Floor Statements

Mr. President, I rise in support of Alejandro Mayorkas's nomination to be Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

As recent events have shown, our country is facing dangerous threats to our security and to our national security. Violence and domestic terrorism, spurred on by White supremacist ideology, anti-government sentiment, and conspiracy theories, continue to rise. We saw the tragic and deadly result of that growing threat right here in the Capitol just 3 weeks ago, and just yesterday the Department of Homeland Security issued a counterterrorism bulletin, warning of possible further violence in the coming weeks.

Earlier this year, we learned that hackers--likely backed by a foreign adversary--carried out the largest cyber security breach of our Federal Government. We still do not have all of the answers on how they were able to infiltrate our networks or what information they have access to.

All this is happening while we are struggling to control a once-in-a- century pandemic that has, tragically, taken over 425,000 American lives so far.

The Department of Homeland Security should be leading a forceful response to these complex and significant threats and protecting Americans, but the Department and its more than 240,000 employees need a qualified, experienced, and Senate-confirmed leader at the helm--a leader like Alejandro Mayorkas.

Mr. Mayorkas has built an extensive national security record throughout his career in public service. He has been confirmed by the Senate three times, including twice for senior roles at the Department of Homeland Security. Not only did he help lead the Obama administration's successful responses to the Ebola and Zika epidemics, he also played a critical role in protecting the homeland from foreign and domestic terrorism, strengthened our national cyber security, and increased cooperation between the Federal Government and local law enforcement agencies.

Not only does he stand ready to lead the Department as it tackles serious and challenging national security threats, Mr. Mayorkas also understands that the Department and its mission have a real effect on people and their families. His own family's journey to the United States--first fleeing Nazi occupation in Eastern Europe and later immigrating to the United States from Cuba--has given him a unique perspective on the very heart of the Department's mission--something that was certainly lost during the previous administration. Mr. Mayorkas is uniquely qualified to make sure the Department of Homeland Security is working to protect people from all backgrounds, all communities, and all walks of life.

Mr. Mayorkas has the qualifications, the experience, and the record of accomplishments to provide steady leadership, to help restore trust in the Department, and to safeguard our national security. That is why it is no surprise that his nomination has been endorsed by four former Homeland Security Secretaries and a former Acting Secretary from both Democratic and Republican administrations. He also has the support of a group of more than 30 cyber security experts, 34 former Homeland Security officials, and multiple law enforcement organizations, including the Fraternal Order of Police.

Within this body, there are certainly very different views of the role of the Federal Government, but one thing I think we can all agree on as a top priority is keeping Americans safe. It is our No. 1 job, and that is why I am asking my colleagues to join me today in supporting the confirmation of Mr. Mayorkas as Secretary of Homeland Security so that he can quickly begin the important and essential task of working to strengthen our national security and safeguarding all Americans.

I ask unanimous consent that the cloture vote begin immediately.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, in the United States, American foreign policy is not determined by just one person. The Constitution makes that clear. Article I grants Congress the power to declare war, not the President.

Consistent with that responsibility, Democrats and Republicans in this body worked together to pass a bipartisan resolution directing the President to end U.S. support for Saudi-led hostilities in Yemen. I am a proud cosponsor of that bill, which passed both Chambers of Congress in recent months.

We made it unmistakably clear that our involvement in Yemen is not authorized by Congress, but the President has chosen to sidestep the bipartisan majority by not signing this bill into law.

In doing so, he is sustaining the crisis through the continuing refueling of Saudi aircraft and other activities.

The American people are not asking the President for this. Taxpayers, certainly, do not want to pay for it.

I serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and I can assure you that supporting Saudi Arabia's operations in Yemen is nowhere-- nowhere--to be found in our national defense strategy.

I urge my colleagues to reject continued support for Saudi Arabia's military actions in Yemen. Congress must do its job and vote to override the President's veto.

We have an opportunity this week to help make the suffering in Yemen come to an end. Let's not forget that 22 million people in Yemen still need humanitarian assistance or protection. More than 8 million people still go hungry every single day. Sixteen million Yemenis still don't have clean water, resulting in pervasive disease outbreaks. Children are still dying every single day. Every 10 minutes, a child under 5 dies in Yemen from a preventable cause, according to the United Nations.

