure, education, food safety, veterans, border security, U.S. competitiveness and more,” Schumer said, adding that Democrats “support” a continuing resolution to keep the government open as long as it does not include any partisan add-ons.