Floor Statements

Mr. President, one final note on the IRS, today is Tax Day, and thanks to the additional resources provided to

the IRS in the Inflation Reduction Act, this tax-filing season has been much smoother for taxpayers.

Five thousand additional customer service agents were hired and call waiting times were reduced by 85 percent. There have been legitimate complaints across the country that when you call the IRS because you need help, it takes forever for them to answer. To reduce those by 85 percent because of the IRA bill that we just passed last summer is a very good thing. Thanks to our work, this party's work--it was opposed by every Republican--the IRA now has the resources to modernize the Agency and cut wait times, saving people heartache and making sure middle-class families get the credits they deserve. The Agency will do this while cracking down on tax enforcement for the uber-wealthy and biggest corporations.

I want to thank my colleagues for their work.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume legislative session and resume consideration of S. 870.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the cloture motion with respect to S. 870 be withdrawn and that the only amendments in order to the bill be the following: Lee No. 80; Scott No. 81; Hagerty No. 72, as modified; Van Hollen No. 85; Sullivan No. 83; and Paul No. 79; that if offered, the Senate vote in relation to the amendments listed at a time to be determined by the majority leader following consultation with the Republican leader; that following disposition of the above amendments, amendment No. 58 be withdrawn; that the bill, as amended, if amended, be considered read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill; that 60 affirmative votes be required for the adoption of these amendments and passage of the bill, with the exception of the Sullivan and Paul amendments; and that there be 2 minutes for debate equally divided between the two leaders or their designees prior to each vote, all without intervening action or debate.

For the information of the Senate, the vote on the Lee amendment will be at approximately 4:30 p.m. today.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, few have left their mark on this country like our dear friend Senator Dianne Feinstein. She is a legend in California, the first woman Senator from the State.

She is a legend here in the Senate--the longest serving woman Senator in U.S. history. She built a reputation as an expert legislator on so many issues--gun violence, VAWA, the environment, women's rights, and so much more.

But her impact doesn't end there. Dianne is a legend throughout the country. She shattered enumerable glass ceilings, moved countless mountains, and molded millions of minds. Few have accomplished as much in office as Senator Feinstein.

Our colleague and friend has made her wish clear, that another Senator temporarily serve on the Committee on the Judiciary until she returns. I thank Senator Cardin for agreeing to step in.

So today, I am acting not just as leader, but as Dianne's friend in honoring her wishes until she returns to the Senate. Mr. President, when someone as dear and as accomplished as Senator Feinstein asks us for something so important to her, we ought to respect it.

I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of my resolution which is at the desk; I further ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the notice of adoption of regulations from the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights be printed in the Record.

Now, Mr. President, on the debt ceiling, today is the start of a consequential work period here in Congress, but instead of getting to work in our Nation's Capital, House Republican leadership took a field trip to New York City. It was sort of a circus. Today's big spectacle, of course, was Speaker McCarthy's speech at the New York Stock Exchange, where he recycled the same old talking points but failed to provide anything new or anything of substance.

One thing is clear from this morning's theatrics: While Democrats want to preserve America's full faith and credit, Speaker McCarthy continues to bumble our country toward default, which would cause the economy to crash, cause jobs to crater, and drastically raise costs across the board for American families.

Amazingly, one of the few specifics McCarthy did present was his terrible idea to kick the can down the road for just a year and undergo this same default crisis all over again a year from now. Would anyone agree to undergo this fiasco again next year? Give me a break.

I will be blunt. If Speaker McCarthy continues in this direction, he is heading us toward default. Do you know what will avoid default? Republicans working with Democrats to avert this crisis altogether, just as we did under Donald Trump.

Speaker McCarthy, in his speech, invoked President Reagan, but Ronald Reagan was never reckless like McCarthy is being. In fact, it was Reagan who said:

[Debt ceiling] brinkmanship threatens the holders of

government bonds and those who rely on Social Security and

veterans benefits. . . . The United States has a special

responsibility to itself and the world to meet its

obligations.

And despite the Speaker's stated concerns about costs, nothing-- nothing--would do more to raise costs for American families than default.

Now, for months, Speaker McCarthy has insisted on cuts in exchange for avoiding a default. We all know the best way to avoid default is with no brinkmanship, no hostage-taking. Do it clean. President Trump did it twice with Democrats and Republicans working together, and President Biden did it once with Democrats and Republicans working together. That is the way to do this.

McCarthy is insisting on cuts, but, to boot, he doesn't say what those cuts are. As I have said previously, there is a time and place to discuss cuts, but that is not part of this conversation. It belongs in the discussion about the budget, not as a precondition for avoiding default.

