Floor Statements

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Madam President, I rise today to urge my colleagues-- Democrats, Independents, Republicans--to seize this opportunity that we have to pass bipartisan legislation to look out for the veterans of wars in Iraq and Afghanistan who are suffering the terrible consequences of exposure to burn pits, toxic fumes, and toxic waste.

When we send Americans to war, caring for them when they return is not a favor, it is not a good deed, it is not a choice; it is a sacred obligation of the U.S. Government.

I would observe that many of the same Senators who voted to send our forces into harm's way in Iraq and Afghanistan are still serving in this body today.

We have a sacred obligation to pass this legislation to ensure that those who served in those conflicts and anywhere around the world in service to the United States, suffering from the effects of exposure to toxins, get the care they need through the VA.

This is about folks like COL David McCracken of Tyrone, GA, an Army Reservist deployed in defense of our country after 9/11. Colonel McCracken made it home from those deployments. He served his country. He did his duty with valor and bravery. But at the age of 45, when otherwise healthy, Colonel McCracken was diagnosed with brain cancer--a rare occurrence at his age--and 11 months later, he was dead, taken from a wife and three children.

This is about folks like Army SGT Jeff Danovich, who fought in Mosul in 2004, where he lived just 100 yards from a burn pit. Like Colonel McCracken, Sergeant Danovich did his duty. He served in combat. He came home to his family, but just 2 years ago, Sergeant Danovich was diagnosed with leukemia. And when he filed for disability with the VA because of his exposure to burn pits, his claim was denied.

Let me just state again that when this government sends its forces into harm's way, caring for them when they return is not a good deed. We don't get extra credit for doing this. It is not a favor; it is our job. And let me remind my colleagues once again that many of you in this body voted to send these men and women into combat.

So Senator Tester and Senator Moran have presented us with a bipartisan bill to do what is right and look after the veterans who did their jobs for us when we sent them to do those jobs. Let's do our jobs for them and pass this legislation.

I yield the floor.

(Ms. BALDWIN assumed the Chair.)

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

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 665, submitted earlier today.

Madam President, I further ask that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 666, submitted earlier today.

Madam President, I further ask that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 667, submitted earlier today.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. Thursday, June 9; 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 conclusion of morning business, the Senate resume consideration of Calendar No. 388, H.R. 3967; further that at 1:45 p.m., the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of Executive Calendar No. 728, vote on confirmation of the Bagenstos nomination as provided under the previous order, and that upon disposition of the nomination, the Senate resume legislative session; finally, if any nominations are confirmed during Thursday'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.

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

Mr. President, today, I will vote to open debate on H.R. 350, the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act.

Should the Senate so proceed, however, I will insist on a thorough and judicious debate and on a process that empowers Senators to offer and vote on amendments.

Before I determine whether to support passage of this legislation, I will weigh that debate, I will consider expert analysis and input from executive agencies, and I will assess the merits and effects of amendments that may be considered and adopted.

This legislative process must ensure that Federal law enforcement is transparent, accountable, and apolitical.

The threat of domestic terrorism is real. The United States must continue to confront it. We have sworn an oath to defend the Constitution from all enemies foreign and domestic. We must do so in a manner informed by objective threat assessments, consistent with our Constitution, and attentive to civil liberties.

Any time we establish or codify Federal law enforcement offices tasked with investigating and prosecuting crimes committed by Americans or collecting and analyzing intelligence related to American citizens, we must ensure safeguards are sufficiently robust to protect civil rights and civil liberties. Consideration of such legislation may present us with an opportunity to assess what Congress got right and what Congress got wrong in the aftermath of 9/11, when the Department of Homeland Security was established and Federal counterterrorism efforts and authorities grew considerably, and to calibrate policy accordingly.

In short, I vote today to open debate, but I do not yet commit to voting for passage of this legislation while the process of review, debate, and potential amendment continues.

Cloture Motion

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that Borchien Lai be granted floor privileges for the remainder of today's session.

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

Mr. President, this evening, I come to the floor of the U.S. Senate in order to move that we confirm Philip S. Goldberg to serve as the U.S. Ambassador to the Republic of Korea. Ambassador Goldberg currently serves as U.S. Ambassador to Colombia.

We saw, just yesterday, North Korea test a ballistic missile. We have seen North Korea continue to develop and test ballistic missiles that threaten not just South Korea, not just our allies in the region but the United States and the entire world.

We need our Ambassador in Seoul. South Korea is one of our most important trading partners. South Korea is one of our most important security partners. Our alliance with the Republic of Korea is among the most important bilateral relationships that the

United States has in the world. And as the Presiding Officer knows, in our home State of Georgia, a vibrant Korean-American community thrives, and Georgia is a key destination for Korean investment, bringing technology, jobs, talent, and opportunity to our State and to the entire country.

We need a U.S. Ambassador to lead our mission in South Korea. I had the privilege of leading an economic delegation to South Korea in the middle of last year. I sat down at that time with now President-elect Yoon, then-Candidate Yoon. When he was running for President, I congratulated him on his election. I look forward to working with him.

I had the pleasure last month, alongside Senators Sullivan and Schatz, to host his special delegation to Washington and meet with the Foreign Minister Designate, Dr. Park. This alliance is essential, and we have to strengthen it. In order to strengthen it, we need to confirm our Ambassador to South Korea.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar Nos. 897, 898, 899, 900, and 901; that the Senate vote on the nominations without intervening action or debate; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that no further motions be in order to the nominations; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate then resume legislative session.

Mr. President, we look forward to Ambassador Goldberg's service in Seoul. He will continue his distinguished career in the Foreign Service, and we look forward to working with him.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 3 p.m. on Monday, May 9; 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 Phillips nomination; further, that the cloture motions filed during today's session of the Senate ripen at 5:30 p.m.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the provisions of S. Res. 621.