Floor Statements

I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 30,

I send a cloture motion to the desk.

I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum calls for the cloture motions filed today, December 4, be waived.

Mr. President, to explain to the Senators and our colleagues what we have just done, a few moments ago, I filed cloture on a motion to proceed on a shell bill for a national security supplemental.

The step I am taking tonight will ensure the process for the supplemental moves forward and that, hopefully, disagreements on immigration do not prevent us from doing what we must do to protect America's security.

I urge every single Senator to think where we are at this moment in history. America's national security is on the line around the world-- in Europe, in the Middle East, and in the Indo-Pacific. Autocrats and dictators are waging war against democracy, against our values, against our way of life. That is why passing this supplemental is so important. It could determine the trajectory of democracy for years to come. We are at a moment in history.

Tonight, I would like to announce that the administration has invited President Zelenskyy to address Senators via secure video as part of our classified briefing tomorrow so we can hear directly from him precisely what is at stake in this vote. I ask that all Senators--all Senators-- attend this important briefing.

In the coming days, I urge my colleagues to do the right thing and support moving forward on the supplemental package. We can't ever put a price on defending democracy in its hour of need, because if Ukraine falls, Putin will keep on going. Autocrats around the world will be emboldened. Democracy, this grand and noble experiment, will enter an era of decline. History will render harsh judgment on those who abandon democracy.

I urge all Senators to work with us to move forward on a national security supplemental.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 2087 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the Lummis substitute amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 483, submitted earlier today.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Finally, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, December 5; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the AliKhan nomination; further, that the cloture motions filed during Thursday's session ripen at 11:30 a.m. and that the Senate recess following the cloture vote on the AliKhan nomination until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Tuesday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. President, yesterday, I spoke here on the Senate floor about a subject that is highly personal and yet of immense importance: the rise of anti-Semitism in America. I spoke out because as the highest Jewish elected official in the country and in American history, I felt an obligation to say aloud what is felt within the hearts of so many Jewish people across the country and around the world.

After October 7, Jewish Americans are feeling singled out, targeted, and isolated. In many ways, we feel alone. The solidarity that Jewish Americans initially received from many of our fellow citizens was quickly drowned out by other voices.

I want to be clear. I believe most Americans who are criticizing Israeli's policies are not anti-Semitic, nor that the vast majority of criticism of Israel's policies is inherently anti-Semitic per se. But it cannot be denied that in too many instances, anti-Semites are taking advantage of the pro-Palestinian movement to espouse hatred and bigotry toward the Jewish people. Similarly, on the hard right, the poison of anti-Semitism has reached levels over these past few years we have not witnessed perhaps ever in America.

All Americans share a responsibility and an obligation to fight against anti-Semitism. We have an obligation to fight back against all forms of bigotry, be it Islamophobia or racism against

Black Americans or demonizing the immigrant. Whether it comes from the left or from the right, anti-Semitism is an evil that must be condemned.

So, as I said yesterday, Americans ask, how can we help combat that? As I said yesterday, my plea to the American people of all creeds and backgrounds is this:

First, learn the history of the Jewish people, who have been abandoned repeatedly by their fellow countrymen--left isolated and alone to combat anti-Semitism, with disastrous results. I talked about this issue at some length in the speech I gave yesterday, and I would urge all Americans to read it.

Second, reject the illogical and double standard that is once again being applied to the plight of Jewish victims and hostages, to some of the actions of the Israeli Government, and even to the existence of a Jewish State. The glaring double standard where so many support nationhood for so many other peoples but not for the Jews must be condemned.

Third, understand why Jewish people defend Israel--not because we wish harm on Palestinians but because we fear a world where Israel is forced to tolerate the existence of groups like Hamas that want to wipe out all Jewish people from the planet. We fear a world where Israel-- the place of refuge for Jewish people--will no longer exist. If there is no Israel, there will be no place for the Jewish people to go when they are persecuted in other countries.

I want to thank my colleagues for taking the time to listen, not just to my remarks yesterday but to all Jewish Americans speaking out against the rise of anti-Semitism.

I would like to thank the Republican leader for his gracious words after my remarks and the so many Members in this Chamber, Democrat and Republican, who made comments to me that they so respected my speech. Many said it had to be given. I agree with that.

Both parties have an obligation to work together to eliminate the poison of anti-Semitism and all forms of intolerance wherever we see it, regardless of who says it. I hope we can continue working together in this Chamber to advance that very noble goal.