Again, let me repeat that so they might hear it on the other side, in the House Chamber: The discussion about cuts belongs in the discussion about budget, not as a precondition for avoiding default.

The solution here is straightforward. Republicans should work with Democrats in good faith to avoid default altogether just as we did with Donald Trump: no blackmail, no brinkmanship, no default.

Speaker McCarthy, show us your plan.

President Biden and I are happy to meet with Speaker McCarthy when he has something to talk about--a plan--as most Democratic leaders are, but we need to see his plan first so we can start from there and work to avoid a catastrophic default altogether. If we go to meetings without Speaker McCarthy having a plan, what are we going to do--talk about the furniture? the weather?

Finally, Speaker McCarthy, today, quoted a great Yankee, the great Babe Ruth, saying:

You just can't beat the person who never gives up.

Well, first, Speaker McCarthy, don't quote a Yankee to me in New York City. Second, the Speaker is right; he has never given up. However, that is only because he has never started: no plan, no progress, no persistence.

So, to make sense of today's speech, I think it was another great Yankee, the great No. 8, Yogi Berra, who hit the nail on the head. ``It's deja vu all over again,'' Yogi said. It applies exactly to Speaker McCarthy's speech today--no plan, no progress, nothing.

Speaker McCarthy, show us a plan. Work to deliver for the American people.

To sum it all up, Speaker McCarthy plays a risky and dangerous game when insisting on imposing severe cuts which would hurt the American people and threaten our economy before we avoid default. In addition, to boot, he can't even reveal what those cuts are. This is a sad truth, but it is the truth. If Speaker McCarthy doesn't change his course, he could well take this country over the cliff to default for the first time.

Mr. President, first, let me begin by welcoming back our friend, Leader McConnell, to the Senate. It is great to have him back here in this Chamber. We are all happy to see he is recovering well.

I also want to welcome back our colleague from Pennsylvania and friend, Senator Fetterman. We are all glad he got the support he needed, and he is sending an important message to millions of Americans that asking for and getting help works.

Mr. President, on Republican extremism, at the start of the year, I warned that Republicans in Congress faced a critical choice: Abandon MAGA extremism for the good of the country or double down on the road to radicalism. Four months later, too many Republicans have made the choice clear. Instead of coming to the middle, they have sprinted to the extremes. Instead of abandoning MAGA, too many Republicans have doubled down; especially look at the last few weeks. Look no further than what happened last week in Florida, where the Republican Governor signed one of the most extreme anti-choice bills in the entire country, a near total ban on abortion after 6 weeks.

Let's not kid ourselves: A 6-week ban is practically a total ban. Many women don't even know they are pregnant by 6 weeks. Most Floridians fiercely oppose such a draconian provision, one that will endanger not only millions of women in Florida but tens of millions of women across the entire south who, tragically, have fewer and fewer options for accessing reproductive care.

And lest anyone think Republicans oppose abortion because of States' rights--oh, no. The decision by a Federal judge in Texas issuing a nationwide suspension of mifepristone should make it clear what this is about: a national ban on abortion. That is where the Republicans seem to be.

Republicans seem to be caught--these 2 weeks made it clear--in a self-destructive dynamic: The more that Americans reject their extreme views at the ballot box, the more these MAGA Republicans seem to double down.

We have seen this played out on choice, but we are seeing it play out on gun safety. Let me be clear: Most Americans support some commonsense gun safety. Parents are tired of worrying about whether their kids are safe at school. But when tragedy struck at a school in Nashville, TN, Republicans reacted not by voting new gun safety laws but, instead, by expelling two representatives of color who dared commit the sin of speaking out against the inaction. That is the anthesis of democracy. That is the road to outright autocracy.

Even today, Republican extremism was on full display in New York City. Today, the Republican House Judiciary chairman held what he claimed was a field hearing about public safety. But to date, Chairman Jordan and his colleagues have refused to denounce President Trump's call to defund the FBI and the DOJ.

Defunding the FBI is truly unhinged, and every single Member of the House and Senate--Democrat and Republican alike--should unequivocally condemn former President Trump for pushing this idea. Very soon, the Members of this Chamber will have a chance to go on record and denounce the former President's call to cut funding to our Federal law enforcement. I hope everyone in the Chamber does the right thing.

The FBI--many of them risk their lives to protect us from drugs, from guns, from terrorism. Defund it just because President Trump, in his self-serving moment, said so? Where are our Republican friends, or are they just moving so far to the right they can't even reject something as clear as this?

