Floor Statements

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 221, submitted earlier today.

I know of no further debate on the resolution.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 222, submitted earlier today.

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

Mr. President, finally, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned to convene for pro forma sessions, with no business being conducted, on the following dates and times: Friday, May 19, at 9:45 a.m.; Tuesday, May 23, at 12 noon; Thursday, May 25, at 12:30 p.m.; and Friday, May 26, at 9 a.m.; further, that when the Senate adjourns on Friday, the 26th, it stand adjourned until 3 p.m. on Tuesday, May 30; that on Tuesday, 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 following the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Papillion nomination; further, that the confirmation vote occur at 5:30 p.m. and that if the nomination is confirmed, the motion 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.

Yesterday, I joined Congressional leaders to meet with President Biden for a good meeting about this year's spending priorities while also affirming the need to protect the full faith and credit of the United States. The meeting was the most positive we have had. There was goodwill, an openness to work together, and it was a promising step forward.

Everyone agreed to a few important points: We must work to take default off the table, and a bipartisan bill in each Chamber that can get enough votes to pass in each Chamber is the best solution for averting default.

Bipartisanship is needed. It is the only way to go. It is the only way we have solved these problems in the past. No bill premised on brinksmanship or hostage-taking can pass through both the House and Senate, and the other side recognized that today.

Instead, we must focus on a bipartisan bill that can get the votes to actually become law. We still have a lot more work to do between now and the day we bring the legislation to the floor, but yesterday's meeting was a promising step in the right direction.

Now, I asked the Speaker if he agreed that this needed to be a bipartisan process, and he said yes. Again, this, I believe, is a promising step in the right direction. Nobody will get everything they want in these discussions, and I hope nobody--nobody--draws redlines in the sand.

Nobody should ever use default as a hostage, where they say, ``Unless you do this, we will default,'' because the consequences would be disastrous. Bipartisanship was the key to averting default under Trump. It is the key to averting default under President Biden, and it will be the key to averting default before June 1.

I am hopeful we can reach an agreement as soon as possible. Defaulting on the debt would be the worst--the worst--outcome for this country, as I have outlined repeatedly in speeches in this body. There is no need--none--to subject the American people to the anguish of default, and I am glad both sides are making a good effort, for now, of removing default from the table.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 203.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions: S. Res. 215, S. Res. 216, and S. Res. 217.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to, the preambles be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Thursday, May 18; 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 following the conclusion of

morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Abudu nomination postcloture; further, that all time during adjournment, recess, morning business, and leader remarks count postcloture on the nomination; further, if the nomination is confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

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

Madam President, before I get into my remarks, just a little housekeeping. I understand there is a bill at the desk 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 proceedings.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.J. Res. 42 and the Senate proceed to its consideration, as provided for under the previous order.

Madam President, yesterday afternoon, Treasury Secretary Yellen released a letter updating congressional leadership about their latest forecast regarding default. The Treasury's projection remains unchanged: The Federal Government is in danger of failing to pay its bills as soon as June 1.

Since last week's White House meeting, Democratic staff have in good faith held conversations with our Republican counterparts about the Nation's fiscal future.

The talks are separate but simultaneous to our responsibility to avoid default. Democrats will not use the threat of default to get what we want. Nobody should use default as a hostage. Nobody should say: ``Unless you do this, then we default'' because the consequences of default will be devastating for ordinary Americans.

We talked through the weekend; we talked yesterday; and both sides-- the staffs, that is--are talking today as well. And later this afternoon, I will join President Biden, House Leader Jeffries, Speaker McCarthy, and Leader McConnell at the White House.

Democrats welcome a debate about this year's budget. For decades, both parties have regularly worked out their differences about spending and revenues throughout the appropriations process. That is what is happening right now while we separately but simultaneously work to avoid default.

And, again, let me just repeat this because it is so important as we get closer to June 1. Nobody--nobody--should use default as a hostage. Nobody should say: ``Unless you do this, then we default'' because the consequences will be devastating for America.

Default would almost certainly create another recession, kill more than 8 million jobs, send costs soaring on everything from mortgages, car payments, student loans, small business loans, and so much more. If you want to own a home one day, default would take that dream and run it through the shredder. If you want to protect your 401(k), default would rob you of your livelihood. If you want to grow your small business or borrow student loans or if you benefit from Social Security or Medicare, a default would be a nightmare scenario.

We all know these things are fast approaching the closer we get to June 1. Congress cannot--under any circumstances--fail its obligation to protect the full faith and credit of the United States. It is one of our highest obligations.

Nominations

Madam President, now on nominations and Senate business, last night we filed cloture on three more outstanding judicial nominees: two district court judges and a circuit court judge. Even as Senate Democrats proceed on our agenda to help working and middle-class families avoid default, we will not relent on filling the vacancies on our Federal judiciary with qualified, mainstream, and diverse judges.

Yesterday, we took a big step forward toward strengthening the bench with the historic confirmation of Bradley Garcia, the first Latino ever to serve on the DC Circuit, the second most important court in the land. And the three judges we filed cloture on last night continue that effort. They are highly qualified and diverse candidates, both demographically and professionally. They will strengthen our Federal judiciary and help the bench better reflect the diversity and dynamism of our country.

Senate Democrats are going to keep working this week to advance these nominees, and I hope both sides can work together to move the process along quickly and in a bipartisan way.

Today, the Senate is also busy off the floor. As we speak, the Senate Banking Committee is holding a very important hearing, hearing testimony from the former CEO and chairman of Silicon Valley Bank and Signature Bank, to examine the failures that led to their collapses. I want to thank Chairman Brown and all the Members of the committee for holding this important hearing because we need to get to the bottom of what went wrong with SVB and Signature Bank.

The American people must have confidence that Congress can work across the aisle to hold bad actors in banking accountable, and that is why it is essential we hear directly from the CEOs of these failed institutions.

I hope today's hearing brings us one step closer to bipartisan action on commonsense banking oversight legislation that Americans rightfully demand.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, another criminal trial arising out of the events of January 6, 2021, is scheduled to begin on May 22, 2023, in Federal district court in the District of Columbia. The defendant in this case is charged with multiple counts, including unlawfully entering and remaining in a restricted area within the U.S. Capitol grounds.

The prosecution and defense are seeking trial testimony from Michael J. Mastrian, director of the Senate Radio and Television Gallery, which operates under the authority of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, relating to the Gallery's regulation of access to the Capitol by bona fide members of the electronic news media.

Senate Sergeant at Arms Gibson would like to cooperate by providing relevant testimony in this proceeding from Mr. Mastrian.

In keeping with the rules and practices of the Senate, this resolution would authorize the production of relevant testimony from Mr. Mastrian, with representation by the Senate legal counsel.

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