For many people, their survival is a daily challenge and struggle. Their future hangs, literally, by a thread.

In addition to disease, starvation, and displacement, the people of Yemen are subjected to indiscriminate bombings led by Saudi Arabia.

Let me be clear. Bombs will not resolve this conflict. All parties must come together and work toward a peaceful solution that places the dignity of all Yemeni people at the center of those negotiations, and we can help facilitate that. That is what the American people want.

If you go to Michigan, you can meet with some of the Yemeni Americans who just want the same thing that everybody else does--help for those who are suffering and meaningful steps toward peace.

American diplomacy can help to resolve this tragedy, and we must make every effort to do so.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, one of the great honors we have in the Senate is the tradition of bringing Americans of great reputation and achievement before the Record of the U.S. Senate.

Today, I am proud to rise to speak about a personal friend of mine-- we don't often get to do this--a man by the name of Woody Woodside. He is actually here with us today in the Senate Galleries.

Woody is the epitome of what makes America great. He is an institution in south Georgia and in my hometown. Woody has never met a stranger. He is a man of character and a joy to be around.

Woody graduated from The Citadel and spent 23 years serving our country in the Army and the Georgia Army National Guard. He later worked 13 years as a congressional staffer for Congressman Bo Ginn and Congressman Lindsay Thomas, both of whom represented Georgia's First Congressional District.

Woody then became president of the Brunswick-Golden Isles Chamber of Commerce in Glynn County, where my wife, Bonnie, and I today reside. During his 34 years at the chamber, Woody has overseen a number of major economic development projects and been a true leader not only in that community but across our entire State. Much of Brunswick's success and, indeed, the success of our entire State of Georgia can be attributed to Woody Woodside.

Woody is honest, persistent, and reliable. He knows how to get things done. He knows how to laugh.

Woody has long been an advocate for Georgia's ports, and he played a pivotal role in securing funding to deepen the Brunswick Harbor. That project was completed in 2007 and enabled the port to specialize in roll-on, roll-off cargo, like cars, trucks, and heavy construction equipment. Because of that, today, the Brunswick Port is the No. 1 port in the United States for new auto imports and the No. 2 port for roll- on, roll-off cargo in total. It is an amazing development in less than a decade. This port is a major economic driver in coastal Georgia and supports 11,000 jobs in the Brunswick area.

Woody has also worked to develop a strong and diverse base of employers in the area. Today, Glynn County is home to the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, FLETC, which is the largest homeland security training center in the United States. It is also home to companies like Gulfstream Aerospace Corporation, a major medical center, the College of Coastal Georgia, and a strong tourism industry.

One of Woody's top priorities is workforce development, and it has been throughout his entire career. In 2009, through partnerships with business and education leaders, Woody helped to open the Golden Isles College and Career Academy. It was one of the first programs of its kind in the entire State of Georgia. Last year, Golden Isles College and Career Academy was named the best career academy in Georgia. That is quite an achievement.

Clearly, our citizens, our community, and our entire state are better off because of Woody Woodside's leadership, his dedication, and his perseverance.

Woody, Bonnie, and I can't thank you enough for all you have done for us personally and for the State of Georgia. We are proud to know you and to call you our friend. We wish you and Ellen all the best in your retirement.

I know this won't be the last time we hear of Woody Woodside.

Thank you, Mr. President.

I yield the floor.

I ask for the yeas and nays.

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

Madam President, transportation is responsible for roughly two-thirds of our national consumption of petroleum and one of the largest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. But imagine a future where we could produce low-cost, secure clean energy technologies to move people and goods easily across our Nation. Imagine if we could then sell our advanced American technology and products to the rest of the world.

Well, that is a future, by working together, we can indeed achieve. There is no question that the cars and trucks of the future can be equipped with technology to make them safer and more fuel efficient while also saving consumers money.

Rapidly emerging technology has the potential not only to reduce air emissions, but their development could also create jobs in Michigan and across the Nation, and these are jobs that cannot be outsourced. We must ensure that the United States leads the way in developing these innovations. That is why I reintroduced the bipartisan Vehicle Innovation Act with my colleagues Senator Alexander and Senator Stabenow.

