Floor Statements

Our democracy is extraordinary because it is built on the bedrock idea that, through free and fair elections, the citizens who make up this great country, well, they have a voice, that each person's vote truly matters, and in America the people have the power.

But at this moment, our democracy is threatened. Republican State legislatures and Governors all over the country are writing laws designed to restrict the right to vote, to make it harder for tens of millions of eligible citizens to cast their ballots, and silence the American people's voice in the process.

Make no mistake, this is an unprecedented, coordinated attack to make voting harder for eligible citizens and make it easier for bad actors to sabotage our future elections.

In my State of Nevada, we have bucked that trend when it comes to voting rights. We have strengthened the right to vote, providing easier access to the ballot box for eligible voters while ensuring fair elections.

These measures that Governor Steve Sisolak signed into law include establishing a permanent vote-by-mail system, expanding the early voting period, and making it more convenient to register and to vote. But while Nevada has moved forward to protect and strengthen voting rights, we are not immune from the attempts to sabotage it.

In Nevada, the leading Republican candidate for our secretary of state stated that he would have refused--I repeat, would have refused-- to certify President Biden's victory in our State, even though the results were certified by a Republican secretary of state and unanimously upheld by the Nevada Supreme Court. That same candidate opened the door to certifying alternate--alternate--electors in future Presidential elections in Nevada, contrary to the actual election results.

And in Nevada, the leading Republican candidates for Governor are promising to undo our progress and make it harder for Nevadans to vote because they refused to accept the results of the 2020 election.

They are pushing the former President's false conspiracy theories that fueled the January 6 insurrection. Attacks like these are a growing threat to democracy and exactly--exactly--the reason we need to act urgently. If we fail to do so--if we fail to do so here and now-- new State laws will result in hours-long lines at the polls, overturned election results, and masses of disenfranchised voters.

So let's talk about solutions--smart solutions, solutions that give every eligible voter equal access to the ballot box.

The Freedom to Vote Act combined with the John Lewis Voting Right Advancement Act meets this moment. It meets the moment we are in with our

democracy in crisis. It delivers real, meaningful action.

First, this bill makes it easy for people to register to vote. It does this by requiring States to allow eligible Americans to register online and on election day, as well as update our automatic voter registration system.

This bill would also require States to accurately maintain their voter registration list and protect voters against unwarranted purges from the voter rolls. This way, those who should be eligible to vote can do so without hassle or harassment.

The Freedom to Vote Act gives Americans more choices on when and how they can legally vote through national standards for early in-person voting, expanded mail-in voting, and finally, making election day a national holiday, because even if you are a hard-working American who is busy working long hours or looking after your children or caring for a sick relative, you should still have access to the ballot box.

This bill would ensure election security and prevent partisan sabotage by requiring postelection audits and enhancing--enhancing-- protections for election records.

The Freedom to Vote Act would also take long-needed steps to end political corruption in our elections. It would accomplish this by protecting U.S. elections from foreign interference, by prohibiting false information designed to dissuade eligible voters, by promoting online ad transparency, and by putting an end--an end--to that dark money in our elections.

To borrow a few words from the late Congressman John Lewis, my former colleague from the House, a legendary civil rights leader and American hero for whom this bill is named, an inspiration to us all and to people all around the world, John Lewis said: ``The right to vote is the most powerful . . . tool . . . in a democracy.''

I'm going to repeat those words from John Lewis. Listen closely: ``The right to vote is the most powerful . . . tool . . . in a democracy.''

Each person's vote is their voice. It is every citizen's opportunity to weigh in on what matters most to them, for their family, for their community, for the country, for the world. It matters. It is fundamental to our democracy, to the very definition of what it means to be an American citizen for each and every one of us to stand up, to stand tall, to get to the ballot box, to be able to vote the way we choose and have the assurance that our vote is counted. It matters. Each person matters.