As I said moments ago, Republicans are caught in a self-destructive dynamic: The more that Americans reject their extreme views at the ballot box, the more they seem to double down. If they continue down this road, not only will our country suffer, but the GOP themselves will suffer as Americans keep rejecting them at the ballot box. If they continue down this road, our country will suffer and so will the GOP as Americans keep rejecting them at the ballot box.

Mr. President, finally, on upcoming Senate business, today, the Senate gavels back in for the start of a busy week, a very busy work period.

There is so much we must do on lowering costs and improving lives of American families, strengthening healthcare, lowering prescription drug costs, preserving America's competitiveness, and protecting America's fundamental rights. We will get to work on these issues, particularly starting off with the fire bill, which will come before us this week.

I yield the floor.

First, on our work period recap, well, 66 to 30, that is the final count of yesterday's vote to repeal the Iraq AUMF of 2002 and 1991, a bipartisan success years in the making. That was a very good moment here on the floor yesterday--a sign that Senators on both sides want to see bipartisanship continue in this Chamber.

We can see it again if Members work together on issues that Americans care about, like lowering costs, preserving America's competitiveness, and in yesterday's case, stopping endless wars in the Middle East.

It is my hope that the AUMF repeal can be a model, a blueprint for how the Senate operates in the coming years. It is not easy, but it is very much possible, and I thank my Republican colleagues, particularly Senator Young, for their cooperation.

The AUMF repeal was the conclusion of a successful busy work period-- 5-week work period that we just completed in the Senate--a busy and successful work period on and off the floor.

We confirmed another 14 highly qualified judicial nominees to lifetime appointments to the bench, 13 district and one circuit court judge, bringing our total to 119 new judges--119 new judges; that makes us proud--under President Biden.

I also want to recognize our committee chairs for their good work over the past month or so in holding hearing after hearing, day after day, on important issues that Americans care about, like rail safety, the health of our banks, the rights of working Americans, the President's budget, and more.

The Senate will hit the ground running when we return from the April State work period by taking up the much needed Fire Grants and Safety Act. It is my hope that yesterday's 96-0 vote in favor of moving forward portends for swift action and argues very strongly against dilatory tactics. Let's do the same thing we did on the AUMF. We are willing to allow some amendments, but we have got to move forward. This is something that is supported broadly, as shown by the 96-0 vote.

Just this week, 29 fire emergency service groups warned Congress that with summer around the corner, local fire departments of all kinds are woefully understaffed, underfunded, and underequipped to meet their obligations to keep people safe. So, when we return, the Senate must move quickly to pass fire grants legislation without unnecessary delays to this overwhelmingly bipartisan legislation.

Mr. President, on the Senator from Alabama's holding up military nominations, the Senator from Alabama continues his hold on-- more than 180 now--promotions, military promotions, blatantly ignoring the many warnings of the harm he is causing to our national security. It is reckless. It is just reckless.

Yesterday, Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin warned that blocking

these promotions ``creates a ripple effect through the force that makes us far less ready than we need to be.''

Do you hear that, the Senator from Alabama? The Secretary of Defense is saying that what you do makes us far less ready than we need to be at a time when China and Iran and Russia are all causing all kinds of security problems and threats.

But Secretary Austin also emphasized another point, a very important point: The Senator's stonewalling is having consequences--bad consequences, heart-wrenching consequences--for our military families. By blocking these promotions, the Senator from Alabama is blocking pay raises for these officers and their families. By blocking these promotions, the Senator from Alabama is blocking military kids from starting at new schools, setting them back in their educations.

When a member of the military serves, their family serves, too. Does the Senator from Alabama understand the disruption and chaos he is causing for military families?

These are people serving us. They are not political. They have worked hard. They have done a good job. They got a promotion. A promotion means moving--a change of venue, a change of school. It means a career path--how long you have been at one rank and then to another.

The Senator from Alabama is playing havoc with so many military families, who are nonpolitical, who have served our country well, who thought they were ready for promotions until this cruel act of the Senator from Alabama stopped them. These military families have done nothing--nothing--to deserve the disrespect and disdain shown by the Senator from Alabama. It is insulting to our servicemembers that one Senator--just one--is holding up what has long been a routine and nonpartisan process.

Again, I urge my colleague from Alabama to think this through and stand down. We understand he has passion on the issue. We disagree with it vehemently; so do most Americans. But passion on the issue is not an excuse for causing havoc in the military in terms of force and in terms of the lives of the families.

I would again plead with my Republican colleagues, whether it is public or private, to go to the Senator from Alabama and dissuade him from his folly.