The Vehicle Innovation Act promotes research and development investments in clean vehicle and advanced safety technologies. The bill also modernizes

the Vehicle Technologies Office within the Department of Energy, which exists to help create and sustain American leadership in the transition to a global clean energy economy.

This office's leadership has already led to improvements in engine efficiency through vehicle weight reductions and reduced fuel production costs, and the Vehicle Innovation Act will help ensure that these continued innovations move forward.

I am proud to again partner on this bill with Senator Alexander and fellow Michigander, Senator Debbie Stabenow. In the last Congress, we were able to pass the Vehicle Innovation Act through the Senate. Now, with fellow Michigan delegation Members, Congresswomen Debbie Dingell and Haley Stevens, leading this bill in the House, there is no reason this legislation should not be enacted into law.

The bill is supported by labor, by industry, and by conservation groups, including the United Auto Workers, the Motor & Equipment Manufacturers Association, the Auto Alliance, the BlueGreen Alliance, and the Natural Resources Defense Council.

America should lead the world in clean energy advancements, and I urge my colleagues to support the Vehicle Innovation Act.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, revolution is deeply embedded in the character of this Nation.

More than two centuries ago, delegates from across the American colonies gathered in Philadelphia to take what was audacious action. They risked everything, including their lives, by declaring independence from the greatest and strongest power in the world at that time, the British Empire.

I am proud to say that my forefather served in George Washington's army, and he was called to risk his life and serve in the Continental Army to fight for an idea--that freedom and liberty would reign in this country.

As Americans, throughout history, we have been called to service. Sometimes we are called to service by clear and present danger, such as the bombing at Pearl Harbor. Sometimes we are called to greatness by stretching our imagination like, when we went to the Moon, and sometimes we are called to unity by necessity because the stakes of inaction are simply too high.

Today the United States faces such a challenge, and I believe we can once again prove our greatness. It is an undeniable fact that climate change, caused in large part by humans, is a threat to Michigan, our Great Lakes, our country, and our planet. Climate change poses a threat not only to the lands and waters that we all depend on but also to our health, our economy, and even our national security.

It is also undeniable that the United States, unified in purpose, can meet the challenges and defeat the threats caused by climate change, but we need to take action now. Time is simply not on our side.

Without question, taking action involves political risk, but doing nothing is simply not an option. The longer we

wait, the risks to our planet only grow more challenging and difficult to solve.

Our planet is showing clear, unequivocal evidence of climate change, according to an overwhelming scientific consensus. Our ice caps are melting. Our oceans are warming. Severe weather is becoming the new normal. Land temperatures are rising.

Just last week, an alarming new report found that the Great Lakes are warming more quickly than other parts of the country. This change will negatively impact fish species, lead to more algal blooms, cause flood damage to communities, homes, and businesses, and irreversibly alter a sensitive ecosystem that provides drinking water for 40 million Americans. I represent the Great Lakes State, and climate change threatens our economy and our way of life.

I am disappointed that instead of working together on commonsense efforts and treating climate change with the seriousness that it deserves, the Republican Senate majority leader has chosen to waste limited floor time on a political stunt.

What we should be doing is having a thoughtful debate on the need to address a significant threat to our country. Rather than playing partisan games, it is time to find unity and take bold action.

The Senate must come together to pass real, concrete policies that will help to mitigate climate change and to wean us from our dependence on fossil fuels. I know it is possible because I have worked on bipartisan efforts with my colleagues to advance clean energy and lower greenhouse gas emissions.

Together, we have advanced technology innovation, fueled our Nation's transportation with cleaner energy, bolstered our Nation's infrastructure to be more resilient to climate impacts, offered incentives for carbon capture sequestration, and boosted energy efficiency. These are all accomplishments that we have done together, but more needs to be done.

This Congress, as we consider a surface transportation reauthorization package, as well as a new Water Resources Development Act, would be foolish to ignore climate impacts as we spend taxpayer dollars for infrastructure. We must seize the opportunity presented by a clean energy economy to continue driving American innovation while creating sustainable good-paying jobs.

Today our auto industry in Michigan is rapidly working to advance electrification. Just last week, General Motors announced plans to add 400 jobs and invest $300 million to build a new electric car at their Orion plant. But despite these efforts, our State and our country have been hurt by the lack of a coherent, cohesive, and forward-looking policy that grows our economy while protecting our environment.

