Floor Statements

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Madam President, for more than two decades, my friend Dr. Michael Carter has made Campbellsville University an oasis where students can answer their calling. Nestled in the heart of Taylor County, CU offers quality Christian higher education to thousands of future leaders. As the school's president, Michael accomplished one remarkable goal after another. He also set the university on a path toward long-term success. At the end of last year, Michael began a richly-earned retirement leaving behind a grateful university community. I would like to take a moment today to recognize my friend for his servant leadership and his lasting impact in Kentucky and beyond.

According to CU's board chair, Michael's leadership ``forever transformed'' the century-old school. I couldn't agree more. When Michael came to campus in 1999, the university was home to around 1,600 students and 74 full-time faculty. His tenure has seen the CU family grow to include more than 13,500 students and a record-setting freshman class despite the coronavirus pandemic. CU recently graduated its first class of Ph.D. students, marking a major milestone for the school's academic excellence. He also nearly tripled the faculty ranks with leading scholars and dedicated educators.

To accommodate the new students and faculty, Michael undertook an ambitious plan to grow CU's physical footprint. That plan--like everything at CU--was centered on faith. Michael embarked on the construction of a landmark chapel anchoring the entire community in its mission. Then, under the steeple of the new Ransdell Chapel, the growth has continued to surpass expectations.

CU's expansion wasn't limited to the city of Campbellsville, either. Michael oversaw the opening of eight additional centers of learning in Kentucky and around the country. The university was even approved for a new international arm in Ontario. Today, CU properties account for 1.1 million square feet, giving it the ability to serve current students with plenty of space to expand its reach.

In each of my visits to the school, I have been impressed by the remarkable development under Michael's leadership. From its 850 student athletes to a $137 million economic impact in Taylor County, Michael has helped CU reach previously unbelievable heights. With the rest of his all-star leadership team, including my friend Dr. John Chowning, Michael drove the school's growth while keeping focus on an unmatched student experience.

When CU bid farewell to its president, the community also said goodbye to its consequential first lady. Debbie Carter has a long list of accomplishments in her own right. She took a leadership role in securing a national accreditation for CU's Carver School of Social Work. She was also a driving force to create pathways for students with financial needs to attend CU. Michael and Debbie made an incredible team that changed this university and our Commonwealth for years to come.

Whatever the future holds in store for Michael and Debbie, I would like to wish them the very best. They leave office with the sincere gratitude of a university community made better by two decades of devotion. I encourage my Senate colleagues to join me in honoring Dr. Michael Carter for his leadership at Campbellsville University.

Mr. President, today, before the American people and the world, the peaceful transfer of power that has helped define our Nation for more than 230 years was carried out. We swore in the 46th President and the 49th Vice President of the United States.

President Biden and Vice President Harris are both alumni of the U.S. Senate. They are well known to us in this Chamber. They begin their terms with both challenges and opportunities before them, and with the prayers of our whole Nation at their backs.

President Biden made unity the major theme of his inaugural address. He pledged to be a President for all Americans, to work as hard for the many millions of Americans who did not support his candidacy as he will for the millions who did. So I congratulate my friend from Delaware. I look forward to working with him as our new President wherever possible.

Our country deserves for both sides, both parties, to find common ground for the common good everywhere that we can and disagree respectfully where we must. Last fall, the American people chose to elect a narrowly divided House of Representatives, a 50-50 Senate, and a President who promised unity. The people intentionally entrusted both political parties with significant power to shape our Nation's direction. May we work together to honor that trust.

Earlier today, I was honored to present our former colleague, Vice President Harris, with a flag that flew over her historic swearing in as our Nation's first woman Vice President. This groundbreaking achievement elicits national pride that transcends politics. All citizens can applaud the fact that this new three-word phrase, ``Madam Vice President,'' is now a part of our American lexicon. So, once again, our sincere congratulations to our former colleague from California on this day.