And so if the Senate cannot move forward on this critically important legislation under the status quo, then it is time to reform the rules, to restore the Senate, to pass this legislation--because only then can we protect our democracy's future and secure the freedom to vote for every eligible American, for this generation and for the generations to come.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that following my remarks, the Senate recess until 2 p.m. and the postcloture time on the Witkowsky nomination expire at 2:15 p.m.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the life and memory of former Senate Majority Leader Harry Mason Reid. To some in this Chamber, Senator Reid was a colleague, a mentor, a friend. To me and to so many Nevadans, he was also a source of inspiration and pride. His life, coming from the humblest of beginnings, is the definition of the American dream.

During his decades of public service, from the State assembly to the Lieutenant Governor's Office, to chairing the Nevada Gaming Commission, he became the most powerful leader in Congress. This former boxer from a tiny town called Searchlight always put Nevada first.

Senator Reid served five terms in this very Chamber, and what he accomplished during those decades here, particularly as majority leader, is remarkable. Senator Reid stopped Yucca Mountain. He made sure Nevada would not become the Nation's nuclear waste dump. He is the reason we passed the Affordable Care Act into law, providing quality, affordable healthcare to tens of millions of Americans. He did more than anyone to rescue Nevada's economy from the depths of the great recession. He passed crucial Wall Street reform to hold the big banks accountable for that economic crisis and prevent a future one. He established Nevada's first national park, Great Basin National Park. He saved Social Security from being privatized. He was a fearless champion for bold action to stop climate change, and he was a tireless fighter for comprehensive immigration reform and the Dream Act.

Because Senator Reid celebrated our State's diversity and recognized its importance, Nevada is an early State, the first in the West when it comes to choosing each party's nominee for the White House. No matter the issue, if it impacted Nevada, you can be sure Senator Reid would do anything to deliver for our State. He was a voice for all Nevadans, and if you ever went to an event for Senator Reid, he would remind you by making sure ``Home Means Nevada''--that is our State song--was sung in honor of our beloved State.

This is how he got things done. He was blunt. He was direct. He was a real straight shooter. He didn't mince words. When he identified a problem, he would work relentlessly to find a solution. As so many of us here know, you could try as hard as you wanted to, but you could never leave the conversation or hang up the phone before he did. He said what he needed to and was on to his next piece of work.

I want to share the best advice Senator Reid gave to me. He said this: Take every call. Listen to every person, whether you agree with them or not, and then tell them when you are with them and tell them when you are not. Be open and honest in your conversations.

These are words I try to live by here every day. They were things Senator Reid was respected for.

Senator Reid also knew that the constituent services, the work we do with our teams, literally saves lives and directly helps families, and it touches so many people. It is the most important and personal work we do and, through that work, can often become the foundation for legislation at the Federal level.

When I was thinking about whether or not to run for the Senate, Senator Reid invited me and my husband Larry over to his home to talk to him about making that decision. Well, in Senator Reid's style, instead of taking the lead to tell us what to do and give us advice, he actually asked his wife Landra to talk to us about her experience.

Well, anyone who has met Landra Reid knows what an incredible woman she is. Senator Reid was a family man, and he adored her and their children, of course, grandchildren, and I believe even great- grandchildren so very much. As my friend Brian Greenspun wrote the other day in the Las Vegas Sun, ``To Harry Reid the greatest accomplishment he had was his family.''

Anyway, in Senator Reid's living room, Landra told me and my husband

how she juggled being a mom of not one, not two, not three, not four, five kids--five kids--while Harry was working as a Capitol Police officer to put himself through law school while running tough campaigns and while serving long days and nights in Washington. Needless to say, there is not much that can top that. So the Reids provided my family with the inspiration I needed as I was considering what a life in the public view would look like.

Their love for each other, their journey and ability to make it work over six decades--raising kids, keeping their love strong--showed me how important it was to have a strong family, of course, and friends as the foundation for this work of public service.

