Floor Statements

Madam President, the Senate gavels in for what will be a

very consequential week for this Chamber and for our country.

Later today, we will vote on the nomination of Elizabeth Hanes to serve as district judge for the Eastern District of Virginia. If confirmed, she will be the 75th judge this Senate majority has confirmed since the start of President Biden's term.

In the coming days, the Senate will also finish its work passing the PACT Act, the largest expansion of veteran healthcare benefits in decades and a piece of legislation that should sail through this Chamber with overwhelming bipartisan support.

Over the past few days, the Capitol steps have been the site of something we should never see in this country: dozens of veterans braving heat and heavy rain, protesting through the night, demanding that the Senate take action on their healthcare benefits. They are there right now as we speak. No veteran who has sacrificed for our country should ever have to resort to spending the night on the Capitol steps to secure their benefits, but sadly, in this case, they have.

It is unfortunate that our Republican colleagues chose to block quick passage of this bill last week even though this is the exact same piece of legislation many of them supported in June, with one small technical fix. In the coming days, we are going to give Senate Republicans another chance to do the right thing, to work with us so we can send this bill to the President's desk ASAP.

Since 9/11, nearly 3\1/2\ million veterans have been exposed to toxic burn pits in the line of duty, leading to complications like cancer, lung disease, and other illnesses, but instead of getting the care they need without delay, many veterans have had to hire lawyers and jump through hoops. They have to sue the Veterans' Administration to get the help they deserve and need, incurred as they served our country in dangerous places like Iraq and Vietnam. Is that incredible? They have wasted years fighting the VA just to get the care they need when they should have spent that time treating their illnesses. It is equally parts tragic and infuriating.

Our veterans have already given their all to defend our Nation from threats abroad. They shouldn't have to fight a second war here at home just to get the healthcare benefits they rightfully deserve. These brave Americans sacrificed everything. They risked life and limb. The very least we can do as a country is ensure they receive top care.

I urge both sides to work together to quickly pass the PACT act so we can send it to the President's desk ASAP.

I announce that the Senator from Oregon (Mr. Merkley), the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Leahy), and the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Durbin) are necessarily absent.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the follow nominations: Calendar Nos. 1078 through 1093 and all nominations on the Secretary's Desk in the Air Force, Army, Marine Corps, Navy, and Space Force; that the nominations be confirmed en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that no further motions be in order to any of the nominations; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

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 Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 733, 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.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 3905 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the Peters substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to; that 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.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 2992 and H.R. 6943 en bloc and the Senate proceed to their immediate consideration en bloc.

I ask unanimous consent that the bills be considered read a third time and passed and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table en bloc.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of the following bills en bloc, Calendar No. 419, S. 2151 and Calendar No. 423, S. 4007.

I ask that the committee-reported substitute amendments be agreed to; that the bills, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate, all en bloc.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 421, S. 3860.

I further ask the committee-reported substitute amendment be withdrawn, the Cortez Masto substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to, the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 422, S. 4003.

I further ask that the committee-reported substitute amendment be withdrawn; the Cornyn substitute amendment at the desk be agreed to; the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed; and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

And, finally, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 12 noon on Tuesday, August 2; and 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 upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Hanes nomination postcloture; further, that the Senate recess from 12:30 until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings and that at 2:15 p.m., all postcloture time be considered expired and the Senate vote on confirmation of the nomination; finally, if any nominations are confirmed during Tuesday's session, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be notified of the Senate's action immediately.

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

I announce that the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Durbin), the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Leahy), and the Senator from West Virginia (Mr. Manchin) are necessarily absent.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination: Calendar No. 1063, David Pressman, to be Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the United States of America to Hungary; that the Senate vote on the nomination at 1:45 p.m. today, without any intervening action or debate; that, if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; further, that the July 19, 2022, order with respect to the Milstein nomination remain in effect.