Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on the Judiciary be discharged

from further consideration and the Senate now proceed to S. Res. 527.

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.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 530, submitted earlier today.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, finally, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Thursday, March 3; 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 resume consideration of Calendar No. 273, H.R. 3076, Postal Service Reform.

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

Mr. President, now, with each new day of war in Ukraine, the brutality and sheer evil of Vladimir Putin's aggression against the Ukrainian people becomes more apparent. Failing at securing the country with quick strikes, Russian forces are evidently starting to engage in siege tactics. Over the past 12 hours, the city of Kharkiv has endured especially heavy fire. Civilian casualties, tragically, are mounting.

Today, every single Member of the Senate must say once again, without equivocation, that the United States stands behind the Ukrainian people and behind all people in all nations who oppose the aggressions of despotism.

In the weeks to come, the Senate must work on a bipartisan basis--and in lockstep with the Biden administration--to pass a strong aid package providing both humanitarian aid and security assistance to Ukraine.

The strongest signal we can send to Vladimir Putin right now is that the United States stands together--together--with the people of Ukraine. Twenty years ago, when our own democracy was attacked right here on our own soil, Americans banded together--Democrat and Republican--to defend our Nation and our democracy.

Today, as democracy faces its greatest crisis in Europe since the end of the Cold War, we must likewise band together in support of our friends in Ukraine. So far, the President has done an excellent job uniting our Nation and our allies against Putin. This was not an easy job. The President had to show patience from some who had urged him to do things that would have torn the relationship apart--the European- American relationship.

Now, because of the President's strong leadership, the Russian President finds himself more isolated and a greater pariah than at any other moment in his time in power. When the full weight of international sanctions takes effect, the consequences will be catastrophic for Putin and the Russian economy.

On the flip side--on the flip side--divisions within the United States or amongst our allies will only strengthen Vladimir Putin and strengthen his resolve that he can win this war, and we must resist him and his deeply cynical efforts however necessary. We must be

united in this moment, and so far our unity has precisely been our greatest asset in resisting Putin's aggression: from unity amongst American people in solidarity with Ukraine to America's unity with our European allies. So I hope our Republican colleagues in this Chamber will work with us and the administration to stay unified with a strong aid package.

We don't know how this crisis will evolve, but one thing that will not change is the need to maintain a united front so long as Vladimir Putin continues down his path of violence.

For that reason, the Senate will continue working in the weeks to come on a strong aid package that will erase any doubt where our allegiance lies.

State of the Union Address

Mr. President, now on another subject, tonight, President Biden will come to the U.S. Capitol and deliver the first State of the Union of his Presidency. Whenever the Nation takes stock of the state of our Union, it is important to know where we are today compared to where we were a single year ago. That, indeed, is a revealing measure of any President's leadership.

And despite the immense challenges we still have, what a difference between last year and this year. At the beginning of last year, we were facing the very worst of the pandemic. Unemployment was over 6 percent. Most forecasters said it would take years--perhaps more--to make significant progress in our recovery.

And, of course, as the Trump Presidency came to a bitter and ignoble end, our country was still in shell shock from the violent assault waged upon this Capitol and upon democracy itself.

Today, as we continue to face the serious challenges of our time, just look at how far we have come. The economy has now grown at the fastest rate in a single year since the 1980s. We have added back the most jobs in a single year than in any President's term ever--6 million jobs. Congress passed--and the President signed--the biggest comprehensive, standalone infrastructure law in generations, which is now fixing our roads and bridges, supply chains, and putting people to work across the country with good-paying jobs. Jobs have always been the No. 1 issue to working families. And on that measure, this first year has been a very, very large success.

And after years of President Trump currying favor with despots and autocrats--we all remember what he said about Vladimir Putin over and over again--the world can now rest assured that the United States is once again a reliable ally in the defense of democracy and our alliances like NATO.

And of course, COVID cases are significantly dropping, communities are reopening, mask mandates are reversing, and over 215 million Americans--215 million--have now been fully vaccinated.

The road has not been easy, and certainly the work is not yet done. The pain of inflation is being felt around this country and around the world, thanks largely to the disruptions of the pandemic.

The two greatest things vexing the American people are completing our recovery from COVID and getting life back to normal and fighting increasing costs.

And Democrats in the Senate will keep our laser focus on precisely those issues: bringing down costs for the American people so we can reap the full benefits of our historic growth. From relieving shipping bottlenecks to making insulin more affordable, to lowering the cost of food, these are some of the things Americans want, and these are the issues that Democrats right now are working to help solve.

These problems must be handled, and Democrats and the Biden administration continue to work on them like a laser. Again, full recovery from COVID and increasing costs are the two biggest remaining issues on our domestic calendar, and we are focused on them. But even so, we cannot ignore that we have come far.

And let me say this: The State of the Union is also an important and rare moment for the American people to see what the party in office actually stands for.

It is under Democratic leadership that we will continue to work to lower costs, to fight inflation, give working families ladders of opportunity to get to the middle class, and thrive there once they are in the middle class.

Republicans can't say that. Crippled by Trump's cult of personality, beholden to corporate interests and the ultrarich, the Republican agenda would trap Americans in a vortex of deep cynicism--issues that would not solve today's dilemmas--while they pass legislation that overwhelmingly would benefit the very few wealthy people.

