Floor Statements

I announce that the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Durbin) and the Senator from California (Mrs. Feinstein) are necessarily absent.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate 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 when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m., Thursday, May 4; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, 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 Hunt nomination postcloture and that all time be considered expired at 11:30 a.m.; further, that following the cloture vote on the Shogan nomination, notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate resume consideration of the Gupta nomination, with the time until 1:45 p.m. equally divided between the two leaders or their designees, and at 1:45 p.m. the Senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the nomination; further, that if any nominations are confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

For the information of the Senate, there will be two rollcall votes at 11:30 a.m. and one at 1:45 p.m.

Madam President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order, following the very, very learned remarks of Senator Sullivan.

Would the gentleman yield?

I just want to reserve the right to read the remarks before closing debate.

I thank the Senator.

I yield the floor and am looking forward to the Senator's remarks.

Mr. President, first, a little housekeeping: I understand that there are two bills at the desk due for a second reading en bloc.

In order to place the bills on the Calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I would object to further proceedings, en bloc.

Mr. President, now, yesterday, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen released a letter warning that the U.S. government will likely default on its obligations as soon as June 1, only 30 days away.

Rather than listen to reason, Speaker McCarthy has caved to extremists. By passing the ``Default on America Act,'' he has handed the keys over to the House Freedom Caucus, many of whom are more than happy to let the United States default if they don't get every last cut and every last unrelated, hard-right policy that had been added to this bill chockablock. Every one of them they want. As one House Freedom Caucus Member said plainly, Speaker McCarthy ``cannot get to 218 with changes to this deal.''

Let me read that again so everyone hears it. This is where we are at. A House Freedom Caucus Member--each of whom, as we know, has great power in the House because they didn't change their rules--as one Freedom Caucus Member has said, plainly, Speaker McCarthy ``cannot get to 218 with changes to this deal.''

But, as is obvious to just about anyone who looks at this, the ``Default on America Act'' has no future in the Senate. Consequently, Speaker McCarthy has created a situation where he knowingly passed an extreme bill, has been boxed by his Republican colleagues into a corner, and now has little room to maneuver, lest he provoke the ire of the House Freedom Caucus.

McCarthy is giving us two terrible options: Either default on the debt or default on our country, with steep, severe, devastating cuts to things like law enforcement, veterans, families, teachers, kids, even cancer research. The only real option that does not hurt the American people is a clean, bipartisan bill to avert default.

As Americans look at the ``Default on America Act,'' which the House just passed, they will discover that it reads less like a plan for averting default and more like a House Freedom Caucus manifesto.

The ``Default on America Act'' would tear at the fabric of American society, imposing dramatic cuts to our public security, cutting law enforcement dramatically at a time when we need help from them; the cruel abandonment of veterans when we should be defending our veterans; terrible job losses at a time when this last Congress, under Democratic control, started bringing jobs back from overseas to America, on chip fab, on manufacturing, on batteries, and so many other things; blocking access to affordable healthcare--over 21 million Americans could lose the healthcare gains that we have made over the last while--and brutal attacks on working families across the board.

In fact, nothing about the ``Default on America Act'' has been on the level.

Let me quote something that Speaker McCarthy said right after becoming Speaker. This is a quote from Kevin McCarthy:

I want to give all Americans a personal invitation, you are

welcome to see this body at work. No longer will the doors be

closed, but the debates will be open . . . from the

committee rooms to this floor, we commit to pursue the

truth passionately and embrace debate.

Well, let's go over that one. No more closed doors? Give me a break. The ``Default on America'' bill was written entirely behind closed doors, without a shred of transparency. This bill, which so dramatically and deeply and harmfully hurts America, was done entirely behind closed doors.

Debates will be in the open? How many committee debates did the House GOP hold on their ``Default on America Act''? How many expert witnesses were invited? How many amendments from the Democratic side were allowed to be presented?

Again, the truth is, ``Default on America'' is an extremist bill that would never have a shot at passing muster with the American public on its own. As such, everything about this bill was rushed, was secret, was the antithesis of open and transparent. McCarthy's words ring hollow. The American people deserve better.

Now, if Republicans refuse to level with the American people about their bill, Senate Democrats are more than happy to do it. We will show the American people how the ``Default on America Act'' will decimate Federal law enforcement in this country, erasing nearly 30,000 law enforcement jobs and leaving border security hanging out to dry. We will show how the ``Default on America Act'' is a direct assault on families. It slashes childcare, cuts Pell Grant funding, and even takes aim at programs as popular and beneficial as Meals on Wheels.

I mean, do Republicans seriously think that is the way to avoid default, by depriving our country from the critical resources to feed hungry Americans?

And we will show the American people how the ``Default on America'' is chock-full of totally irrelevant, hard-right goodies that would deregulate fossil fuels, empower the biggest corporations, give tax giveaways to the ultrarich, and impose cruel and unpopular attacks on working families.

We will take the first step to expose these atrocities on Thursday, when the Senate Budget Committee holds hearings on how the ``Default on America Act'' will weaken our economy and slash hundreds of thousands of jobs. It will be the very first legislative hearing in either House that looks at what ``Default on America'' does, and there will be more hearings to follow.

If Republicans want to sell their awful agenda to the American people, they are welcome to do so in debates about the budget and the appropriations process. That is where these debates have always happened, not in the middle of a default crisis that now stares us in the face.

As Democrats expose the ``Default on America'' bill for what it is, our position remains the same, both parties should do what we have done in the past, the last three times default faced us: Both parties should pass a clean, bipartisan bill to avoid default together, before-- before--we hit the critical June 1 deadline.

Mr. President, now, on Senate business, today will be another busy day on the Senate floor, as we continue confirming more highly qualified judicial nominees to serve on the Federal bench.