I also join my colleagues in warmly welcoming our three newest Senators. Senator Padilla of California and Senators Ossoff and Warnock of Georgia have been sent to this Chamber by their home States to represent their neighbors and to serve our Nation. We have plenty of Senate business to discuss at length in the days ahead, but, for now, I just want to congratulate each of our new colleagues. I look forward to working alongside them.

Mr. President, the last time the Senate convened we had just reclaimed the Capitol from violent criminals who tried to stop Congress from doing our duty.

The mob was fed lies. They were provoked by the President and other powerful people, and they tried to use fear and violence to stop a specific proceeding of the first branch of the Federal Government which they did not like.

But we pressed on. We stood together and said an angry mob would not get veto power over the rule of law in our Nation, not even for one night.

We certified the people's choice for their 46th President.

Tomorrow, President-Elect Biden and Vice President-Elect Harris will be sworn in. We will have a safe and successful inaugural right here on the west front of the Capitol--the space that President Bush 41 called ``democracy's front porch.''

And then we will move forward. Our work for the American people will continue, as it has for more than 230 years. There are serious challenges that our Nation needs to continue confronting, but there will also be great and hopeful opportunities for us to seize.

Certainly, November's elections did not hand any side a mandate for sweeping ideological change. Americans elected a closely divided Senate, a closely divided House, and a Presidential candidate who said he would represent everyone.

So our marching orders from the American people are clear. We are to have a robust discussion and seek common ground. We are to pursue bipartisan agreement everywhere we can and check and balance one another respectfully where we must. And through all of this, we must always keep in mind that we are all Americans, we all love this country, and we are all in this together.

Mr. President, I understand that the Senate has received a message from the House of Representatives that it has taken action relative to impeachment, though it has not yet transmitted the article of impeachment to us.

I ask that pursuant to rule I of the Rules of Impeachment, the Secretary of the Senate notify the House that the Senate has received its message.

Now, Mr. President, on a related matter, a great deal has already been said about the disgraceful events of January 6. More will be said in the weeks ahead.

I understand the FBI has already made at least 100 arrests, and the Justice Department reports more than 275 persons under investigation--a number that is climbing fast. I want to commend the work of the Department to swiftly investigate and bring offenders to justice.

As I have stated, January 6 saw failures of institutions, protocols, and planning. Those failures did not just leave Congress itself exposed; they also left the courageous men and women of the Capitol Police themselves in a totally untenable situation.

So today, I want to reaffirm the huge respect and gratitude that I have--and I believe all Senators have--for the men and women of the U.S. Capitol Police who put their own safety on the line every single day that they clock in and stand guard.

Neither the institution of Congress nor the American people will ever forget the bravery and the valor of Officer Brian Sicknick, who sacrificed himself to protect this place and those inside it.

We will not forget our friend Officer Howard Liebengood.

And we will never forget our debt to all the brave CP officers and their families.

It is more than just comforting to come to work in a place protected by such fine men and women, at risk to themselves. It is also very humbling.

We are also grateful to the local officers from DC, Virginia, and Maryland, to Federal law enforcement officers, the National Guard, the Secret Service, and all the other professionals who helped subdue the criminals and secure the Capitol on the 6th and are working together to protect peace and order this week.

Tomorrow, a new President and Vice President will swear their oaths of office. They will also do so safely and securely because so many brave men and women have sworn their own oaths to support and defend our Constitution.

We salute you all.

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

In order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to further proceeding.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

The clerk will call the roll.

The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.

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

The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Blackburn.) Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. President, I have 3 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:

Committee on Armed Services

The Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, January 19, 2021, at 3 p.m., to conduct a hearing on nominations.

Committee on Foreign Relations

The Committee on Foreign Relations is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday, January 19, 202, at 10 a.m., to conduct a hearing on nominations.

Select Committee on Intelligence

The Select Committee on Intelligence is authorized to meet during the session of the Senate on Tuesday; January 19, 2021, at 2:30 p.m., to conduct a closed briefing.

Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 5, submitted earlier today.

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 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, January 20; further, that following the prayer and pledge, the morning hour be deemed expired, the Journal of proceedings be approved to date, and the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Madam 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. 5 as a further mark of respect for the late Officer Brian David Sicknick of the United States Capitol Police.

