Floor Statements

Mr. President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 635.

Mr. President, on nominations, in a few moments, we are going to begin confirming a slew of nominees to serve in the Biden administration that, up until now, have been needlessly obstructed by a handful--just a handful--of Senate Republicans. But under the rules, they can do that.

Confirming these nominees is one of the most basic constitutional responsibilities of the U.S. Senate. It is bigger than the interests of any one Senator. It is about ensuring our government is able to effectively serve the American people here at home and advance the American interests overseas.

For decades, both sides--both sides--have understood that each President, regardless of party, deserves to have their administration filled, and we have worked together to make that happen, particularly for noncontroversial and less senior nominees. But today's blockade is a beast of a different nature.

Right now, over 150--150--of President Biden's nominees are stalled by a handful of Republican Senators who have hijacked the rules of the Senate for no other reason than obstruction for its own sake. Many received bipartisan support in committee.

These aren't low-priority nominees--whatever that means. Many of these men and women would deal with matters of diplomacy and national security. That is what Republicans are blocking. Some of them would help implement the bipartisan infrastructure bill. That is what Republicans are blocking.

From fighting inflation to relieving supply chains, to advancing U.S. national security, many of the men and women who are nominated would be the ones who would actually do this work. Let me repeat that. For all the howling and hollering we hear from Republicans about inflation, national security, and economic recovery, they are blocking the very same people whose jobs it would be to tackle these issues. It is ``Alice in Wonderland'' logic.

There are no justifications for their delay--none. Listening to the other side twist themselves into pretzels, it is clear that their game is simple, cynical, self-interested obstruction. And I thank my colleagues on this side of the aisle for coming to the floor day after day to shine a spotlight on the real-world impact of Republicans' obstruction.

This is the consequence of Republican obstruction. We are going to keep voting in this Chamber as we work to get these nominees confirmed.

Mr. President, now on Build Back Better, Senate Democrats are working to pass Build Back Better and send it to the President's desk as soon as possible so we can strengthen the middle class, create opportunity in the 21st century, and fight the climate crisis.

Yesterday, I had a good discussion with the President and the Speaker, where we talked about ongoing negotiations on finalizing the Build Back Better Act so we can pass it through the Senate. The President requested more time to continue his negotiations, and so we will keep working with him, hand in hand, to bring this bill over the finish line and deliver on these must needed provisions.

At its core, Build Back Better is about making the greatest investment in the American people that we have seen in generations. It is about building new ladders to help people climb into the middle class and providing them stability to thrive in the middle class once they get there. That means lowering the costs of prescription drugs, extending the child tax credit, making childcare more affordable for tens of millions of families, expanding housing, early education, and affordable healthcare. And it means taking unprecedented steps to fight climate change and lay the groundwork for greater action in the future.

These are all things that the American people want. These are things Democrats are fighting to secure.

And it cannot be forgotten that not a single Republican--not one--has joined us in making them happen. They are opposed to making childcare more affordable; they are opposed to fighting the climate crisis; and they are possibly even considering fighting provisions like making drugs like insulin more affordable.

If Republicans won't fight to help everyday Americans afford the basics, Democrats will. We are going to keep working to achieve our goal of passing Build Back Better into law.

Mr. President, on voting rights, the fight to protect voting rights and restore the U.S. Senate is moving forward.

Yesterday, I continued to have detailed discussions with many of my colleagues about how we are going to reach our goal of passing voting rights to ensure it takes effect before Americans return to the polls in the next election, so it can affect those 2022 elections which Republican legislators are so jaundicing.

Last night, a number of my colleagues and I met with Marty Paone, a Senate rules expert who worked under several previous majority leaders, including Robert C. Byrd, about how we can restore the Senate so it can work the way our Founders intended, the way it has functioned for generations before the Republican gridlock of the past decade or so.

Just now, I came from a meeting where both Marty Paone and Marty Gold--one a Democrat and one a Republican--counseled discussing how we can move forward on these issues, making the Senate work and getting voting rights done.

Later today, Marty will join the Senate Democrats at our caucus meeting to continue this very important conversation--Marty Paone will.

We have tried all year long to get Republicans to join us on a bipartisan effort to protect our democracy, but they have resisted, and they have blocked the Senate from having so much as a debate on this issue--a debate, not even a debate. Four votes, on three of them, every Republican voted not even to go forward in debating them--on the fourth vote, only one. Of course, under the rules of the Senate, as they are presently constituted, you need 10.

Voting rights should not be a partisan issue. Both parties are better off if our democracy is strong and safeguarded against the Republican assaults playing out at the State level.