We need a policy that ensures that renewable energy is produced here in America and done in a way that creates jobs and strengthens our national security. I know that we can do it if only we can find the political will.

Together, we can effectively confront climate change in a way that benefits Michigan workers and families, our Great Lakes, and the entire country.

The science is clear, but time is not on our side. We must take action now to confront climate change before it is too late. I urge my colleagues to stop playing political games. Let's roll up our sleeves and get to work on solving the climate change crisis together.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I wish to recognize the 50th anniversary of the Anton Art Center in Mount Clemens, MI. I appreciate the opportunity to recognize the efforts of the Anton Art Center to fulfill their mission to enrich and inspire people of all ages through the arts.

The Anton Art Center was established in 1969 by three members of the Mount Clemens Art Association: Bea Wright, Gretchen Thompson, and Phyllis Wickens. Upon its founding, they took over occupancy of the then Mount Clemens Public Library to save the historical building from demolition. The library was built by Andrew Carnegie in 1903 and opened in 1904 and was one of approximately 2,500 libraries that Carnegie funded throughout the world. The center converted the interior to include three galleries, an art studio and meeting area, a pottery studio and kiln room, and offices. In 2006, local businessman Gebran Anton led a fundraising effort to expand the building with the addition of a gift shop, an increase in gallery space, and more classroom space. It is fitting that the center should occupy a Carnegie Library, a beautifully designed building that is now listed in the State of Michigan historic register.

The goals of the Anton Art Center are to present a wide array of programming to appeal to diverse audiences, provide support for the arts, and become a focal point for arts programming and work toward inclusion, diversity, equity, and access in all they do. Through its many programs, the Anton Art Center has become a leading advocate of the arts and artists in Macomb County and throughout the surrounding area. In addition to traditional artist exhibitions, the center offers a multitude of programs for artists to showcase their work to the public. There are multiple juried statewide competitions, as well as two annual events that include the ART! Macomb Art Fair and holiday market. The center's gift shop offers yet more opportunity for the community to support local artists. The center also supports the aspiring artist inside many of us by offering adult and child classes in many mediums including clay, drawing, mixed media, photography, weaving, and watercolor.

The Anton Art Center also serves as the Region 10A Re-granting Agency for the Michigan Council for Arts and Cultural Affairs, MCACA. As such, they award mini-grants to nonprofit organizations, schools, municipalities, and individual professional artists in Macomb and Oakland Counties in support of arts and culture programming and professional or organizational development. They also provide technical assistance to organizations applying for funding through this program.

I am pleased to rise today to ask my colleagues to join me in recognizing the 50th anniversary of the Anton Art Center. They have been a staple of the arts and cultural scene in Macomb County for half a century, and I wish them continued success in the years to come.

Mr. President, I rise to speak on the need to vigorously protect the Great Lakes.

The Great Lakes are a vital natural resource not only for my home State of Michigan but for the entire Nation. In addition to providing drinking water for nearly 40 million people, the Great Lakes serve as an economic engine for our entire country. This freshwater system is associated with adding nearly $6 trillion to the U.S. GDP while supporting millions of jobs. It accounts for more than 50 percent of all U.S.-Canadian border trade and facilitates the shipping of over 200 million tons of cargo every year.

But ask Michiganders what the Great Lakes mean to them, and they will tell you that they are a great deal more than simply a source of commerce; the Great Lakes literally define our State. They not only define our borders but who we are among the States. We are, in fact, the Great Lakes State. We love to spend our summers on or near the lakes and, in the process, form the family memories that we hold for a lifetime. It is no exaggeration to say that for Michiganders, the Great Lakes are part of who we are. It is in our DNA.

Over the years, Democrats and Republicans alike have understood the importance of maintaining the vitality of the Great Lakes. That is why, in 2004, President George W. Bush signed an Executive order to promote a Great Lakes regional collaboration.

Then, in 2010, President Obama built on his predecessor's leadership. In his very first budget request, President Obama called for the funding for what would later be known as the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. The GLRI today remains a bipartisan success story because it provides a platform for Federal Agencies and States to come together to address the biggest threats to our lakes.

