Floor Statements

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

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

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 597, Alex Azar.

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

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

Mr. President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 620, Sam Brownback.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum calls for the cloture motions be waived.

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

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 12 noon on Tuesday, January 23; further, 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; further, that following leader remarks, the Senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the Powell nomination; finally, that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly conference meetings.

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 Daines.

Well, here we are, Mr. President. This is day 2 of the Senate Democrats' government shutdown, day 2 since the Democratic leader made the political calculation to do something that, according to a recent survey, even most Democrats don't support. He shut down the government to appease a portion of his party's leftwing base. It makes you shake your head. Who comes up with ideas like this?

Well, on Friday, a bipartisan group of Senators voted to advance a bill that would have kept the Federal Government open, provided 6 years of certainty for the State Children's Health Insurance Program--of which at least seven different Governors have written they are in dire straits--and allowed ongoing talks to continue on a variety of other important issues that we have been discussing here for a couple of months. Together, Democrats and Republicans had enough votes to pass it. Five Democrats crossed over and voted against shutting down the government, to keep the government open while we do our work. The House had already passed it, and the President was ready to sign it. We were poised to send him this compromise solution and erase the threat of a shutdown, but unfortunately my friend the Democratic leader had other ideas.

Now, we all know in the Senate the minority has the power to filibuster. I support that right from an institutional point of view, but the question is, When do you use it? On Friday, the Democratic leader made the extraordinary and destructive choice to filibuster our bipartisan bill and to guarantee the American people a shutdown of their Federal Government. Now, it is the second day of the Senate Democrats' filibuster and the Senate Democrats' shutdown of the Federal Government.

Because the President wouldn't resolve months of ongoing negotiations over massive issues in one brief meeting and give the Democratic leader everything he wants, my friend across the aisle has shut down the government for hundreds of millions of Americans because he didn't get everything he wanted in one meeting on Friday with the President. So who pays the price for that? Healthcare for needy children, training and resources for our men and women in uniform, care for our veterans who came home, and survivor benefits for families of heroes who did not, full funding for the CDC, for the NIH, and for routine safety inspections of food and medicine.

To most Americans, those sound like fundamental responsibilities. To the Democratic leader, apparently, they sound like hostages ripe for the taking. All of this was totally unnecessary. There is a broad consensus, on both sides of the aisle, that DACA and other issues related to illegal immigration require a compromise solution. Almost everybody here--Democrat and Republican--believes we need to get to a solution on the DACA issue and related immigration matters. Bipartisan, bicameral negotiations have been underway for months, but they can go nowhere until Senate Democrats realize the extreme path their leader has charted leads them nowhere--a filibuster of healthcare for 9 million children, a filibuster of the tools and training that our warfighters need to keep

us safe, a filibuster of funding for the Federal Government itself, for hundreds of millions of Americans--all over a tangential issue related to illegal immigration that does not even ripen until March. All of these other things are an emergency. The one nonemergency issue that our friends on the other side are trying to shoehorn into this discussion doesn't reach that status of emergency until March.

This is pure folly. The American people know so. That is why, in a recent survey, a majority said keeping the government open is a higher priority than shutting down the government over the issue of illegal immigration. That is why headlines all across America are laying the blame for this government shutdown right at the feet of Senate Democrats and their filibuster.

Now, the Democratic leader could end this today. We can get past this manufactured crisis and get onto a host of serious issues before us that require thoughtful, bipartisan negotiations. This shutdown is going to get a lot worse tomorrow--a lot worse. Today would be a good day to end it. All we have to do is pass the commonsense legislation the Senate is currently considering--ending the government shutdown and ensuring healthcare continues for vulnerable children. There is nothing in this measure that my Democratic friend cannot support.

So here is the situation. If nothing changes, a cloture vote will be no sooner than 1 a.m. tonight. We could resolve this much earlier if the Democratic leader withdraws his procedural objection and allows the Senate to proceed to a vote. Our constituents want us to end this. Secretary Mattis, our military leaders, and our Governors want us to end this, and we can. Today is the right day to do it.

Senate Democrats only need to withdraw their filibuster and allow a bipartisan majority to move America forward. If they really care about the big issues--increased defense funding, disaster relief, DACA, border security, and other important matters that we have been negotiating and that I would like to bring to the floor--then they will stop their filibuster and this shutdown and let the negotiators get back to work.

Everyone has figured this out. This shutdown was a political miscalculation of gargantuan proportions, but it doesn't need to go on any longer. It could stop today. So let's step back from the brink. Let's stop victimizing the American people and get back to work on their behalf.

I suggest the absence of a quorum.

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

Mr. President, I wanted to give all of our colleagues an update on where we are. I want to start by particularly thanking Senator Graham, Senator Flake, Senator Collins, and many others who have been working across the aisle to help resolve the impasse we find ourselves in.

