Florida Parish News

House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) spoke in Washington, D.C., alongside Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.), House Majority Whip Tom Emmer (R-Minn.), Conference Chairwoman Lisa McClain (R-Mich.), and Rules Committee Chairwoman Virginia Foxx (R-N.C.), addressing recent developments regarding the government shutdown and President Trump’s actions in the Middle East.

Scalise criticized Senate Democrats for what he described as a refusal to end the government shutdown, attributing it to “far-left radical demands.” He said, “As the Speaker talked about, a lot of people say, 'Why have the Democrats continued this charade of shutting down the government and inflicting pain, real pain on millions of families across America?' The Speaker laid it out real clear. Chuck Schumer filed an alternative bill weeks ago, of his list of demands, literally a list of demands that he said have to be met before he releases the American people from this torrential pain he's inflicting. It includes $1.5 trillion of new spending on far-left wishlists. Things like, yes, taxpayer-funded health care for illegals. It's in Chuck Schumer's bill. He guts rural hospitals, all as part of his demand to open up the government. It's not only not serious, it's also destructive. It's something that would actually hurt in this country. And why? All so that he can show the radicals and the far left of his party that he's fighting Donald Trump. Everybody knows that's what this is about. Chuck Schumer is scared to death for his political future. He is way more concerned about his political job than he is about the jobs of millions of American families, and it's having a real impact on those families.”

He further stated that many Americans are missing paychecks due to what he called “Chuck Schumer's shutdown,” adding: “Today, as it's been pointed out, day 14 of the government shutdown that Chuck Schumer imposed on the country, and it is the day where checks would normally be starting to be processed for all of the government workers, many of whom will not get a paycheck because of Chuck Schumer's shutdown. You're already starting to see flight delays. Families trying to go visit a relative, maybe go see one of their family members get married, go on a family vacation. They're not able to do that because of Chuck Schumer's shutdown. Our men and women in uniform at risk of losing their pay. I will credit Donald Trump for a lot of things. But if you look, President Trump has not sat by and just waited for Chuck Schumer to get over his tantrum. President Trump has continued to do his job for the American people.”

Scalise highlighted President Trump's recent trip to Israel and Egypt as an example of U.S. leadership abroad: “Thank God, because the world is a safer place with President Trump at the helm. We saw that yesterday. What a historic day. And again, a real contrast to the temper tantrum that Chuck Schumer is having to appease the most radical elements of the far-left base here in America. President Trump traveled to Israel, traveled to Egypt to sign historic peace accords, to oversee the release of hostages. Finally, all of the living hostages returned home to their loved ones after more than two years since the October 7th attack by Hamas.”

He shared remarks from Omer Shem Tov—one of those released—who said: “Hamas was very scared of Trump. They wanted Kamala to be elected. As soon as Donald Trump was elected, they understood that he wanted to bring us back home. So immediately, the way they treated me changed.” Scalise added: “You can see that leadership by President Trump on the world stage... Peace in the Middle East... yesterday it became a reality because Donald Trump said he was going to do something that nobody else thought could be done...”

Scalise also criticized Senator Schumer’s approach during ongoing domestic debates: “Even during a time where the contrast of Chuck Schumer throwing a temper tantrum here at home just to appease the most radical elements of his base... Well, how about you think about us? How about you think about those families who are struggling today because of Chuck Schumer's shutdown? There are real consequences…”

He concluded by noting efforts made by President Trump regarding military pay during ongoing negotiations: “But President Trump is not going to be daunted... While he was finding peace in the Middle East, President Trump also found a way to say... Donald Trump does [care]. He made sure that they will get their pay... This madness has to end.”

Steve Scalise has represented Louisiana’s 1st district in Congress since 2008 after replacing Bobby Jindal; prior roles include service in both chambers at Louisiana’s state legislature beginning in 1996 and graduation from Louisiana State University with a BS degree.