Floor Statements

Finally, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn under the provisions of S. Res. 470 until 10 a.m., Tuesday, December 7; 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 to resume consideration of the Rosenworcel nomination postcloture; that all postcloture time on the Rosenworcel nomination expire at 11:30 a.m., and the Senate recess following the cloture vote on the Hamilton nomination until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings; further, that if cloture is invoked on the Hamilton nomination, all postcloture time expire at 2:15 p.m., and that if cloture is invoked on the Mangus nomination, all postcloture time expire at 5:30 p.m.; finally, that if any of the nominations are confirmed during Tuesday'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.

So for the information of Senators, there will be two rollcall votes at 11:30, two rollcall votes at 2:15, and at least one rollcall vote at 5:30.

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.

Madam President, I begin this morning with some good news. I am happy to say that last night I reached an agreement with Leader McConnell, the Speaker, and the chairs of the House Appropriations Committee and the Senate Appropriations Committee on a continuing resolution that will keep the Federal Government funded through mid-February of next year.

This is a good compromise that allows an appropriate amount of time for both parties in both Chambers to finish negotiations on appropriations. As I said, this is a good compromise that allows an appropriate amount of time for both parties in both Chambers to finish negotiations on appropriations.

This morning, the House will start the process to take up this government funding measure, and we hope they can have it passed through their Chamber by the end of today.

Unfortunately, it seems Republican dysfunction could be a roadblock to averting an unnecessary and dangerous government shutdown. Democrats and most Republicans, including the Republican leader, have said they don't want to see a Republican shutdown. We hope cooler heads will prevail.

Just as we saw with the NDAA, a few individual Republican Senators appear determined to derail this important legislation because of their opposition to the President's lifesaving vaccine guidelines critical to healing our country in the middle of a pandemic.

Let's be clear: If there is a shutdown, it will be a Republican anti- vaccine shutdown. Democrats want to get the government funded as soon as possible. It was not easy to reach this deal. It took a while to get Republican leadership on board. But I am glad that we have gotten it done. I thank my colleagues on the other side of the aisle for working with us to find a path forward.

Now all that is left are a few lone holdouts who are raising objections that are doomed to fail and which can be debated elsewhere. There is no reason we should have a Republican shutdown. I have worked with the Republican leader on an agreement that will

avoid one. Now, again, I hope cooler heads will prevail on the other side so we can keep the government funded before tomorrow's deadline.

Madam President, I understand that there is a bill at the desk that is due for a second reading.

In order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I would object to further proceeding.

Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, pursuant to S. Res. 27, the Senate Judiciary Committee being tied on the question of reporting, I move to discharge the Senate Judiciary Committee from further consideration of the nomination of Rachael S. Rollins, of Massachusetts, to be United States Attorney for the District of Massachusetts.

For the information of all Senators, we expect the vote on the motion to discharge to occur later this afternoon.

I yield the floor.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate resume legislative session and proceed to the immediate consideration of H.R. 6119, which was received from the House and is at the desk; that the only

amendment in order be Marshall-Lee No. 4868; that Senator Lee be recognized to speak for up to 10 minutes and that, following his remarks, the Senate vote on the Marshall amendment; that upon disposition of the Marshall amendment, the bill shall be considered read a third time and the Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended, if amended, with 60 affirmative votes required for passage; that there be 6 minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form prior to each vote, all without further intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I am pleased to announce that an agreement has been reached between Democrats and Republicans that will allow the Senate to take up and pass the continuing resolution to fund the government through February 18. With this agreement, there will be no government shutdown, and I appreciate the work of my colleagues from both sides of the aisle, including Leader McConnell, to reach this point. The good, bipartisan work that produced this agreement will give appropriators in both parties and in both Chambers time to reach a comprehensive agreement on appropriations by February 18 of next year.

I am glad that, in the end, cooler heads prevailed. The government will stay open. I thank the Members of this Chamber for walking us back from the brink of an avoidable, needless, and costly shutdown.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I am happy to let the American people know the government remains open.

(Applause.)

Thank you.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Executive Calendar No. 567.

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

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

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Executive Calendar No. 480.

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