Yesterday, we confirmed an outstanding circuit judge to a lifetime appointment for the Ninth Circuit. Today, we will continue to build on our efforts to restore balance to the Federal bench by holding votes on three more outstanding nominees.

The Senate will hold two votes this morning to advance two district court judges, and, later this afternoon, we will have three votes on President Biden's highly qualified judicial nominees.

And members should be aware that I filed cloture last night on two additional judges, and that moving their nominations forward will be a top priority for the Senate this week.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. 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 have 12 requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 189, 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, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 190, which is at the desk.

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, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 3; that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, 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 Merchant nomination postcloture; further, that all cloture time on the Merchant nomination be considered expired at 11:30 a.m. and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination; that following the cloture vote on the Hsu nomination, notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate resume legislative session and the Committee on Environment and Public Works be discharged from further consideration of S.J. Res. 9 and the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of H.J. Res. 39, which was received from the House, and S.J. Res. 9; that at 6:15 p.m., the joint resolutions be considered read a third time and the Senate vote on the passage of the joint resolutions, in the order previously listed, with 15 minutes for debate, equally divided between the two leaders or their designees, between the votes on the joint resolutions; further, that following disposition of the joint resolutions, the Senate resume executive session and, if cloture has been invoked on the Hsu nomination, vote on confirmation of the nomination; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

For the information of the Senate, there will be two votes at 11:30 a.m. and four votes at 6:15 p.m.

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

Madam President, for months, Democrats have been clear: The full faith and credit of the United States cannot be held hostage. For months, we asked Speaker McCarthy and Republicans to present a plan--a real plan--to avoid default with no brinksmanship, no hostage- taking.

But instead of presenting a viable plan, last week Speaker McCarthy and House Republicans passed the ``Default on America Act''--a hard- right ransom note--to the American people.

Republicans' ``Default on America Act'' poses two terrible choices: either default on the debt or default on our country, with severe cuts to law enforcement, veterans, families, teachers, kids--even cancer research.

Let me be clear: The Republicans' ``Default on America Act'' has no future in the Senate, and it does nothing to resolve the looming default crisis. If anything, MAGA Republicans have made default more likely by locking the House into an unacceptable and very extreme position and pulling us even further apart.

According to one report by the Washington Post--and I commend everybody, Democrat and Republican to read it--but, according to this one report by

the Washington Post, many hard-right House Members say their DOA bill represents the bare minimum they are willing to accept--the bare minimum.

One Freedom Caucus Member said this bill is ``not a negotiating piece. It is the deal'' and further added that ``[Speaker McCarthy] cannot get to 218 with changes to this deal.''

Let me read that again, because it so perfectly captures the extremist thinking on the hard right, which we all know has tremendous leverage in the House.

Speaker McCarthy ``cannot get to 218 with changes to this deal.''

Let me just read it again. ``Cannot get to 218 with changes to this deal.''

Respectfully, that is not negotiation. That is a ransom note. That is a hostage-taking tactic. It is another sign that Speaker McCarthy has surrendered to the extremists in his conference, who are ready to let the United States default unless they get everything--everything--they want.

Senate Democrats cannot--and will not--allow Republicans' ``Default on America Act'' to become law, because the consequences of these cuts for American families would be severe. For generations, Congress has made spending and revenue decisions as part of the annual budget process. That is the appropriate place to debate, not here as a bargaining chip--a take-it-or-leave-it bargaining chip--for the hard right.

So beginning this week, our Senate committees will do what House Republicans would not do: hold hearings to expose the damage that the cuts contained in the ``Default on America Act'' would cause to everyday American families.

We will show the American people how the ``Default Act'' would rip away SNAP benefits for over a million recipients and eliminate Pell grants for tens of thousands of student loan borrowers.

We will show the American people how the ``Default on America Act'' would raise taxes by over $500 billion over the next decade, crippling job creation, stifling economic growth, and squandering our future prosperity to the benefit of the Chinese Communist Party.

And we will show the American people how the ``Default on America Act'' would cut critical funding to nearly all sectors of American life, leading to fewer jobs, higher costs, and leaving policemen, first responders, border patrol, and our brave veterans all hanging out to dry.

We cannot move forward so long as hard-right MAGA Republicans, which we all know have tremendous, enormous leverage in the House, insist on their bill--a bill that is unacceptable to the Senate and the vast majority of the American people.

Sadly, if the hard right continues running the show in the House, the dangers of a first-ever default will keep growing day by day. And as we expose this terrible bill for what it is, Senate Democrats' position remains the same: The only real solution is for both parties to pass a clean bill to avoid default, with no brinksmanship, no hostage-taking.

Madam President, now on Senate business. Well, it is going to be another busy week here on the floor of the U.S. Senate. Later today, the Senate will vote on the confirmation of Anthony Johnstone of Montana to serve a lifetime appointment as a circuit court judge for the Ninth Circuit.

A graduate of Yale and the University of Chicago, Mr. Johnstone has a wealth of experience in both public service and private practice. As former members of the Montana Supreme Court attest to, Mr. Johnstone has one of the ``best legal minds and is the finest and most respected legal scholar in the State of Montana.''

At the end of the week, I also filed cloture on three additional district court judges from New Jersey and New York, and Members should be advised that I will be filing on additional judicial nominations later this evening. The Senate will work on processing all of these nominees over the course of the week.

Judicial nominees remain a top priority for the Senate. Senate Democrats are proud we confirmed 119 new judges under President Biden, including 31 circuit court judges, 87 district court judges, and one groundbreaking Supreme Court Justice in Ketanji Brown Jackson. The diversity of these jurists is unlike anything our country has seen: 84 of these judges are women and 80 are people of color. The Senate will add to that impressive tally over the course of this week.