Thereupon, the Senate, at 4:05 p.m., adjourned until Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at 4:30 p.m

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the majority leader and the Democratic leader be allowed to speak and that following their remarks, the majority leader and the Democratic leader each control up to 1 hour of debate time and be authorized to yield up to 5 minutes of that time to any Senator seeking recognition. Further, I ask unanimous consent that the Senators be permitted to insert statements into the Record.

Mr. President, we are debating a step that has never been taken in American history: whether Congress should overrule the voters and overturn a Presidential election.

I have served 36 years in the Senate. This will be the most important vote I have ever cast.

President Trump claims the election was stolen. The assertions range from specific local allegations, to constitutional arguments, to sweeping conspiracy theories. I supported the President's right to use the legal system. Dozens of lawsuits received hearings in courtrooms all across our country, but over and over, courts rejected these claims, including all-star judges whom the President himself nominated.

Every election, we know, features some illegality and irregularity, and, of course, that is unacceptable

I support strong State-led voting reforms. Last year's bizarre pandemic procedures must not become the new norm. But, my colleagues, nothing before us proves illegality anywhere near the massive scale-- the massive scale that would have tipped the entire election, nor can public doubt alone justify a radical break when the doubt itself was incited without any evidence.

The Constitution gives us here in Congress a limited role. We cannot simply declare ourselves a national board of elections on steroids. The voters, the courts, and the States have all spoken. They have all spoken. If we overrule them, it would damage our Republic forever.

This election actually was not unusually close. Just in recent history, 1976, 2000, and 2004 were all closer than this one. The electoral college margin is almost identical to what it was in 2016. If this election were overturned by mere allegations from the losing side, our democracy would enter a death spiral. We would never see the whole Nation accept an election again. Every 4 years would be a scramble for power at any cost. The electoral college, which most of us on this side been have defending for years, would cease to exist, leaving many of our States with no real say at all in choosing a President.

The effects would go even beyond the elections themselves. Self- government, my colleagues, requires a shared commitment to the truth and a shared respect for the ground rules of our system. We cannot keep drifting apart into two separate tribes with a separate set of facts and separate realities with nothing in common except our hostility toward each other and mistrust for the few national institutions that we all still share.

Every time--every time in the last 30 years that Democrats have lost a Presidential race, they have tried a challenge just like this--after 2000, after 2004, and after 2016. After 2004, a Senator joined and forced the same debate. And, believe it or not, Democrats like Harry Reid, Dick Durbin, and Hillary Clinton praised--praised and applauded the stunt. Republicans condemned those baseless efforts back then, and we just spent 4 years condemning Democrats' shameful attacks on the validity of President Trump's own election. So there can be no double standard. The media that is outraged today spent 4 years aiding and abetting the Democrats' attacks on our institutions after they lost.

But we must not imitate and escalate what we repudiate. Our duty is to govern for the public good. The United States Senate has a higher calling than an endless spiral of partisan vengeance.

Congress will either overrule the voters, the States, and the courts for the first time ever or honor the people's decision. We will either guarantee Democrats' delegitimizing efforts after 2016 became a permanent new routine for both sides or declare that our Nation deserves a lot better than this. We will either hasten down a poisonous path where only the winners of elections actually accept the results or show we can still muster the patriotic courage that our forebears showed not only in victory but in defeat.

The Framers built the Senate to stop short-term passions from boiling over and melting the foundations of our Republic. So I believe protecting our constitutional order requires respecting the limits of our own power. It would be unfair and wrong to disenfranchise American voters and overrule the courts and the States on this extraordinarily thin basis, and I will not pretend such a vote would be a harmless protest gesture while relying on others to do the right thing. I will vote to respect the people's decision and defend our system of government as we know it.

Mr. President, I yield up to 5 minutes to the Senator from Texas, Senator Cruz.

I yield up to 5 minutes to the Senator from Pennsylvania, Senator Toomey.

Mr. President, I yield up to 5 minutes to the Senator from Oklahoma, Senator Lankford.