Let me give you a few examples of the positive impact that the GLRI has had in my home State of Michigan.

In Deer Lake, near Ishpeming in the Upper Peninsula, GLRI funds were used to successfully eliminate mercury runoff that had contaminated local wildlife. Over just a few years, these funds were used to restore the natural habitat, and as a result, Deer Lake was no longer considered a Federal area of concern.

Thanks to the support of the GLRI, sufficient improvements were made to prevent runoff at the Gloede Drain in the Clinton Township of Macomb County, reducing flooding and soil erosion in an area that many Michiganders call home.

In Detroit, 30 steel mills, oil refineries, chemical manufacturers, and other plants discharged pollutants into the Detroit River for decades. However, with the implementation of $89 million worth of GLRI waterway cleanup projects, the water quality has improved, and Detroit now has a thriving and vibrant downtown RiverWalk that has become an economic engine for small businesses.

There is no question the GLRI is a proven success and has been vital to Michigan's environment and to Michigan's economy. Yet, despite this success, President Trump, once again, is willing to risk the health, safety, and vitality of one of the world's largest freshwater systems by proposing a 90-percent cut--yes, a 90-percent cut--to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. Unfortunately, this is not the first time. Since taking office, President Trump has tried to eliminate the funding to the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative each and every year he has been in office, and each and every year, Congress has united in a bipartisan way to ensure that this critical program remains funded.

Let me be clear. Slashing GLRI funding would have an immediate and catastrophic impact on the future of the Great Lakes and on both the nearly 10 million Michiganders whom I represent as well as our entire country.

I again ask my Senate colleagues for their support. The Great Lakes are not just a Michigan priority; they are not just a regional priority--they are truly a national priority. Fully funding the

Great Lakes Restoration Initiative should never be a partisan issue--it is simply the right thing to do--and, together, we can protect the Great Lakes for this generation and future generations to come.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, today I wish to honor a lifelong champion of the American labor movement, Mr. Rick Blocker, president of the Metro Detroit AFL-CIO, on the occasion of his retirement. As a member of the

U.S. Senate, it is both my privilege and honor to recognize Mr. Blocker for his lifetime of service and contributions that have strengthened our community and State.

Rick Blocker has been a tireless advocate for his brothers and sisters in labor throughout his career. From 1987 to 2013, he served as the secretary-treasurer and executive assistant to the president of the United Food and Commercial Workers, UFCW, Local Union 876 in Madison Heights, MI. In this role, he was responsible for managing the finances and expenditures of the over 19,000 members of Local 876. Rick also served as a trustee for the Michigan UFCW Unions and Employers Health and Welfare Fund where he maintained membership services, helped develop community programs, and assisted in contract negotiations.

Since 2013, Rick has served as president of the Metro-Detroit AFL- CIO. The Metro Detroit AFL-CIO is comprised of approximately 120 affiliated labor organizations that represent nearly 70,000 members. In this capacity, Rick serves as the lead voice of these affiliates and members to the public and the State AFL-CIO, representing the interests of working people throughout the region. Through his work, Rick continually advocates for economic and social justice and the betterment of workers lives, not just in metro Detroit, but across the State of Michigan.

Rick has spent his career and life in support of his community, organized labor, civil rights, and faith. Throughout his life, he has been involved with many organizations, including the Trade Union Leadership Council, the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists, the Coalition of Labor Women, is a founding member of the Change to Win Federation, a life member of the NAACP, and a trustee and executive director of New Bethel Baptist Church in Detroit. Rick also serves on Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan's Mayor's Workforce Development Board, with the mission to strive toward successful delivery of workforce programs across the city of Detroit.

Rick has spent his career in service to others, his community, and his brother and sisters in labor. I ask my colleagues to join me today in honoring my friend, Mr. Rick Blocker, for his leadership in furthering the causes of the organized labor movement and for his many other contributions to the metro Detroit region. I wish Rick and his family health and happiness in the years ahead.

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

Mr. President, I know that American small businesses can outcompete anybody in the world; however, they deserve to have a level playing field. All too often, foreign countries engage in unfair trade practices--like dumping and countervailing duties--that make it harder for small and midsized businesses to compete in the global marketplace.