If anyone doubts where the Republican Party stands today, all they have to do is read the bizarre, truly stunning plan released by the junior Senator from Florida last week--the head of the Republican Campaign Committee--which proposed everything from raising taxes on low-income Americans to naming a useless and ineffective border wall after Donald Trump.

Imagine, we are talking about getting back to normal and recovering from COVID and reducing costs, and they are talking about naming a border wall after Donald Trump. Which party is going to solve America's problems?

Indeed, an analysis released yesterday by the Tax Policy Center found that low-income households would pay an average of nearly $1,000 more in taxes next year under a plan like Senator Scott's and that nearly all of the new taxes under a plan like his would be paid by those making less than $100,000 a year--cut the taxes on the wealthy, as they did when Trump was President and they had the majority, and now increase taxes on poor people and working-class people. That seems to be where the Republicans are at.

This is just wrong, especially at a time when American families are looking for our help in lowering costs. So, tonight, the President will make clear that while we have a lot of work left to do, we have gotten a lot of work done already. And the Democratic Senate will continue, likewise, to focus working on legislation that completes our recovery from COVID and does everything we can to make sure it doesn't come back, to lower costs, to strengthen our buoyant economy, and preserve America's place as a nation of immense opportunity deep into the 21st century.

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 know of no further debate on the motion to proceed to H.R. 3076.

Mr. President, I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2, the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 291, S.J. Res. 32. Further, I ask unanimous consent that the time until 2:30 p.m. be equally divided between the leaders or their designees on the joint resolution, and that following the use or yielding back of that time, the joint resolution be read a third time and the Senate vote on the joint resolution.

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 understand that there are three bills at the desk, and I ask for their first readings en bloc.

I now ask for a second reading, and I object to my own request, all en bloc.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar Nos. 639, 409, 411, 693, and 694; that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc without intervening action or debate; 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, now, on something that is very important to this country, Senator Peters, in a minute, will move to pass the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act.

As we all know, protecting America--our government, our businesses, our utilities, and so many of our entities--from cyber attack has been very, very important over the last decade. It becomes even more important now. As the war in Ukraine goes on and as Putin mounts his illegal, immoral, and unprovoked attack, he is escalating cyber attacks on democracies around the world. So, as the need to protect this country from cyber attack is always very, very, very important, it has assumed even greater importance now with Putin's fighting in Ukraine and threatening cyber attacks throughout the world.

Today, the Senate is taking an urgently needed step to protect the American people, American critical infrastructure, and American Government institutions from the dangerous threat of cyber attacks. The most important part of this provision will require our companies--our individual businesses--to report cyber attacks when they occur.

There has been a reluctance on the part of many in the business community to want to do this because it may expose them to other kinds of harm, and maybe the public will not want to be involved in these businesses, but the importance of the reporting is vital. When our authorities in the government know of the attacks, they can prepare against future attacks. They will know who is attacking, where they are attacking, and how they are attacking. That will allow them to strengthen our defenses against future cyber attacks. So this knowledge of cyber attacks, caused by foreign entities or domestic entities, is vital as America seeks to protect itself.

This legislation has been around for a while. For too long, certain business interests opposed it, but now they have come to see the light, and, in fact, we have a bipartisan agreement--unanimous in this Chamber--that this bill move forward. That is very important for America's security. It is more important than it ever has been. Cyber warfare is truly one of the dark arts--specialized by Putin and his authoritarian regime--and this bill will help to protect us from Putin's attempted cyber attacks against our country.

Last year, I asked Chairman Peters and other relevant committee chairs to draft legislation to counter the increased threat, and Senator Peters has done an outstanding job. I want to commend him and Senator Portman and so many others--Senator Warner among them--for being heavily involved in this issue.

Tonight, we will pass legislation by unanimous consent. When this legislation passes and is signed into law, America will be a safer place from one of the greatest scourges we worry about--cyber attack. I am glad we are doing this, and I am glad both sides have agreed.

I yield to Senator Peters, who, as I said, as chair of the HSGAC Committee, has done a terrific job in shepherding this legislation through the Senate.

Mr. President, just one more point.

As we have always said, we in the Democratic majority want to work with our Republican colleagues on bipartisan legislation whenever we can, and this is an example of that.

Obviously, there are times when we can't, and we will move forward. But the more we can get done and accomplished in a bipartisan way on important legislation like this, the better.

So, once again, let me salute the bipartisan coalition led by Gary Peters and Rob Portman and so many others on both sides of the aisle who contributed to this very important legislation.

Now, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess until 8:30 p.m. today and proceed as a body to the Hall of the House of Representatives for the joint session of Congress provided under the provisions of H. Con. Res. 69; and that upon dissolution of the joint session, the Senate adjourn until 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2, 2022; that following the prayer and the 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 resume consideration of Calendar No. 273, H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act.

Mr. President, we will gather in the Senate Chamber at 8:20 this evening to proceed as a body to the House for the State of the Union.

If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it recess under the previous order.

Thereupon, the Senate, at 6:23 p.m., recessed until 8:30 p.m. and reassembled when called to order by the President pro tempore.

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

Madam President, before I get into my remarks, I have one bit of business. I understand there is bill at the desk that is due for a second reading.

Madam President, in order to place the bill on the calendar--and this is H.R. 4521, the COMPETES Act that came over from the

House--under the provisions of rule XIV, I would object to further proceedings.

For the benefit of the public, that is done so we can actually move forward on the bill. In the arcane rules of the Senate, that is what we have to do.