Mr. President, now on the supplemental, talks on finding a way to pass a much needed national security supplemental package continue here in the Senate.

In our supplemental, we must deliver aid to Israel, aid to Ukraine, humanitarian assistance to innocent civilians in Gaza, and fund military capabilities in the Indo-Pacific. All these national security issues are related and should move together.

Yesterday, I spoke directly to both Leader McConnell and Speaker Johnson and made clear that if Republicans don't work with us in a bipartisan way on the border, passing a supplemental is going to be very difficult.

I was deeply troubled by reports yesterday that Speaker Johnson joined Senate Republicans and made a push to inject more H.R. 2 provisions into the Senate supplemental. That is precisely the kind of thing that undermines the entire supplemental, including aid to Israel, aid to Ukraine, and humanitarian aid to Gaza.

We all know the border is a problem that we should deal with, but it is not related to Ukraine or to Israel or to the Indo-Pacific. It has been put in there by Republicans, and that means there is an onus on them to make sure it is bipartisan.

Democrats are willing to work with Republicans on commonsense, realistic border security, but we can't have the hard right essentially say it is H.R. 2 or nothing. If Speaker Johnson or, for that matter, the negotiators feel they have to listen to what Johnson can pass just among his caucus, we will never get anything done. Democratic votes are going to be needed in the House to pass this legislation. We all know that. So this ``H.R. 2 or nothing'' or something close to ``H.R. 2 or nothing'' is a proposal that could not pass the Senate or the House.

Democrats--the solution for passing the supplemental is bipartisan compromise, and we have shown that we are willing to do it. The wrong answer is to let Ukraine aid, let Israel aid, let aid to civilians in Gaza all get bungled because the hard right wanted H.R. 2 or something close to it.

I urge my Republican colleagues not to let that happen because at the end of the day, what is holding this up is not the issues of Israel, Ukraine, humanitarian aid, or the Indo-Pacific; it is border, and that was injected by our Republican colleagues. Please, they should work with us to fix it in a bipartisan way or we won't get anything done.

Mr. President, on Senator Tuberville, anger is reaching a boiling point in the Senate over the immense damage Senator Tuberville has done to our military by holding up hundreds of critical military nominations. Soon, we will act to bring these holds to an end.

A few weeks ago, the Rules Committee passed a resolution that would enable the Senate to quickly confirm all the nominees currently on hold. The resolution is carefully tailored to solve the current impasse.

Now it sounds like Senator Tuberville has told Republicans he is trying to find a way out of the mess he has created, although he has not yet provided many details. We are willing to give our Republican colleagues a chance to solve this problem on their own. But let me be clear: If Republicans are not able to get Senator Tuberville to stand down quickly, we are going to hold a vote on our resolution to confirm these nominees before we leave this year. These reckless military holds must come to an end.

Mr. President, on nominations, today on the floor, the Senate will proceed with the nominations of two extraordinary judicial nominees. We will first confirm Shanlyn Park to serve as a district judge for the District of Hawaii. Once confirmed, Judge Park will become the only Native Hawaiian woman on the Federal bench.

Later this afternoon, we will move forward with the nomination of Irma Ramirez to serve as a circuit judge for the Fifth Circuit. Judge Ramirez is an accomplished and well-respected litigator who would bring over 30 years of legal experience to the Fifth Circuit. If confirmed, Judge Ramirez will be the first Latina to serve on the Fifth Circuit and the only active Latino judge on the court.

I will enthusiastically support both nominees today, and this Senate majority will continue to prioritize judges moving forward.

Mr. President, on AI and our insight forums, yesterday, the Senate held our seventh bipartisan AI Insight Forum. We had an enlightening and informative discussion, and I want to thank my Senate colleagues who stopped by to listen and learn from the experts.

Our discussion focused on a few of the most critical issues we face with AI: transparency, explainability, intellectual property, and copyright. We had a consensus on a few important points: We must create and enforce protections for creators to maintain their identities in the age of AI. We must protect American companies' IP and make sure America sets the international standard for IP. We must make sure AI systems are transparent and that the public can understand why AI systems produce the answers they do. And we must do all this while continuing to prioritize our North Star when it comes to AI: innovation.

Thanks again to Senators Rounds, Young, and Heinrich for helping organize these AI Insight Forums.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 263.