Floor Statements

Madam President, I call up amendment No. 5002.

I ask to dispense with further reading of the amendment.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, I have an amendment at the desk.

I ask to dispense with further reading of the amendment.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

I have a second-degree amendment at the desk.

I ask to dispense with further reading of the amendment.

Madam President, I have an amendment to the underlying bill at the desk.

I ask to dispense with further reading of the amendment.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, I have a second-degree amendment at the desk.

I ask to dispense with further reading of the amendment.

Madam President, I move to commit H.R. 4521 to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation with instructions to report back forthwith with an amendment.

The clerk will report.

I ask to dispense with further reading.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, I have an amendment to the instructions at the desk.

I ask to dispense with further reading of the amendment.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

I have a second-degree amendment at the desk.

I ask to dispense with further reading of the amendment.

Now, Madam President, as President Biden begins the most important foreign trip of his Presidency, the best thing the Senate can do this week is pass permanent normal trade relation legislation so we can land another devastating blow on Putin's economy. In a few moments, I will ask the Senate for consent to do just that.

Last week, the House passed legislation revoking Russia's normal trade relations with the United States by 424 to 8--424 to 8. The vast majority of House Republicans backed it, including Leader McCarthy and the Republican leadership.

Here in the Senate, my friend, the senior Senator from Idaho, sincerely believes that we should amend the bill by including an oil ban. I don't believe we should do that. As I said earlier today, there are four reasons why we should move forward quickly on PNTR and then have a separate discussion on the oil ban.

First, President Biden has already implemented a ban on Russian oil and gas, so passing something the President has already done is not even remotely as urgent as passing the PNTR first, especially because the President is leaving today and meeting with our European allies. What could be better than a united Senate putting further sanctions on Russia as the President meets with our European allies, where he has done a very good job of bringing them together?

Second, there is still some disagreement, including with the administration, about how to best draft an oil ban proposal. There are some who worry that the proposal that my friend from Idaho is pushing would actually delay the ban on Russian oil compared to the President's proposal. This is a consequence no one wants.

Third, it is so important we show unity right now as President Biden meets with our European allies. Swift Senate action, combining Democrats and Republicans with one voice supporting PNTR, would do just that.

Finally, the House is not in session. Any changes we would make to the PNTR legislation by amendment delays enactment by at least a week. There is no reason--absolutely no reason--to change the PNTR legislation the House has already approved and delay action.

Now, again I repeat: I am, Senator Wyden is, and all we Senate Democrats are willing to work with Senator Crapo on this issue, if he can agree to let the process move forward.

So let me say again, PNTR has already been overwhelmingly passed by the House. It is a very important and logical step in the fight against Putin's barbaric war. We should move the House bill ASAP.

Unanimous Consent Request--H.R. 7108

So, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, following consultation with the Republican leader, the Senate proceed to the consideration of H.R. 7108, which is at the desk; that there be 4 hours of debate equally divided; and that no amendments be in order; that upon the use or yielding back of the time, the bill be considered read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill; and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table without further intervening action or debate.

Madam President, first, I thank my colleague from Idaho. I know he sincerely wants to move forward. The best way to send a message is pass the House bill, get it to the President, and have him be able to sign it while the European allies and we are meeting.

But I am disappointed, though, that we were unable to take quick action now, but I very much appreciate what Senator Crapo has said now. And Senator Crapo and I had a good discussion this morning. We agree. We want to get to a bipartisan resolution to this legislation.

So Senators Wyden, Crapo, and my staff are going to work throughout the day on language related to the oil ban and the other issues that Senator Crapo talked about that we could consider separately. We would then move to pass PNTR separately, which we hope we can pass today or certainly tomorrow.

So I am committed to getting this issue resolved and very much appreciate my friend, the Senator from Idaho's willingness to discuss it so we can work out something that both sides can accept.

I yield the floor.

OK. Folks, once again, it is Wednesday night. We are going to try to repeat the same success we had the last few Wednesdays and not drag this out for too long. So I urge Members to either sit in their chairs or be around the Chamber. We have a whole bunch of votes.

I ask unanimous consent that any remaining votes tonight be 10-minute votes.

So please stay nearby so we can get this done.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate

proceed to executive session and vote for the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 679, the nomination of John Chun, under the previous order.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. President, this is the last vote of the evening.

I ask that the Senate proceed to executive session to vote on the confirmation of Executive Calendar No. 677, the nomination of Alison Nathan, under the previous order.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

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

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

I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum calls for the cloture motions filed today, Wednesday, March 23, be waived.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar Nos. 686, 689, 691; that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate resume legislative session.

Mr. 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.

Mr. President, I have one request for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. It has the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders.

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

Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.

I now ask for a second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 225, S. 516.

I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute be agreed to and that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.

I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.

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, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 226, S. 1259.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.

I know of no further debate on the bill.

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, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 290, S. 2794.

I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.

I know of no further debate on the bill.

I further ask unanimous consent 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. 303, S. 2533.

I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to and that the bill be considered read a third time.

I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.

I further ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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