Floor Statements

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 440, submitted earlier today.

I know of no further debate on the resolution.

I ask unanimous consent that the preamble be agreed to and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the

table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate now proceed to the en bloc consideration of the following Senate resolutions, which were submitted earlier today: S. Res. 441; S. Res. 442; S. Res. 443; S. Res. 444; and S. Res. 445, congratulating the Atlanta Braves.

I ask unanimous consent that the resolutions be agreed to; that the preambles, where applicable, be agreed to; and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, all en bloc.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn to then convene for pro forma sessions only, with no business being conducted, on the following dates and times, and that following each pro forma session, the Senate adjourn until the next pro forma session: Friday, November 5, at 8:30 a.m.; Tuesday, November 9, at 12 noon; and Friday, November 12, at 8:30 a.m.

I further ask that when the Senate adjourns on Friday, November 12, it next convene at 3 p.m., Monday, November 15; 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 Steele nomination; finally, that notwithstanding the provisions of rule XXII, the cloture motions filed during today's session ripen at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, November 15.

Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order, following the remarks of Senator Sullivan.

Mr. President, the State of Georgia is mourning legendary broadcast journalist Jovita Moore. Jovita was a trailblazer, a great journalist, and an Atlanta icon. She began her career in journalism in Memphis, TN, and Fayetteville, AR, before joining WSB-TV in Atlanta in 1998. She became a full-time anchor at WSB-TV in 2012, delivering Atlantans the news each afternoon and holding the powerful to account.

Born in New York, Jovita earned a bachelor of arts degree from Bennington College in Bennington, VT, before earning a master of science degree in broadcast journalism from Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism in New York City.

Jovita's career helped blaze the trail for other women and those from diverse backgrounds in journalism. She was a member of the Atlanta Association of Black Journalists and the National Association of Black Journalists and won multiple Emmy awards throughout her time at WSB-TV. Her excellence and example have undoubtedly inspired countless others to follow in her footsteps. In 2017, Jovita was inducted into The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Southeast Chapter's Silver Circle, one of its most prestigious career awards.

Jovita gave back to the community, taking time out of her busy schedule to mentor others and help them realize their true potential. She and her family would help deliver meals during the holidays, demonstrating commitment to helping those in need.

Jovita's spirit, optimism, and kindness radiated in everything she did. When she was diagnosed with glioblastoma earlier this year, the city of Atlanta and the entire Nation rallied around Jovita, just as she had for them throughout her career. She never gave up hope, using her diagnosis to spread awareness and encourage others to visit the doctor, stay vigilant, and get regular screenings. Jovita put her community first. Jovita Moore was a loving mother, daughter, and friend. She said her children were her life's most important accomplishments.

I thank my colleagues in the U.S. Senate for joining me in honoring the life and legacy of Jovita Moore and sending our deepest condolences to her children--Lauren, Shelby, and Joshua--to her mother, family, and friends and the entire WSB-TV family. May her memory be a blessing.

Madam President, I rise to commend Josh Baker, a British national, on behalf of the U.S. Senate, for his vital and lifesaving contributions to the allied evacuation of Afghanistan.

Mr. Baker, of course, is internationally acclaimed for his courageous and award-winning work documenting armed conflict and war crimes worldwide. His sacrifices in the production of vital, world-class journalism included the sacrifice of his own body, when his spine was fractured by a vehicle-borne improvised explosive device detonated by a suicide bomber in Iraq while Baker was on assignment for PBS.

Mr. Baker's achievements include the production of landmark reports exposing ISIS war crimes against Yazidi women and girls, investigations of international terrorism, and vital reporting on refugee crises. His work has documented for the historical record and for the education of the global public the brutality and indignity imposed on innocent human beings by armed conflict.

When, on August 15, 2021, the Afghan capital of Kabul fell to Taliban forces, hundreds of thousands of foreign nationals and Afghan allies were trapped in harm's way. Mr. Baker sprung into action. In August and September of this year, Mr. Baker remotely coordinated and supported multiple lifesaving extractions of vulnerable civilians from Afghanistan.

He applied his deep experience of complex operations in hostile environments and the trust built over years of communication with journalists, sources, and contributors in the military, intelligence, and political domains, in civil society and at humanitarian agencies, to remotely coordinate and support multiple lifesaving extractions of vulnerable civilians from Afghanistan.

Mr. Baker's contributions to these historic evacuation efforts included the coordination of a lifesaving mission to rescue Afghan orphans and the coordination of logistics necessary for the safe evacuation of hundreds of Afghan women and girls.

And so let the U.S. Senate commend Josh Baker for his vital and lifesaving contributions to the allied evacuation of Afghanistan.

Madam President, today let the Senate recognize the retirement of Ms. Kobye Noel, a public servant who has worked for 23 years in the U.S. Senate.

Ms. Noel served for over a decade with the Senate Budget Committee. She has also worked for Senator Kent Conrad, Senator Heidi Heitkamp, Senator Doug Jones, and for me and for Senator Reverend Raphael Warnock. Her leadership has shaped the work of the Senate for longer than most of us have been here. To that, we owe Ms. Noel a tremendous debt.

Ms. Noel was instrumental in establishing Senator Reverend Warnock's and my offices this year. Her expertise and hard work have served Georgians to the highest standard.

For her colleagues, Ms. Noel has been a source of reassurance and generosity. She consistently lends a helping hand to others.

Ms. Noel's skill, commitment, and heart for service will be irreplicable on my team. Ms. Noel will be dearly missed, but has become a lifelong friend for so many of us.

On behalf of the Senate, I express our heartfelt gratitude for Ms. Noel's service.

Thank you for sharing your brilliance with us, Ms. Noel. You embody the promise and integrity that should define the U.S. Senate.

Mr. President, Marissa McCall's positive impact on Georgians' lives will be felt for generations.

Marissa was a tireless and effective advocate for those who otherwise had none. She poured her heart and her work into the defense of those who faced brutality at the hands of the justice system; into advocacy for those who lacked the resources and connections to defend themselves; and into urgent reform of a justice system in which class and race bias are endemic and the rights and dignity of individuals are daily violated. Marissa made a huge difference for so many.

Born in Santa Ana, CA, Marissa earned her degree in political science from Georgia's Spelman College and her law degree from Louisiana State University in 2008.

Marissa developed a first-of-its-kind program at the Georgia Justice Project to help address the systemic barriers facing formerly incarcerated people.

She joined the Southern Center for Human Rights in 2016, cementing her role as one of Georgia's foremost champions for civil and human rights.

Marissa's keen legal mind and deep empathy powered her work for reform. She fought persistently and effectively to end the broken cash bail system at Atlanta's Municipal Court, to reform the criminal record system, and to ban the shackling of incarcerated women during pregnancy.

In 2020 and 2021, after the murder of Ahmaud Arbery, Marissa was instrumental in the repeal of Georgia's citizen's arrest law. As a result, Georgia the first State in the Nation to pass such a reform.

Marissa is remembered by her family as a loving mother, a devoted sister, a cherished daughter, and a loyal friend.

Georgia and the United States are fairer and more just for Marissa's service.

I thank my colleagues in the U.S. Senate for joining me in honoring the work and life of Marissa McCall.

Mr. President, as if in legislative Session, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 82, submitted earlier today.

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

I yield.