This is especially true in my home State of Michigan, where businesses, from family farms to auto part suppliers and other small manufacturers, face unfair competition from foreign competitors whose products are subsidized by their governments.

Michigan's cherry growers have experienced these unfair practices firsthand. In Traverse City, which is home of the National Cherry Festival, Michigan cherry growers struggled to sell their products after Turkey dumped artificially priced cherry juice into the American markets. As a result, many of Michigan's cherry growers are facing dire financial situations.

Late last year, the Commerce Department revoked the duty-free status of cherry juice from Turkey, but Michigan cherry growers had to wait far too long for the government to step up. Small businesses and agricultural producers don't have the resources to employ an army of international trade lawyers like larger corporations and other industries do. As a result, they are often defenseless against illegal trade practices that undercut American businesses and American workers. We must use our expertise and strength to stand up for these small businesses and give them a fair fight.

Under current law, the Commerce Department has the authority to start their own investigations into these harmful trade practices, but unfortunately they rarely do. That is why last week, I introduced bipartisan legislation with Senator Burr to address unfair trade practices.

The Self-Initiation Trade Enforcement Act will strengthen protections for small businesses and their workers by creating a permanent task force dedicated to proactively identifying illegal trade practices that unfairly target small businesses and small industries.

Last year, I attended a bipartisan trade policy meeting with President Trump and Commerce Secretary Ross, and I discussed this commonsense legislation with both of them. They both expressed their strong support. I will continue to work with the administration and my colleagues in Congress to get this legislation signed into law.

Michigan workers and businesses deserve a fair chance to compete, and I will keep fighting to enforce fair trade rules and give Michigan's small businesses a level playing field. I urge my colleagues to support the Self-Initiation Trade Enforcement Act to help small businesses and family farms across Michigan and the United States successfully compete and ultimately succeed.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I rise in opposition to the nomination of Mr. Chad Readler to the U.S. Sixth Circuit Court.

There are certainly many reasons to oppose Mr. Readler's nomination. His track record paints a very clear picture of what he values and what he does not. Mr. Readler fought to uphold President Trump's travel ban that targets people because of their religion. He has argued in favor of a business turning away customers simply because they are LGBT. He worked to unravel programs made during the past administration that would ensure low-income workers would actually receive their hard- earned benefits. Of the things that Mr. Readler values, protecting Americans from wrongful acts of discrimination is clearly not among them.

Yet it still remains difficult for me to understand why Mr. Readler-- and any of my colleagues who choose to advance his nomination today-- would support going back to an era when health insurance companies are allowed to discriminate against people with preexisting health conditions. I have heard plenty of my colleagues from across the aisle make public statements in favor of preexisting coverage protections. That is probably because they hear, like I do, from people all across my State who fear losing coverage as a result of having that preexisting condition.

What are preexisting conditions? Well, it is things like diabetes, asthma, or even high blood pressure, and they are a reality for over 4 million Michiganders. This range of fairly common to fairly complex conditions is experienced by one in every four children, over half of the female population, and 84 percent of adults in their late fifties and in their sixties.

Today, there is a broad consensus that we need a Federal law in place that prevents insurance companies from denying coverage or jacking up prices based on someone's health status, their age, or their gender. We have a law on the books right now that protects people with preexisting conditions, but this law must be defended, not undermined.

I worked hard to pass this important coverage during my first term in the Congress, and I have fought to preserve it every day since then. Although this fight has been successful so far, it is based on the premise that the laws passed and upheld by Congress will be defended in court. Yet the Department of Justice Civil Division, under Mr. Readler's leadership, decided not to do so. His actions fit into the story of the Trump administration's ongoing partisan efforts to sabotage our healthcare system and dismantle strategies that would lower premiums and expand quality, affordability, and coverage, generally. The President is constantly looking for ways that he can sidestep Congress and attack legislation that has brought health insurance to over 20 million Americans and cut Michigan's uninsured rate in half.

We should not be advancing a Federal court nominee whose disregard for the rule of law comes at the expense of the health and the financial stability of millions of Americans. I urge my colleagues to vote no on Mr. Readler's nomination and his track record of promoting discrimination.

Thank you, Mr. President.

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