The voting restrictions we are seeing passed in Republican-dominated State legislatures are the most egregious assaults on voting rights since the days of Jim Crow, and they are being passed entirely on a party-line basis--zero bipartisanship from these State legislator Republicans.

Here in the Senate, we are going to keep at it because just because Republicans will not join us, does not mean Democrats will stop fighting on this issue. It is too important, and the fight continues.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, just after the clock struck 12 midnight, we have a wonderful announcement: Senator Leahy has just cast his 17,000th vote.

(Applause, Senators rising.)

Madam President, I would note one more thing. Robert C. Byrd is the only Senator who has cast more votes than Senator Leahy in the history of the United States.

(Applause.)

So we will have a 2-hour recess to celebrate. No, we are not doing that.

(Laughter.)

Madam President, for the information of the Senators, I am going to read a list of UCs for Ambassadors. Then we will have three votes, one on an ambassador and two on cloture for court of appeals judges.

So, Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, following consultation with the Republican leader, no later than January 14, 2022, the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. 3436 introduced earlier today by Senator Cruz; that there be 2 hours of debate, equally divided between the two leaders or their designees on the bill; that upon the use or yielding back of that time, the bill be considered read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the Cruz bill, with 60-affirmative votes required for passage, with no amendments in order and without intervening action or debate; further, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, if applicable, that PN605 Elizabeth Rosenberg to be Assistant Secretary for Terrorist Financing, Department of Treasury, be discharged from the Banking Committee and the Senate consider the following nominations en bloc: Executive Calendar Nos. 233, 234, 235, 236, 237, 238, 239, 318, 319, 403, 431, 432, 433, 434, 435, 436, 439, 448, 449, 450, 455, 516, 517, 518, 520, 522, 523, 524, 617, 618, 620, 621, 623, 624, 625, and PN605; 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; and, finally, I ask unanimous consent that the bill in the agreement be placed on the Calendar of Business.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw all of the filed cloture motions, with the exception of the Sanchez and Thomas nominations; that the Senate proceed to the consideration of Calendar Nos. 519, 526, 446, 442, 454, 447, 440, 323, 317, and 320, en bloc, and that the Senate vote on the nominations in the order listed; that upon disposition of the Gifford nomination, the Senate vote on the cloture motions on the Sanchez and Thomas nominations; further, that if cloture is invoked, all postcloture time be considered expired and the Senate vote on confirmation of the Sanchez nomination at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, January 3, and on confirmation of the Thomas nomination at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the Republican leader; further, that if any of the nominations are confirmed, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that with respect to the previous order, the remaining nominations be considered en bloc.

I further ask that the mandatory quorum call with respect to the cloture vote on the Thomas nomination be waived.

Now, Madam President, it has been a long day of voting. We are not quite done yet, but we are close.

At the end of the day, we will have invoked cloture on 2 circuit judges, confirmed 9 district court judges, confirmed 41 Ambassadors, and confirmed 5 other members of President Biden's team. It has been a long day but a good day's work. I thank my colleagues.

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

Madam President, pursuant to S. Res. 27, the Committee on the Judiciary being tied on the question of reporting, I move to discharge the Senate Committee on the Judiciary from further consideration of the nomination of Holly A. Thomas, of California, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Ninth Circuit from the Committee on the Judiciary.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Now, Madam President, I want to begin today with some celebrations.

Recently, our dear colleague and friend Senator Jack Reed of Rhode Island cast his 8,000th vote as a Senator--a remarkable milestone for one of the most beloved and respected Members of this body.

A lifelong Rhode Islander, a graduate of West Point, and the dean of the Rhode Island congressional delegation, Senator Reed is one of America's best examples of doing politics and public service the right way: no fuss, no nonsense--just results.

Over the years, he has been a mentor, a friend, and an invaluable resource for countless Members on both sides of the aisle. Few in this Chamber can match his expertise on matters of national defense, veterans affairs, and the military. I would also add that the same can be said about matching his attendance. Over the years, he has missed just 38 votes on his way to 8,000--good for an attendance percentage of 99.5 percent. Wow.

As the Senate has undergone change over the years, Senator Reed has remained the same: focused on Rhode Island, focused on our country, focused on keeping this Chamber working on behalf of the American people. We are lucky to call Senator Reed our colleague and friend.

And so congratulations, Jack, on this milestone, and here is to 8,000 more votes to come.

Nominations

Madam President, last night, I filed cloture on 22 of President Biden's nominees who, to date, have been pointlessly stalled by Republican obstruction--22. We are going to work until they are all confirmed by this Chamber, and we may need to add more.