Mr. President, on the budget and debt ceiling and ``show us your plan,'' House Republicans are themselves starting to see why their attempts to threaten default to secure spending cuts has been a terrible idea from the start. It is not only reckless; it is not only dangerous--it turns out they can't even follow through on it.

This week, the chairman of the House Financial Services Committee admitted that he doesn't even see a path to an agreement for lifting the debt ceiling, and at least 16 Republicans have never voted to raise the debt ceiling at all, even under President Trump. That is true.

But the problem here isn't that there isn't a path. Of course, there is a path. It is staring Republicans in the face. The solution is what we Democrats have said from the start: Instead of threatening default, instead of brinksmanship, Republicans should work with us on a clean extension of the debt ceiling. We did it three times under Donald Trump. We have already done it under President Biden, and we should do it again.

If Republicans want to push a separate discussion on the budget, that is their prerogative. In fact, it has been done many times by both parties in the past. But the Republicans would be reckless to take the full faith and credit of the United States hostage in order to force a conversation on the budget, particularly when there is an alternative tried-and-true path that has been used before: Separate the debt ceiling and raising the ability of us to pay our debts and discuss things on the budget--on taxes and on spending--which we always do. It is tying the two together that is reckless.

So it is becoming clearer and clearer to Republicans themselves--even those in the House--that the only legitimate path forward is this: Let's have a bipartisan and clean extension of the debt ceiling, as we have done many times before, and then Republicans can push a separate discussion on the budget.

The American people have listened to us. A month and a half ago, I started telling the Republican leader: Show us your plan.

President Biden, Hakeem Jeffries, and many others have joined in on that call, and it is resonating from one end of America to the other. Of course, you can't sit down and discuss something if you don't have a plan. Speaker McCarthy just says: Let's meet. But what are they going to do--discuss the weather? the rearrangement of the furniture?

Come on. Do it the right way.

You are beginning to see what we have said all along--that the best way to do this is with no hostage-taking, no brinksmanship on the debt ceiling, but with a strong, avid, and passionate discussion on spending issues--one separate from the other.

House Republicans cannot show us their plan, and as we said--as I predicted 2 months ago--a month and a half ago--it is going to be very hard for them to get 218 votes on any plan.

So come on. Look in the mirror. See what is going on, and do it the right way.

Speaker McCarthy, today is March 30. It has been long enough. You still haven't come up with a single specific cut that makes any difference in the debt that you want to do. Show us your plan. Drop the brinksmanship. Join Democrats on a clean extension of the debt ceiling.

Mr. President, finally, on H.R. 1, the House is expected today to vote on Republicans' partisan, unserious, and so-called energy package that they call H.R. 1.

First, once again, I want to make it clear: H.R. 1 is dead on arrival in the Senate, not because of politics but because it is so ridiculous and has been drawn up by a bunch of pro-oil Senators who have no regard for anyone else. No Democrat has been consulted. Obviously, the Republicans knew that in the House when they passed it, but they seem to want to go back. In H.R. 1, they go back to the MAGA supporters back home--the big oil companies, the oil wildcatters, and so many of the oil States that don't want to pay any taxes and that don't want anything to do with moving us forward as the climate gets worse and worse.

The Senate is not going to waste our time on a bill that sets America back decades in our transition to clean energy. All it takes is a brief glance at H.R. 1 to realize it is just a giveaway to Big Oil. House Republicans' so-called energy package just guts important safeguards, environmental safeguards, on fossil fuel projects. It would lock America into expensive, erratic, and dirty energy sources while setting us back more than a decade on our decision to move forward on clean energy, which this Nation fully supports. Transmission, of course, is hugely important to increasing access on clean energy, but the Republican plan hardly even mentions it.

So, again, the way to do this, Republicans in the House, is in a bipartisan way. We have a Republican House. We have a Democratic Senate. No party is going to be able to jam its way through without consulting the other side. That is true on the debt ceiling. That is true on the budget, and it is certainly true on H.R. 1.

There are Republicans in the House and Democrats in the House, and there are Republicans in the Senate and Democrats in the Senate who want to sit down and do a serious energy package. We need to do it. Let's stop this brinksmanship. Let's stop this political game-playing. Let's stop this throwing of bones to the MAGA hard right, which represents, maybe, 5 percent of America. Let's roll up our sleeves. Let's get down to work and get something done on energy and on so many other issues.

Mr. President, I send an amendment to the desk, and I ask that it be reported by number.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 11:45 a.m., the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 69, Richard R. Verma, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of State for Management and Resources; that there be 5 minutes for debate, equally divided in the usual form, on the nomination; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate vote without intervening action or debate on the nomination; 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; and the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. President, I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 19.

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