Floor Statements

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that, notwithstanding rule XXII, at a time to be determined by the majority leader, following consultation with the Democratic leader, no later than Friday, October 31, it be in order to discharge the Committee on Finance of S.J. Res. 88 and the Senate proceed to its consideration; further, that there be up to 6 hours for debate only on the joint resolution with the time equally divided between the leaders or their designees; and that following the use or yielding back of that time, the joint resolution be considered read a third time and the Senate vote on the resolution.

Mr. President, I understand that there are three bills at the desk and I ask for their first reading en bloc.

Mr. President, I now ask for a second reading, and I object to my own request, all en bloc.

Mr. President, I move to adjourn until 7:03 p.m.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 168, H.R. 5371.

Mr. President, you have to give the Democrats credit for one thing, and that is a healthy dose of gall. Both the House and Senate Democrat leaders were out last week and claiming that they can't fund the government until--get this--we solve the ``Republican healthcare crisis.''

That is right--``the Republican healthcare crisis.'' It is truly amazing how a program Democrats created and tax credits that they chose to sunset have now become the Republicans' crisis. Republicans, in fact, never had anything to do with it. Democrats created Obamacare-- alone. They implemented the enhanced tax credits--alone. And they chose a sunset date for those tax credits--alone.

Democrats are solely, solely responsible for the Obamacare tax credit cliff, and yet they are trying to pin this disaster on Republicans, while at the very same time, they are asking Republicans to bail them out. It is really kind of ironic. Democrats may not win a lot of points for truthfulness, but you have to give them credit for gall.

While Democrats may have created this healthcare situation, I have made it clear, from the beginning, that Republicans are willing to have a discussion about how to address it. In fact, I am perfectly willing to guarantee Democrats a vote. But none of that is going to happen until Democrats reopen the government.

We are not going to negotiate on anything until Democrats stop holding government funding hostage. And if they really want to address their Obamacare mess, they should stop running out the clock on a deal. All they are doing by that action is keeping the government shut down and enhancing--enhancing, believe it or not--the chances this situation doesn't get fixed because the clock is running.

Before I leave the subject of healthcare, I do have to mention the irony that, while Democrats claim they are defending Americans' healthcare, their shutdown has actually suspended valuable healthcare services for a lot of Americans. Medicare and rural patients are currently dealing with the elimination of telehealth services, thanks to the government shutdown.

Telehealth, of course, increases the accessibility of care and lets those who live far from medical treatment, or who otherwise struggle to travel, to conduct prescription refill appointments or other visits from the comfort of their home. But that assistance is currently being denied to them thanks to the Democrats' shutdown.

But I am not sure why I am talking about shutdown costs. Democrats have made it very clear that they don't care about the costs of the shutdown--to anyone.

Democrats used to care, of course, or so they claimed. In fact, I could fill a book with Democrat quotes on how shutdowns harm hard- working Americans.

But over the past 3 weeks, it has become clear that Democrats' previous concerns had more to do with politics than with principle. Democrats were against shutdowns when it served their purposes, and now that it serves their purposes--or so they think--to keep the government closed, they are all for shutdowns, no matter how many Americans have to suffer in the process.

I have talked about healthcare today, and Democrats would definitely like Americans to think that that is what this shutdown is about. But, of course, the biggest driver of this shutdown is not healthcare or any other issue. It is the Democrats' far-left base.

Leftwing activists demanded a showdown with President Trump, and Democrats fell in line. That is why you see the Democrat leader, who actually voted to fund the government in the spring, leading the shutdown brigade this time around.

Far-left groups were rallying this weekend, and the Democrat leader and other Democrat Senators were out paying homage. And if these same leftwing groups have their way, Democrats will be keeping up the shutdown for a long time to come. They don't really care about a solution. This is about politics.

For the sake of the American people, let's hope that there are some Democrat Senators who will eventually put the needs of their constituents over the demands of their far-left base and work with Republicans to pass the clean, nonpartisan funding measure that is sitting right here in front of us today. And when passed, it will be sent to the President and signed into law, and this government will open up again.

I yield the floor.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. President, I enter a motion to reconsider.

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

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 458.

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

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

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Finance be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 998 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed

and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 284 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

THE PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, October 21; that following the prayer and pledge, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each; and that at 11 a.m., the Senate execute the order of October 16 in relation to the Mooty nomination; further, that the Senate recess following disposition of the Mooty nomination until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly conference meetings; finally, if any nominations are confirmed during Tuesday's session of the Senate, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 168, H.R. 5371.

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

Mr. President, in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I would object to further proceedings.