Floor Statements

Now, about January 6, this morning a special committee of the House of Representatives will convene for the first time to begin an inquiry into the events of January 6. It is important we do this. January 6 was one of the darkest episodes in the history of our democracy, the first time the Capitol was breached since the War of 1812.

In both the runup and aftermath, vicious lies about our elections fueled dangerous conspiracies and mob violence. We must establish a trusted account of what transpired on January 6, what and who caused it. Not just the people in the building, as bad as they were, but many others may have been involved, as well, and I am hopeful that this inquiry will get to the bottom of that. We have to do this to make sure that such an event is never repeated.

But let me say, Mr. President, we have traveled a very sorry road to get to this place. The special committee in the House was forced into existence because Senate Republicans and Leader McConnell blocked the formation of an independent commission, appointed on a bipartisan basis, to report on the events of the 6th. We had modeled it on the bipartisan 9/11 Commission, but Leader McConnell stood in the way.

How did we come to such a moment? Well, in the immediate aftermath of the attack on the Capitol, the House Republican leader said that President Trump ``bears responsibility.'' The Republican leader warned of a ``death spiral'' for our democracy if election lies told by the losing side were to be believed. Republicans of all stripes, many in this Chamber, demanded accountability and answers.

But, in the last 6 months, all that courage and truth-telling has evaporated into smoke. All that courage and truth-telling has evaporated into smoke. What a shame for the Republican Party. The House Republican leader deputized Members of his own party to negotiate an independent commission with Democrats, and once they did, he stabbed them in the back and instructed his Members to vote against it.

Weeks later, the House Republicans fired the only member of their leadership team willing to call out President Trump's election lies. House Republicans are now likening January 6 to a peaceful protest and a ``normal tourist visit.''

Again, I would commend to people the New York Times video--40 minutes--that simply documents what happened. And it is appalling to see one of the Congress Members say this was like a normal, peaceful visit when you watch the violence that occurred before your very eyes.

Here in the Senate, the Republican minority mounted a partisan filibuster to prevent this Chamber from even debating legislation to create an independent commission. Is that amazing? Every Democratic Member was appalled that they wouldn't even let a debate on whether to have a commission go forward

Four months, that is how long it took for House and Senate Republican leadership, who denounced former President Trump in the aftermath of January 6, who said they held him practically and morally responsible-- 4 months was all it took for Republican leadership to back down, turn silent, and then thwart an independent investigation into the January 6 attack.

So, today, the House begins an important task under the only circumstances that congressional Republicans would allow. I have no doubt that House Republicans will engage in efforts to discredit even this: the work of a bipartisan panel of investigators. They will dredge up the same dreary talking points. They will call it a witch hunt. They will call Republicans who participate Pelosi Republicans. They will cheapen the public discourse even more than it has already been cheapened and do their level best to sow distrust about any account of what happened on January 6.

For what? Fear of Donald Trump? The belief that their political viability hinges on whitewashing an attempted coup? Who knows.

But let the record reflect that the House will proceed with this important investigation and it will be done by Members from both parties and that it will get at the truth.

Mr. President, pursuant to S. Res. 27, the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources being tied on the question of reporting, I move to discharge the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources from further consideration of the nomination of Tracy Stone-Manning, of Montana, to be Director of the Bureau of Land Management.

As a reminder to all Members, the official photograph of the 117th Congress will be at 2:15 p.m. Senators are asked to be on the floor at that time. Following the photograph, the Senate will reconvene and resume consideration of the motion to discharge the Stone-Manning nomination. Senators should expect the vote on the motion to discharge to occur around 5 p.m. today.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess subject to the call of the Chair.

Mr. President, 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 move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 232.

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

Finally, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call for the cloture motion filed today, July 27, be waived.

I yield the floor.

Madam President, now for years, Republicans and Democrats have spoken about the need to invest more in our Nation's infrastructure. We are a country the size of a continent. Every State has critical infrastructure demands, bridges that need repair, railways that need maintenance, sewer systems that desperately need expansion and renovation.

Over a month ago now, a bipartisan group of Senators announced a deal with the White House on a framework for a bipartisan infrastructure bill--a breakthrough moment. Ever since, I have committed both publicly and privately to put that bill on the Senate floor.

Unfortunately, last week, our Republican colleagues prevented the Senate from taking a procedural step to begin the debate. But I want to be very clear. I am fully committed to passing a bipartisan infrastructure bill.

As majority leader, I have the ability to move to reconsider the vote to begin debate on that bill this week. Since Senators are still finalizing the text of the agreement, Senators should be on notice that the Senate may stay in session through the weekend in order to finish the bill.

Let me say that again. Senators should be on notice that the Senate may stay in session through the weekend in order to finish the bipartisan infrastructure bill.

As I have said before, further delays may mean that the Senate will remain in session into the previously scheduled August recess.

We have reached a critical moment. The bipartisan group of Senators has had nearly 5 weeks of negotiations since they first announced an agreement with President Biden. It is time for everyone to get to ``yes'' and produce an outcome for the American people.

I understand that bipartisan achievements are difficult in our polarized times. Extreme partisans are always rooting for failure. Look no further than the former President.

Just this morning, former President Trump released a statement urging Republicans to retreat from all bipartisan negotiations on infrastructure until after the midterm elections in 2022, maybe longer. Again, the former President said this morning that Republicans are ``weak fools and losers''--his words--for even talking to Democrats and suggested that the Republicans should not negotiate at all unless they are in the majority. FOX News personalities, following his lead, are now encouraging primaries for Republican Senators who support a bipartisan infrastructure deal.

Look, there are always going to be radical voices on the far right who brook no compromise, but that is only a recipe for obstruction and gridlock. We have the opportunity right now to actually accomplish something good for the American people.

Will our Republican colleagues follow the absurd demands of the disgraced former President and his media allies, or will they get a good, bipartisan deal over the finish line? Republican Senators must ignore former President Trump if we are ever going to make progress with the American people. He is rooting for our entire political system to fail. I and the rest of my Democratic colleagues are rooting for a deal.

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

Madam President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 257.

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

Madam President, I move to proceed to legislative session.

Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 258.

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

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum calls for the cloture motions filed today, July 26, be waived.

I yield the floor.