Floor Statements

And I ask unanimous consent to resume executive session.

Mr. President, I want there to be no mistake about what just happened here on the Senate floor. Republicans blocked a bipartisan bill that would provide vaccines, testing, and therapeutics for the American people.

Yesterday, a group of Democrats and Republicans announced we had reached a bipartisan agreement for COVID relief funding, but today, a majority of Senate Republicans have blocked this critical and much- needed funding from going forward.

Vaccines, therapeutics, and testing were negotiated in good faith. And it should not--they should not be held hostage to extraneous, unrelated issues. This is too important for the health of the American people. But that seems precisely what some Republicans want to do.

This is a potentially devastating vote for every single American who is worried about the possibility of a new variant rearing its nasty head within a few months.

It is devastating for any American who, in the future, looks for a vaccine or a booster shot, only to be told supplies have run out.

It is devastating for anyone looking down the line to get tested because they feel sick or want their families safe and discover no tests are available. It is devastating for anyone who--God forbid-- falls seriously ill but can't access lifesaving therapeutics because the Federal Government can't purchase new supplies because of the vote our colleagues on the Republican side of the aisle just took.

Too many Republicans seem to want to play politics at a time when we need to work together to pass legislation our country desperately needs. Republicans voted no on vaccines for kids. Republicans voted no on tests for new COVID variants. Republicans voted no on therapies to save lives and make us less sick.

Have we learned nothing from the last 2 years of living with this horrible disease? Have Republicans learned nothing about how lack of preparation could damage our economy? This money--the money that they rejected today--will go a long way to keeping our schools, our businesses, our churches, our communities running as normally as possible.

If we want to stay at normal, we need these dollars. Without these dollars, the risk of schools closing, of businesses closing, of public transportation closing is too large.

Should a future variant rear its nasty head--should a future variant rear its nasty head--Americans will know who voted against more funding. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.

This was a $10 billion agreement that was fully paid for. If there is another surge, it costs us 10 times that if we are behind the curve again.

I hope Republicans will get serious about this. It should not be so difficult for them to do something so good and important for our country. There is still some time. I hope my Republican colleagues change their tune quickly.

I yield the floor.

I ask unanimous consent that I be recognized at 5 p.m.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, this week, the U.S. Senate will commence the final stage--the final stage--of confirming Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson as the 116th Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court.

It is a joyous and history-making moment for the Senate as 115 individuals have come before this Chamber for consideration to the highest Court in the land, but none--none--were like Judge Jackson. Like many before her, she is brilliant; she is esteemed and highly accomplished, but never--never before--has the Supreme Court had a Black woman bear the title of ``Justice,'' and she will pave the way for others to follow in her example.

Not long from now, the Senate Judiciary Committee will conclude their markup of Judge Jackson's nomination by voting to report her out of committee. Chairman Durbin has adjusted the schedule to make sure all members are able to vote, but the process is moving forward. There is no question--no question--that Judge Jackson deserves a strong bipartisan vote in committee; but, sadly, despite the judge's qualifications, the Republicans on the committee have made clear that not one of them will vote to report her out of committee.

If the Judiciary Committee does reach a deadlocked vote later today, I will move as soon as I can to have the Senate hold a discharge vote so that her nomination can be considered by the full Senate.

It is obvious, in listening to Republicans, that their objections are entirely unserious. Many who label Judge Jackson as ``radical'' and ``far left'' today conveniently ignore that she received bipartisan support not once, not twice, but three times in this Chamber, including by voice vote. They also fail to mention that Judge Jackson commands strong support from across the political spectrum, from conservative judges to the Nation's largest police unions to a long list of former colleagues who say she is nothing short of the best of the best.

Republicans in committee have ignored, in other words, the plain facts of Judge Jackson's record, and that is deeply disappointing. Judge Jackson is a brilliant and historic nominee, and her elevation as the first Black woman to the U.S. Supreme Court should bring the Senate together.

Let's be clear: Despite Republican opposition, Judge Jackson has enough votes to get confirmed to the Supreme Court on a bipartisan basis. The Senate is going to keep working until she is confirmed.

Once Judge Jackson is out of committee, I will file cloture on her nomination as quickly as possible and, in doing so, set in motion a process that will set up a final confirmation vote by the end of this week. I hope both sides can work together to advance her all-but- certain confirmation through the Senate without delay.