In past years, many of these nominees would have sailed through with consent and cooperation, but, this

year, a handful of Republicans have hijacked the rules of the Senate to slow the process down. It is cynical; it is entirely pointless; and worst of all, it is damaging--seriously damaging--to our national security.

This is the consequence of Republican obstruction. We are going to work on getting these nominees confirmed as long as it takes, and we could be back here in the near future doing this whole thing over again.

For all the tortured logic we hear coming from the other side for why these nominations remain frozen, the fact is that my Republican colleagues who are holding these nominations up are deliberately making the American people less safe and making it harder for the administration to address the national security and economic challenges that face our Nation.

It is unacceptable, and we are going to work to confirm these important nominees.

Voting Rights

Now, on voting rights, Madam President, as we continue working to bring the Senate to a position where we can move forward on Build Back Better, Senate Democrats have spent the past few weeks engaged in a separate discussion on addressing another critical and urgent priority--protecting the right to vote and safeguarding our elections.

Yesterday, I joined with a number of my colleagues in detailed conversations about how the Senate will get voting rights done in time for the 2022 elections, including advancing the Freedom to Vote Act and the John Lewis Voting Rights Act.

In State after State, Republican-led legislatures are approving the most draconian voter registration laws that we have seen since segregation, and they are doing it on an entirely partisan basis. Let me repeat that. Republicans at the State level are passing the most egregious restrictions on voting rights that we have seen since segregation, and they are doing it on an entirely partisan basis.

Senate Democrats are working to find a path forward to respond to these attacks by passing legislation like the Freedom to Vote Act and the Voting Rights Advancement Act. Part of that conversation involves finding ways to restore the Senate so it can, once again, work as it is supposed to, as it has worked for generations before the gridlock of the past decade or so.

These conversations are ongoing. The fight to protect voting rights is far from over in the Senate. Just because Republicans will not join us to defend democracy does not mean that Democrats will stop fighting. This matter is too important not to act, even if it means we must act alone to get the Senate working.

Tribute to Sara Schwartzman

Madam President, finally, a farewell--as anyone who has been here a while knows, the U.S. Senate is more than just the sum of its elected Members. Making this institution work is a daunting and awesome responsibility, and while the spotlight often falls on the men and women who stand behind these desks, this place would quickly unravel without the staff who work their magic behind the scenes.

Today, we say goodbye and thank you to one of those incredible staffers, Sara Schwartzman, who will soon leave the Senate to pursue an opportunity with NASA.

I join with all of my colleagues and with the rest of the Senate staff in saying thank you, Sara, and best of luck on the road ahead.

Thirteen years ago, Sara came to the Senate as a legislative support clerk with the executive clerk's office. Over the years, she climbed up the ranks, thanks to her skill and to her dedication, eventually becoming bill clerk in 2015.

For those who don't know, the bill clerk is one of the first gatekeepers for all new bills and resolutions that are introduced to the Senate. It is the bill clerk who brings order and sequence to the actions of this body, recording the Senate's legislative activities, assigning numbers to every bill and resolution, cataloging the status of each.

In good times, this is difficult and precise work. But over the last few years, as we all know, Sara fulfilled her duties in the midst of a global pandemic and has had to adapt in unprecedented ways. Through it all, she never missed a beat.

After 13 years, Sara deserves her gleaming sendoff as she pursues her next adventure in life. And as we say goodbye, we hope she knows she can always call this place home, and we will forever be grateful for all she has done to make this Chamber come to life.

So to Sara, thank you. Thank you for everything. We will miss you, and we can't wait to see what the future has in store for you.

(Applause.)

I yield the floor.

Recognition of the Minority Leader

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the following nominations en bloc: 622, 629, 630, 595, 596, 607, 608, and all the nominations on the Secretary's desk in the Army, Foreign Service, and Space Force; 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; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to legislative session for a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. President, I have 3 requests 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 Standng Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

committee on commerce, science and transportation

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, December 16, 2021 at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on nominations.

committee on finance

The Committee on Finance is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Senate on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on a nomination.

committee on the judiciary

The Committee on the Judiciary is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Thursday, December 16, 2021, at 9 a.m., to conduct an executive business meeting.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 9:30 a.m., Friday, December 17; 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 and resume consideration of the Gawande nomination; further, that the cloture motions filed during yesterday's session of the Senate ripen at 10 a.m.; and that if any of the nominations are confirmed during Friday's session, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, for the information of Senators, the first vote of the day is expected at 10 a.m. We expect additional rollcall votes throughout the day.