You know, we spend a lot of time here in Washington talking about politics every day, but it is the personal things at the end of the day we all know really matter, and that is the work that Senator Reid did for Nevadans. He fought to make families' lives just a little bit easier, whether they knew it or not, so that they could focus on what matters, what was most important to them.

I want to honor Senator Reid for his lifetime of fighting the good fight for our State. He helped make Nevada what it is today--a world- class destination and truly a great place to live, work, and raise a family.

I want to thank Landra and the entire Reid family for sharing their husband, their father, and their grandfather with Nevada and with the Nation. The American people have benefited so much because of their sacrifices and his willingness to serve. Thank you.

Thank you, Senator Reid.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Madam President, I am proud to host a number of interns from Nevada in my office, all of whom have contributed greatly to my work in the U.S. Senate. I know I speak for my colleagues as well when I say that many of our interns have enjoyed and benefited from a wonderful program operated by the Stennis Center for Public Service. This program is designed to enhance the internship experience for exceptional future leaders, giving young Americans an inside look at how Congress works and an opportunity to learn from bipartisan senior staffers and foster bipartisan relationships that will carry some of them through their career supporting Congress.

Stennis interns are selected based on their employment experience, college course load, and future service to Congress. This fall, 32 interns were chosen to be a part of this prestigious experience. These interns serve us on both sides of the aisle, working for Democrats and Republicans in the House and Senate, including one exceptional intern in my office who was awarded this opportunity: Natalie Gilbert of Las Vegas, NV.

Natalie is an impressive young Nevadan, having earned the distinguished honors of State of Nevada Mock Trial Outstanding Attorney and National Merit Commended Scholar in 2020. Before interning with my office, she interned with the Clark County District Attorney's Office in the homicide and domestic violence departments and worked directly with their victim advocacy program. Surpassing over 100 hours of volunteer service, Natalie has been an invaluable member of our Las Vegas community. I am proud to recognize Natalie and her incredible efforts. I wish her only the best as she continues to pursue her studies in political economy and justice and peace studies at Georgetown University.

In addition to Natalie, I would like to congratulate all of the Stennis interns on their completion of this exceptional program. I also thank the Stennis Center and their senior Fellows for providing a meaningful experience and fostering bipartisan work.

I ask that the names of the 2021 Fall Stennis congressional interns and the offices in which they work be printed in the Record.

The material follows:

Delanie Blubaugh, LaVale, MD, U.S. Representative David

Trone; Sameer Chhetri, Philadelphia, PA, U.S. Representative

Lois Frankel; Alexandra Dorotinsky, Damascus, MD, U.S.

Senator Chris Van Hollen; Adam Duffy, Washington, DC, House

Committee on Rules; Drew Ficociello, Washington, DC, U.S.

Representative Cindy Axne; Rukmini Ganesh, Bowling Green, KY,

House Committee on Education and Labor.

Natalie Gilbert, Las Vegas, NV, U.S. Senator Jacky Rosen;

Ava Goble, Hilo, HI, U.S. Representative Kaiali`i Kahele;

Diana Grechukhina, Ocean City, MD, U.S. Senator Chris Van

Hollen; Kathleen Griffith, Washington, DC, Senate Special

Committee on Aging; Kendall Groza, Washington, DC, U.S.

Representative Billy Long; Amanda Guilardi, Washington, DC,

House Committee on the Judiciary.

Kylie Harlan, Bells, TX, U.S. Representative Kevin Brady;

Victoria Izaguirre, Spring Branch, TX, U.S. Representative

Randy Weber; Niklas Kleinworth, Washington, DC, U.S. Senator

James Risch; Catherine Lawson, Arlington, VA, U.S.

Representative Kevin Brady; Haley Ledford, Fort Dodge, IA,

U.S. Representative Randy Feenstra; Laura Ludwig, Washington,

DC, U.S. Representative Jimmy Panetta.