Once again, I want to finish by commending Judge Jackson for conducting herself brilliantly and unassailably during the entire confirmation process. It is not easy to be thrown suddenly and abruptly into the national spotlight and have every detail of your life scrutinized. It is even harder to then

engage in marathon sitdowns with nearly every Senator in this body in just a few weeks, and it is nothing short of herculean to endure 3 days of lengthy and, at times, deeply unfair and mendacious questioning before the Judiciary Committee--with the eyes of the Nation upon you.

But 6 weeks after her nomination was announced, Judge Jackson has proven that she is up to the task before her. She has shown that she merits the title of ``Justice,'' and from this moment on, the Senate will not stop working until we finish the work of confirming Judge Jackson to the U.S. Supreme Court.

Business Before the Senate

Now, Mr. President, on other Senate business, this week, the confirmation of Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court remains the highest Senate priority by far, but Senate Democrats will continue our work to lower costs for the American people.

Last week--little noticed but quite important--the Senate passed bipartisan ocean shipping reform, spearheaded by Senators Klobuchar and Thune and Cantwell. This is very significant and much-needed legislation that will reduce costs for the American people by unclogging our ports from Los Angeles to New York to Savannah to Seattle. These backlogs have caused not only great harm for American exporters trying to send their products out in the world; it has also skyrocketed the price of goods coming into the country, and, ultimately, American consumers pay that price. I commend my colleagues for getting this important bill done.

This week, the Senate is also close to entering a conference committee with the House to finalize our jobs and competitiveness act; and tomorrow, Chair Cantwell will turn the focus of the Commerce Committee to an urgent matter for the American people: ensuring transparency in petroleum markets.

We all know that big oil companies are dramatically expanding corporate stock buybacks and reporting record profits while Americans struggle with higher gas prices. Just today--this is so confounding, so upsetting--ExxonMobil indicated that its profits this quarter will be its highest since 2008. And what are they going to do with this surplus cash? They announced, in the coming months, they will spend $10 billion on corporate stock buybacks. According to Bloomberg, oil and gas companies' stock buybacks were up 2,000 percent in the fourth quarter of last year. Using that to enhance worker productivity? Nope. Using that to do something some people might object to, increasing exploration for oil and gas? Nope. Lining the pockets of their shareholders and their corporate executives in stock buybacks, which do nothing--absolutely nothing--to advance the American economy or to deal with the oil prices.

Maybe they should think instead of giving the money to shareholders, they should give money to their customers, give it back, by lowering the price.

It is the latest reminder of a disturbing trend with the oil and gas companies. As the price of gas goes up and as Americans are struggling more and more to keep up, the Nation's largest oil companies are up to their eyeballs in massive profits and then use that money for unproductive stock buybacks, which, if anything, increase income inequality at a time when the country needs to decrease it.

There is something deeply incongruous and wrong about seeing the largest oil companies and gas companies in the world drench top executives and wealthy shareholders in cash while Americans are struggling at the pump. I thank Chair Cantwell for holding tomorrow's hearing so we can provide accountability, transparency, and relief, hopefully, for the American people.

Coronavirus

Mr. President, finally, on COVID. Very briefly, over the last few days, my Democratic colleagues and I continue talks with Senator Romney and Republicans, working all hours of the night and into the weekend. I will have more to say on this matter shortly.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, pursuant to S. Res. 27, the Judiciary Committee being tied on the question of reporting, I move to discharge the Judiciary Committee from further consideration of Ketanji Brown Jackson, of the District of Columbia, to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, in a few moments, the Senate will begin to make history this week by voting to discharge the nomination of Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson out of the Judiciary Committee so we can confirm her as the next Associate Justice of the Supreme Court.

This procedural step should be entirely unnecessary. There is no question--no question--that Judge Jackson deserves a strong bipartisan vote in committee, but sadly, despite the judge's qualifications, not a single Republican on the committee voted to report her out of committee.

So we shouldn't have to be taking this step, but we are moving forward all the same without delay. Despite Republicans opposing her in committee and despite this procedural vote tonight, the end result will remain unchanged: Judge Jackson ultimately has enough support to get confirmed on a bipartisan basis, and the Senate is going to keep working until this nomination is complete.

