Floor Statements

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

Mr. President, it says, ``Let me be the first to welcome our newest colleague,'' but I see she has had a lot of good welcomes already. So let me be the first majority leader to welcome our newest colleague to the U.S. Senate, Senator Laphonza Butler, sworn in moments ago as the next Senator from California.

Mr. President, I can't help but think how proud Senator Feinstein would be seeing someone as brilliant, as accomplished, as history- making as Laphonza Butler take her place. I know that our old colleague is looking down at this moment with pride now that her seat is in good hands.

Congratulations to Senator Butler on this immense honor. This is a historic moment for the Senate, for California, and for the entire country. Senator Butler is only the third Black woman in American history to serve in the U.S. Senate. She is the first openly lesbian Senator from California, and

she is the first openly LGBTQ Senator of color to serve in this body. Today, the Senate takes another step toward fully reflecting our vibrant democracy.

Now, Laphonza's life story can be summarized in two words: serving others. By her own telling, service was practically a dinner table conversation growing up in Magnolia, MS. After losing her father to illness, Laphonza watched her mom sacrifice everything to put her kids first: working night shifts as a nurse, as a security guard, a classroom aide, anything to help her kids have a better life.

No surprise, that example left a mark on Laphonza for the rest of her days. Following in her mom's footsteps, Laphonza has dedicated her entire career to fighting for others: fighting for women, fighting for working families, and fighting for the cause of justice. I know she will do the same here in the Senate.

So, again, this is a proud moment for all of us. And I know this must be a proud moment for Laphonza's family.

I know you are not supposed to address members of the Senate Gallery, Mr. President, but let me say this to everyone who had attended here and who are still here: We are all very happy Laphonza's family could join us to share in this special day. We share in their joy too.

Finally, to our colleague Laphonza, I know these last few days have felt like a whirlwind. I know it seems like there is a million things to do and so little time to do them. But rest assured, we are here to help you.

I spent a great half hour, 45 minutes talking to Laphonza, and she is going to be one great Senator. We are ready to work with her. All of us who have stood where Laphonza stands now have felt the awesome weight of holding this office and are ready to help her. I urge you, if you permit me, to never let the sense of duty disappear, for in our hands rests the trust, the wishes, the hopes, and the burdens of the American people.

So to Senator Butler, congratulations on this honor and welcome to the Senate today. Today is a day of celebration.

As we celebrate, we also remember to give thanks to our late colleague and friend Senator Feinstein.

For the information of Senators, the floor of the Senate will close so Members can attend the memorial service of Senator Feinstein in San Francisco this Thursday. And on that day, it will be my honor to speak at Senator Feinstein's memorial to give thanks for all she did for this country and to honor the legacy she leaves behind.

I hope all my colleagues who worked with her all these years are able to attend so we can say a final goodbye to one of the greatest public servants to serve in this Chamber.

Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk that is due for a second reading.

In order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I would object to further proceeding.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, I move to instruct the Sergeant At Arms to request the presence of absent Senators, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, I move to reconsider the vote, and I lay it on the table.

Mr. President, I ask that the Senate stand in recess subject to the call of the Chair.

Thereupon, the Senate, at 3:55 p.m., recessed subject to the call of the Chair and reassembled at 8:10 p.m. when called to order by the President pro tempore.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the cloture motions with respect to substitute amendment No. 1292 and the underlying bill, H.R. 3935, be withdrawn.

Madam President, I ask that it be in order to make a motion to proceed to H.R. 5860.

I move to proceed to H.R. 5860, which was received from the House and is at the desk.

Madam President, I know of no further debate on the motion.

Madam President, I now ask unanimous consent there be up to 5 minutes for debate, equally divided, between the two leaders or their designees; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate vote on passage of H.R. 5860 with 60 affirmative votes required for passage and with no amendments or motions in order to the bill prior to the vote on passage.

Madam President, I have very good news for the country. Democrats and Republicans have come

to an agreement, and the government will remain open. We will have avoided a shutdown.

Bipartisanship, which has been the trademark of the Senate, has prevailed, and the American people can breathe a sigh of relief. But this is a bridge CR. Leader McConnell and I have agreed to continue fighting for more economic and security aid for Ukraine. We support Ukraine's efforts to defend its sovereignty against Putin's aggression.

So thank you, thank you to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their excellent work. The bipartisanship here in the Senate set the tone for today's result, and I hope it sets the tone for the future.

I yield the floor.

Recognition of the Minority Leader

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, it has been a day full of twists and turns, but the American people can breathe a sigh of relief. There will be no government shutdown. Democrats have said from the start that the only solution for avoiding a shutdown is bipartisanship, and we are glad that Speaker McCarthy has finally heeded our message.

In the end, more Democrats supported this bill in the House than Republicans, proving bipartisanship was the best answer all along.

I want to thank my colleagues here in the Senate, especially our appropriators, the Presiding Officer and Susan Collins and Leader McConnell.

Our bipartisan work in the Senate set the tone for the bill we are about to pass. Our bipartisanship made this possible and showed the House that they had to act.

We will keep the government open for 45 days with a clean CR at current funding levels, and we avoided all of the extreme, nasty, and harmful cuts MAGA Republicans wanted. No 30 percent cuts across the board; no 30 percent cuts to things like healthcare, to the Social Security Administration, to the nutrition programs for kids; full reauthorization of the FAA until December 31; and the poison pill amendments, of which there were scores--MAGA-inspired riders--were all removed from the bill. After trying to take our government hostage, MAGA Republicans won nothing.

So one more time, it is good Speaker McCarthy finally--finally-- heeded our message that bipartisanship was and is and remains the only way. He could have made this decision weeks ago.

Now, I have said from day one, this is a bridge CR, a temporary solution, not the final destination. We will not stop fighting for more economic and security assistance for Ukraine. Majorities in both parties support Ukraine aid, and doing more is vital for America's security and for democracy around the world. But this CR is still very good news for the American people.

Today, MAGA extremists have failed, bipartisanship has prevailed, and both parties have come together to avert a shutdown.

Once again, thank you to Leader McConnell, Appropriations Chair Patty Murray, Vice Chair Susan Collins, and Members on both sides of the aisle who came together.

Today's CR would not have been possible without the Senate's good work. The Senate showed that bipartisanship was the only way, and the same will be true again in 45 days.

Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 319.

Madam President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Madam President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 176.

Madam President, I send a cloture motion to the desk.

Madam President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 264.