Floor Statements

Madam President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Madam President, on one more matter that I would like to address briefly--and I appreciate the indulgence of my friend, the Senator from Illinois, who has waited.

On one other subject, I want to begin this week by wishing our colleague and dear friend Senator Van Hollen a smooth and speedy recovery after his announcement yesterday that he suffered a mild stroke. Every single one of us is relieved--relieved--to hear he is doing well; that his incident was minor; and that there are no long- term effects. We wish our friend recovery and look forward to seeing him here in the Senate later this week.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S.1596, and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

I ask unanimous consent that the Rounds-Shaheen substitute amendment which is 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.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 351, H.R. 4426.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions: S. Res. 633, S. Res. 634, and S. Res. 635.

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.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the President of the Senate be authorized to appoint a committee on the part of the Senate to join with a like committee on the part of the House of Representatives to escort His Excellency Kyriakos Mitsotakis, Prime Minister of the Hellenic Republic, into the House Chamber for the joint meeting on Tuesday, May 17, 2022.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the notice of issuance of Final Regulations Pursuant to the Congressional Accountability Act from the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights be printed in the Record.

Mr. President, finally, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday, May 17; that following the prayer and the pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings being 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 conclusion of morning business, the Senate resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 368, H.R. 7619, a bill to provide aid to Ukraine, postcloture; further, that all postcloture debate time expire at 4 p.m., and that if the motion to proceed is agreed to, it be in order to file cloture on the bill during Tuesday's session; further, that following the disposition of the motion to proceed, the Senate vote on the motions to invoke cloture on the Rochon, Thompson, and Sykes nominations; and that if cloture is invoked on any of the nominations, all postcloture time be expired and confirmation votes be at a time to be determined by the majority leader or his designee in consultation with the Republican leader; finally, that following the cloture vote on the Sykes nomination, the Senate resume legislative session and proceed to Calendar No. 368, H.R. 7691.

For the information of Senators, the Senate will begin gathering in the Senate Chamber at 10:20 a.m. and depart at 10:35 to proceed as a body to the Hall of the House for the joint meeting.

Senators should also expect four rollcall votes beginning at 4 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.

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

Madam President, yesterday, the American people saw for themselves the glaring contrast between Democrats, who will fight to protect women's rights to make decisions about their own bodies, and MAGA Republicans pushing to send mothers and doctors to jail and institute nationwide abortion bans.

With Roe on the brink of elimination, this issue will not go away. As Americans vote later this year, they will choose between radical MAGA Republicans, who want to get rid of Roe, push national bans on abortion, and even throw doctors and women in jail, or pro-choice Democrats, who will protect a woman's right to make her own decisions when it comes to her body.

Let me say that again.

The contrast facing the American people is now simple: Either elect more MAGA Republicans, who want to push for sweeping national bans on abortion, or support pro-choice Democrats, who will protect a woman's rights to make her own decisions about her body.

Either elect more MAGA Republicans, who want forced pregnancies and who champion bans without exceptions even for rape or incest, or support pro-choice Democrats, who will protect a woman's right to make her own decisions.

Either elect more MAGA Republicans, who want to prosecute and even imprison women and doctors for carrying out abortions--and mere friends who give rides to clinics--or support pro-choice Democrats, who will protect a woman's rights.

Americans are going to see that contrast again and again and again as Democrats keep highlighting this very important and vital issue.

And as much as Republicans will try to deflect, distort, or distract, the unbendable truth is that their anti-women views are wildly out of step with the American people. Just look at what is happening across the country. Democrats across the country are confidently highlighting their support for a woman's right to make her own choices; and while the MAGA Republicans may want to brag about their plans for a nationwide abortion ban and sending women and doctors to jail, the clear majority of Americans disagrees with that extremist position. That is why Republican campaign committees are urging their candidates to avoid the subject of abortion--because they know their views are out of step.

Again, Democrats across the country are now talking about this issue, even doing campaign ads about this issue. The Republican spinmeisters are telling their colleagues to avoid the issue. So it is obvious to everyone who is on what side.

Republicans can run but can't hide from the horror they have created. Yesterday's vote was only one step, not the end, of our fight to protect women's rights. This issue will keep coming back up again and again and again between now and when voters go to the polls later this year.

Madam President, on Ukraine, in the immediate future, Republicans need to work with Democrats to pass another round of critical emergency funding for the people of Ukraine. We have a moral obligation to act and to act swiftly.

The House already passed a Ukraine package with overwhelming bipartisan support. It should be no different here in the Senate. Both of our caucuses heard loud and clear from the Ukrainian Ambassador earlier this week that time is of the essence.

I urge my Republican colleagues to work with Democrats to get a funding package done as soon as possible--ASAP. Republicans shouldn't block this bill. There is no reason--no reason whatsoever--not to get Ukraine funding approved fast.

I also call on my colleagues to swiftly pass additional legislation to arm the Federal Government with the tools needed to liquidate assets seized from Russian oligarchs--yachts, mansions, private jets, art collections, and more. It should be a no-brainer to provide the tools necessary to go after crooked Russian oligarchs, but, nevertheless, House Republicans bewilderingly opposed adding these tools in the House package. The Senate should do better. Both parties should work quickly and decisively to get this done through regular order. This issue can certainly be--it should certainly be--a bipartisan issue.