In closing, I want to emphasize something I said earlier today. This is a joyous and history-making moment for the Senate--a historic one. One hundred fifteen individuals have come before this Chamber for consideration to the highest Court in the land, but none--none--were like Judge Jackson. Like many before her, Judge Jackson is brilliant. She is esteemed. She is highly accomplished. But never, never has the Supreme Court had a Black woman bear the title of ``Justice.''

Imagine the impact this will have on our democracy. Imagine what it will mean for young people across the country to look at our courts and see them better reflect our Nation's makeup. Judge Jackson's brilliant record will surely light a fire of inspiration for others to follow in her footsteps, and our country will be all the better for it.

So let us move forward with this brilliant, this resoundingly qualified, this historic nominee to the highest Court in the land, and let us work together to finish the job of confirming the judge by the end of this week.

Vote on Motion to Discharge

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that all time remaining be yielded back, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, pursuant to S. Res. 27, the Banking Committee being tied on the question of reporting, I move to discharge the Banking Committee from further consideration of Julia Ruth Gordon, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Secretary of Housing and Urban Development.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, in consultation with the Republican leader, that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 783, James C. O'Brien, of Nebraska, to be Head of the Office of Sanctions Coordination, with the rank of Ambassador; that there be 30 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form on the nomination; and that upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate vote without intervening action or debate on the nomination.

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.

Mr. President, I have one request 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:

Finally, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, April 5; 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 conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the motion to discharge the Gordon nomination; that at 10:30 a.m., the Senate vote on the motion to discharge and that, following the vote, the Senate resume legislative session; further, that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Tuesday's session of the Senate, the motions 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, following the remarks of Senator Portman.

Madam President, first on COVID negotiations, yesterday, I met with a group of my colleagues--Senators Murray, Coons, Romney, Blunt, Burr, and Graham--for another round of talks as we work toward a bipartisan COVID agreement. We spoke throughout the day; we talked late into the night; our staffs are continuing talks this morning.

The gap has been narrowed greatly, and we are intent on working with Republicans to cross the finish line because this is vital for our country if, God forbid, a new variant arises in the future, and that is all too likely. We would like considerably more money than our Republican colleagues, but we need to reach 60 votes to get something passed through the Senate, and so we are going to push as hard as we can.

When it comes to replenishing COVID response funding, we simply can't afford to kick the can down the road. The White House has been more than clear and more than transparent about the fact that public funds for COVID are at risk of running out. We all know that a possible future variant can quickly undo much of the progress we have made against the virus, so it makes no sense whatsoever to hold off on COVID funding that we know is very much needed right now. The more we wait, the bigger the problem will be later, God forbid a variant hits.

The bottom line is this: Both sides should work to complete COVID funding soon because that will mean more vaccines, more therapeutics, and more testing so we can keep schools and communities open. We can stay ``back to normal,'' which we are doing right now. Woe is us if a future variant extends its nasty tentacles across the country, and we don't have the resources in place to respond. Woe is us. So, again, I am pleading with my Republican colleagues: Join us. We want more than you do, but we have to get something done. We have to get something done.

We will keep working to arrive at a deal in good faith, and we hope-- hope, hope, hope--our Republican colleagues ultimately join us in supporting a robust enough package to deal with this problem.

As I said, we are making good progress. We are getting closer and closer, but the sooner we get this deal done, the better for the country.

Business Before the Senate

Madam President, on cost cutting, it has been a productive few days here on the Senate floor as we pass legislation that will help reduce costs, relieve supply chains, and build on the incredible economic growth we have seen under President Biden.

I am glad to announce that the Senate is on track to pass bipartisan legislation by Senators Klobuchar and Thune to reform unfair shipping practices that are clogging up our ports, diminishing American exports, hurting our farmers, and ultimately hurting consumers. It hurts both ways when shipping costs go way up, as they have. The exports we send over--a lot of it agricultural goods--the imports that come back--a lot of it consumer goods--all are higher priced, and Americans pay that higher price.

So the bipartisan shipping bill is exactly the sort of thing the Senate should focus on because when there is a logjam at the Port of Los Angeles, it hurts farmers and small businesses in Minnesota, North Dakota, and across the country, and it hurts consumers in every corner of the country, from Portland, ME, to San Diego, from Seattle to Miami, New York, and everywhere in between.