Sophie Mittelstaedt, Washington, DC, U.S. Representative

Marilyn Strickland; Jennifer Rivera-Galindo, Miami, FL,

Senate Foreign Relations Committee; Jeremy Rodriguez-

Melendez, Hormigueros, PR, U.S. Representative Don Young;

Owen Rosenberg, Washington, DC, U.S. Representative Andrew

Garbarino; Caroline Rykard, Midway, GA, U.S. Representative

Buddy Carter; Natalie Salazar, Houston, TX, U.S.

Representative Sylvia Garcia.

Ethan Sanders, Bartlesville, OK, U.S. Representative Lizzie

Fletcher; Ben Savercool, Washington, DC, House Committee on

Appropriations; Alexandra Schindewolf, Woodbine, NJ, U.S.

Representative Ken Buck; Alexander Siegal, Longboat Key, FL,

U.S. Representative Charlie Crist; Jaydn Smith, Washington,

DC, U.S. Senator Deb Fischer; Sydney Smith, Washington, DC,

U.S. Representative Mondaire Jones.

McKayla Steineke, Boston, MA, Senate Foreign Relations

Committee; Jessie Xu, West Hartford, CT, Senate Committee on

Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs.

Mr. President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, I request the scheduled vote occur immediately.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, when I traveled to Israel in 2019, I saw with my own eyes the Iron Dome system up close and in person. I met with the brave soldiers who operate and protect it--young men and women, in many cases, no older than 18 or 19 years old.

Iron Dome is a missile defense system that has successfully intercepted thousands of missiles fired by terrorist groups, like Hamas, at Israeli population centers. It has protected Jews, Christians, and Muslims. It has protected them all from harm and saved countless lives, Israelis and Palestinians alike.

This incredible feat of defense technology is a shining example of the unbreakable U.S.-Israel security partnership. The U.S. Army is in the process,

as well, of acquiring Iron Dome batteries, and it tested the system as recently as August, meaning this lifesaving technology could also protect American men and women in uniform from a variety of missile threats.

Let me be clear. I want to emphasize the word ``defense.'' Iron Dome is a purely defensive system. It is a shield--a miraculous shield-- against death and destruction, one that America should be proud to help support and has supported across both Democratic and Republican administrations and in Democratic and Republican Congresses for over a decade. Iron Dome saves lives; Iron Dome prevents an escalation of violence; and Iron Dome provides a critical window for diplomacy.

This past May, terrorist organizations launched over 4,400 rockets at Israel. That is right--4,400 rockets. Iron Dome was key to preventing 90 percent of these rockets from reaching their targets, saving the lives of innocent Israeli citizens. We should be proud to support this technological feat that has protected countless lives and will continue to do so.

My trip to Israel and my visit to see Iron Dome, well, is on my mind today because Israel needs our help, and they need it now.

This summer, following the barrage of rocket fire--those 4,400 missiles that Israel had to endure and which the Iron Dome protected Israel against--Israel made an emergency request to the United States for security assistance in order to replenish and repair the Iron Dome defense system to defend against future potential conflicts.

To Israel's north, on the border with Lebanon, which I went to see just 2 years ago, Hezbollah, an Iranian-backed terrorist organization, is estimated to possess over 100,000 missiles. Those 100,000 missiles are pointed at Israel, including thousands of precision missiles. If war were ever to break out again between Israel and Lebanon, as it did in 2006, Iron Dome would play a crucial role in protecting civilians-- all civilians in Israel.

Just a few months ago, I joined Democratic and Republican colleagues in urging the continued support for Iron Dome. Support for Iron Dome is about the integrity of the U.S.-Israel relationship. There has always been strong bipartisan support for the U.S.-Israel defense partnership. That bipartisan support continues today.

The failure to fund this critical defensive tool would be catastrophic for Israel and would result in lives lost. It would lead to more conflict, and it would weaken the bond between the United States and our greatest ally in the Middle East. We must take action to ensure that this program remains fully operational.

The House of Representatives has already passed legislation on an overwhelmingly bipartisan basis to fund Iron Dome. It was a vote of 420 for, and only 9 against. So now it is the Senate's turn to act.