As the war in Ukraine enters its third bloody month, we must leave no stone unturned in making Putin and his cronies pay a price and in helping the Ukrainian people. Their fight against Russian aggression is a struggle between democracy and authoritarianism itself, so there should be no question--no question--about which side America stands on.

Again, I urge my Republican colleagues not to block this legislation but to work with us to quickly get this passed through the Chamber. Everyone can have their own idea, but if everyone has their own idea, we will get nothing done. We have to come together on a bill that has gotten broad bipartisan support in the House and in the Senate.

Madam President, on nominations, it has been a productive week on the Senate floor when it comes to nominations. Earlier this week, the Senate finally confirmed a highly qualified and historic nominee to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors: Lisa Cook.

Coming from humble beginnings in rural Georgia, where her family fought segregation, Ms. Cook will be the first Black woman to ever sit on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. She is a professor of economics at Michigan State, a member of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago's Advisory Board, and she served as a senior economist on President Obama's Council of Economic Advisers. She absolutely belongs on the Board, and I am glad she was finally confirmed.

Yesterday, we also confirmed Alvaro Bedoya as a Commissioner on the Federal Trade Commission, breaking a 2-to-2 deadlock that has kept the FTC from full strength for over a year.

Mr. Bedoya's nomination is fantastic news for the American people. The FTC will be empowered to fight against price gougers, market manipulators, and go after bad actors using anti-competitive practices to drive up prices. We have been urging the FTC, for instance, to look at market manipulation and price gouging when it comes to gasoline, and now they will have the ability to do so because the Republican Commissioners refuse to move forward, but now we have a majority of Democrats on that Commission.

This week, the Senate also confirmed another Fed nominee, Philip Jefferson, and secured Democratic majorities on important labor-focused Agencies, including the Federal Labor Relations Authority. Next week, we will also start the process to confirm more Democrats to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Finally, later today, the Senate will vote on Jerome Powell to serve another term as Chairman of the Federal Reserve. Few institutions are more important to help steer our economy in the right direction--and to fight inflation--than the Fed. Chairman Powell presided as Fed Chair during some of the most challenging moments in modern American history. I thank all of my colleagues--particularly Senator Brown, chairman of our Banking Committee--who have worked to move forward with this important nomination.

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

Madam President, I am offering this unanimous consent on behalf of myself and Leader McConnell. Let me explain the unanimous consent.

As the war in Ukraine extends into its third month, we have a moral obligation--a moral obligation--to stand with Ukraine in its fight against Putin's immoral war.

Earlier this week, the House passed a Ukraine package with overwhelming bipartisan support. It should be no different here in the Senate. The package is ready to go. The vast majority of Senators on both sides of the aisle wants it. There is now only one thing holding us back. The junior Senator from Kentucky is preventing the swift passage of Ukraine aid because he wants to add, at the last minute, his own changes directly into the bill. His change is strongly opposed by many Members from both parties. He is not even asking for an amendment; he is simply saying: My way or the highway.

When you have a proposal to amend a bill, you can't just come to the floor and demand it by fiat. You have to convince other Members to back it first. That is how the Senate works. If every Member held every bill in exchange for every last little demand, it would mean the total and permanent paralysis of this Chamber. The junior Senator from Kentucky knows that perfectly well. He knows that is not how this Chamber works.

Again, when you have a proposal to change a bill, you have to convince Members to support it. The junior Senator from Kentucky has not done that.

So right now, in conjunction with Leader McConnell, I am giving Senator Paul an opportunity to do just that. I am offering to hold a vote on his amendment, even though I disagree with it. Let the Chamber speak its will. Let both sides of the aisle have input. And, for Heaven's sake, let's get Ukraine funding done ASAP.

We must keep our promise to the people of Ukraine, and I hope the junior Senator from Kentucky does not stand in the way of keeping that promise. If Senator Paul persists in his reckless demand, we will not allow him to insert his language into this bill without a vote, and all he will accomplish is to singlehandedly delay desperately needed Ukraine aid.

I yield to the Republican leader.

Madam President, on behalf of myself and Leader McConnell, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session and proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 366, S. 4190, Senator Kennedy's bill on Ukraine oversight; that the bill be considered read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill; further, that upon disposition of the Kennedy bill, the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 368, H.R. 7691, a bill to provide aid to Ukraine; that the only amendment in order be the Paul amendment, which is at the desk; that the Senate vote on the Paul amendment with 60 affirmative votes required for adoption; that the bill be read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all without intervening action or debate.

Reserving the right to object, it is clear from the junior Senator from Kentucky's remarks, he doesn't want to aid Ukraine. That is not the case for the overwhelming majority here.

Again, all he will accomplish with his actions here today is to delay that aid, not to stop it. It is aid that is desperately needed by a valiant people fighting against authoritarianism and defending democracy. So I will not modify it.

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