So I am glad we are making progress to getting this legislation done. The sooner the better, again.

The legislation, of course, is not the only step we have taken this week to strengthen supply chains to help lower costs throughout the economy. Earlier this week, the Senate passed a strongly bipartisan jobs and competitiveness bill in the works for over a year, which will help increase our domestic manufacturing, help address the critical chip shortage, and grow our economy by investing in American innovation.

Yesterday, the House passed a motion requesting a conference committee, and the Senate will soon do the same. We are on track to initiating a conference, hopefully, before the end of this work period.

Off the floor, committees held numerous hearings zeroing in on the many dimensions of our lowering cost agenda. To name just a few examples, the Banking Committee held a hearing on Monday on the growing burden of medical debt, a problem that is facing so many Americans.

The Small Business Committee also held a hearing yesterday exploring the supply chain crisis and its implications for smaller businesses, including struggling restaurants.

And, today, the Banking Committee is on the matter of seniors who struggle with affordable housing.

These are just a few examples of how, both off the floor and on, Democrats are continuing our focus on legislation that will lower costs, help American families, and solve the deep and difficult challenges that everyday Americans face to make ends meet. And we are going to keep pushing in the months ahead to translate these ideas into legislation we can consider here in the Chamber, as we are doing with shipping right now.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I have an update on today's floor schedule. At 1:45, the Senate was scheduled to hold a procedural vote related to a shell legislative vehicle we could use to pass COVID response funding. Our Republican colleagues have requested that we do not hold a cloture vote on the motion to proceed at the present as we are getting close to a final agreement that would garner bipartisan support.

We are working diligently to finalize language, scoring, and a final agreement on what should be funded in the final COVID package, both domestic and international. As a sign of good faith and to encourage us to come to a final agreement, I will reschedule today's procedural vote to a later time.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 309, H.R. 3197.

Mr. President, 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 proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 297, S. 1320.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment 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. 311, S. 3580.

Mr. President, I further ask that the committee-reported amendment be withdrawn; that the amendment, which is at the desk, be considered and agreed to; and that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.

Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the bill.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, the Senate has just passed very significant and much needed legislation that will reduce costs for the American people by passing a bipartisan bill to reform unfair shipping practices hurting exports and consumers alike.

We have all seen pictures of scores of ships lining up in ports from Los Angeles to Seattle, to New York, to Savannah. Supply chain backlogs have made it harder for goods to leave these ports and get to their international destinations.

Every single day that goods lie idle in our ports, it costs producers more and more money. It is a serious problem, rippling from one coast to the other.

These backlogs have created serious price hikes. Today, according to one study, the price to transport a container from China to the west coast of the United States costs 12 times as much as it did 2 years ago--12 times. Talk about supply chain backlogs. This is it--a glaring, glaring example.

And, of course, it hurts both ways when shipping costs go up. It affects exports that we send overseas. It affects many of our farmers, who need to export their goods. It also affects the imports that come back. It affects all the goods that Americans buy from overseas-- appliances and food and so many other things.

When the cost of shipping is higher, the cost of the goods are higher, and people have to pay too much--a whole lot more.

At the end of the day, it is the American consumer that pays the higher price. Thankfully, this bill will make it harder for ocean carriers to unreasonably refuse American goods at our ports while strengthening the Federal Maritime Commission's ability to step in and prevent harmful practices by carriers.

This bipartisan shipping bill is exactly the sort of thing that the Senate should focus on. It is cost cutting; it is bipartisan; and it will directly give relief to small businesses and consumers alike.

And I would like to thank a good number of my colleagues who helped with this legislation. It was put together and sponsored in a bipartisan way by Senators Klobuchar and Thune. And Senator Cantwell, who understands the maritime industry probably better than any other Member in this Chamber, was relentless in pushing this legislation. It went through her committee, and now it has passed the Senate and, hopefully, will become law soon, and she deserves our kudos and accolades for the good job she has done for American consumers, farmers, manufacturers, and everybody else.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, due to the current events happening in Europe, the minority leader and I have

agreed to increase the membership of the Senate NATO Observer Group by two additional Senators. For the additional Democratic Senator, I ask that Senator Rosen be added to participate in the Group.