Earlier this week, my colleague Senator Menendez, Chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, said this: ``There is no conceivable reason why anyone in this Chamber or on either side of the aisle should stand in the way of U.S. support for this lifesaving defense to be fully ready for the next attack.''

He is exactly right. Opposition to Iron Dome is contrary to U.S. national security interests and violates the commitment that the U.S. Government made to Israel.

We have an opportunity to rebuild the Iron Dome shield, to support the security of our most important ally in the Middle East, and to save lives. But we must take action right here and right now.

So as if in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, following consultation with the Republican leader, the Senate proceed to consideration of Calendar No. 140, H.R. 5323; that there be up to 2 hours for debate; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the bill be considered read a third time, and that the Senate vote on passage of the bill without intervening action or debate.

Mr. Paul's objection is unacceptable. He knows it is unacceptable. This is no time for political games. It could jeopardize the support for our allies and people in need of lifesaving assistance.

I challenge all my Republican colleagues to let us take up the House- passed bill, passed 420 to 9, and fund Iron Dome for our national security--our national security--as well as Israel's.

I yield the floor.

Mr. President, I rise today to honor the memories of the lives that were lost in Las Vegas on October 1, 2017. Four years ago tomorrow, the Las Vegas community experienced tragedy on an unprecedented scale.

Tens of thousands of people gathered that night for a country music festival. They were there to have fun, to dance, and to enjoy a concert with family and friends. That night, the fun quickly turned to terror when gunfire erupted, taking 60 innocent souls and injuring hundreds and hundreds more. In just 10 minutes--10 minutes--dozens of lives were cut short and so many more were forever changed.

These victims were friends and family, brothers and sisters, parents and children, and that night, they were taken from us. The people that survived and the loved ones that didn't are still grieving, still feeling that loss with every passing holiday, every passing birthday, every single day their lives are forever changed.

Nevada will always feel that loss too. This was the worst mass shooting in American history, and it happened in our State.

But I know our community is strong. We are resilient, and in our darkest hour--and in the days and weeks and months and now even years after--we remain united. We remain Vegas Strong.

We are united in our grief for those we lost but also in our admiration for those who helped save lives and support others that night: heroic law enforcement officers and first responders, everyday citizens who ran toward the danger--they ran toward the danger to help others--and countless Nevadans who waited in line to donate blood and help people who were displaced in the chaotic aftermath of the shooting.

As we reflect on the 4 years since this horrific event, I stand here today--I stand here today to honor the heroes who put themselves in harm's way to save others. I stand here today to honor those who were injured physically, psychologically, and emotionally, especially those who are still fighting to recover. Know that we are with you now and always. And I stand here today to honor those who lost their lives. They will never ever be forgotten. May their memories be a blessing. And in their memory, we are resilient. In their honor, we are strong. We are Vegas Strong.

I thank the Presiding Officer.

Mr. President, before I begin, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the passing of Richard Trumka, just as my colleagues have been speaking of him so wonderfully.

You know, during his time leading the AFL-CIO, he was a tireless defender of workers and the rights of working Americans all across our country. He recognized the capability of what Americans--of what they could achieve by working together. He fought fiercely to help build something better for our country and for our country's workforce.

My thoughts are with his family and his loved ones

Mr. President, last summer, the United States saw up close the horrific damage that wildfires can do to our communities. In 2020, nearly 300,000 acres in Nevada burned to the ground. Right now, the Tamarack fire is devastating the Nevada-California border and local communities.

These natural disasters have done real, lasting damage to our Nation's highways, causing cracks, potholes, and, in some cases, literally melting the roads that we drive on.

My colleague Senator Risch and I offer this bipartisan amendment to the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which would add wildfires as a specified damage for which Federal assistance from the National Highway Performance Program may be used to rebuild our highways.

This will provide support to increase the resiliency of the national highway system, helping to mitigate the cost of the damages.

I ask all of my colleagues to support this amendment.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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