When the Democratic filibuster of the government funding bill comes to an end, the serious, bipartisan negotiations that have been going on for months now to resolve our unfinished business--military spending, disaster relief, healthcare, immigration, and border security--will continue.

It would be my intention to resolve these issues as quickly as possible so that we can move on to other business that is important to our country.

However, should these issues not be resolved by the time the funding bill before us expires on February 8, 2018, assuming that the government remains open, it would be my intention to proceed to legislation that would address DACA, border security, and related issues.

It is also my intention to take up legislation regarding increased defense spending, disaster relief, and other important matters.

Importantly, when I proceed to the immigration debate, it will have an amendment process that is fair to all sides. I would hope there would be cooperation on these matters in advance of yet another funding deadline.

There is a bipartisan, bicameral group that will continue its negotiations and I look forward to the completion of their work. It would be my strong preference for the Senate to consider a bipartisan, bicameral proposal that can be signed into law. But the first step in any of this is reopening the government and preventing any further delay.

The shutdown should stop today. We will soon have a vote that will allow us to do exactly that.

Let's step back from the brink. Let's stop victimizing the American people and get back to work on their behalf.

Mr. President, in that regard, I ask unanimous consent that, notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate vote at 10 p.m. tonight on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur with amendment; further, that if cloture is invoked, all postcloture time be considered expired and the Senate immediately vote on the motion to concur with further amendment with no intervening action or debate.

Therefore, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that, notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate vote at 12 noon tomorrow on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur with amendment.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m., Monday, January 22; further, 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; finally, that following leader remarks, the Senate resume consideration of the House message to accompany H.R. 195.

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.

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

Mr. President, well, here we are. Here we are, day one of the Senate Democrats' government shutdown. We did everything we could to stop them. We put forward a noncontroversial bill that contains nothing--nothing--they even claim to object to. It would continue funding the Federal Government and secure the future of the State Children's Health Insurance Program for the vulnerable families who rely on it.

The bill passed the House, the President said he would sign it, and a bipartisan majority of Democrats and Republicans voted for it. The votes were there, the President was ready, the solution to this manufactured crisis was inches away, but then the Democratic leader took the extraordinary step of filibustering this legislation, preventing it from passing, and plunging the country into this totally avoidable mess.

The House of Representatives, the President, and a bipartisan majority of Republican and Democratic Senators all agreed on a compromise bill that would have prevented a shutdown. It would enable Congress to do the commonsense thing--keep negotiating other issues while also providing for our troops, our veterans, and literally millions of vulnerable Americans--but the Democratic leader instead chose to filibuster the bipartisan bill.

So here we are, day one, and already funding is in jeopardy for our veterans because the Democratic leader filibustered a bipartisan compromise that a majority of Senators supported and chose instead to shut down the government. Of course, low-income families across America woke up today without the knowledge that their children's healthcare is safe, all because the Democratic leader filibustered a bipartisan compromise that a majority of Senators supported and chose instead a government shutdown.

Yesterday, my friend the senior Senator from New York tried to insist a shutdown was anybody's fault but his own--anybody else but me, he said. He blamed President Trump because the President wouldn't resolve months of ongoing negotiations over massive issues in one brief meeting and give the Senator everything he wanted. He blamed Republicans in Congress, as though everybody didn't know the Senate rules allow the minority party, if they choose, to obstruct the American people's business and filibuster for their own political purposes. It is possible, but in this instance, foolishly done.

These rhetorical gymnastics are simply not persuasive. The American people see right through all this bluster.

They see right through all this bluster. Like the President, like the House, and like a bipartisan majority of Senators, the American people want long-term solutions on immigration policy, on government spending, and on all the major issues we have been discussing literally for months and will continue to discuss.

Like the President, like the House, and like a bipartisan majority of Senators, the American people cannot begin to understand why the Senate Democratic leader thinks the entire government should be shut down until he gets his way on illegal immigration.

The American people cannot comprehend why the senior Senator from New York is advising his party to keep the government shuttered for American troops, American veterans, American military families, and vulnerable American children until he gets exactly what he wants on the issue of illegal immigration, a situation which does not even become urgent until March. All these other matters are indeed urgent. They need to be dealt with right now. This particular issue does not become urgent until March.

I hope Senate Democrats are starting to realize all this. I hope they are starting to realize their constituents, the President, the House, and the majority of the Senate are on one side of this. On the other side--all alone--is the Democratic leader who invented this unfortunate hostage situation and led his party into this untenable position.

The solution is to end the foolishness. It is hurting millions of Americans who have done absolutely nothing to deserve this. I invite all of my colleagues across the aisle to join together and do what is obviously responsible and right for the people we represent. It is pretty clear. Let's reopen the government. Let's resume the bipartisan discussion on funding our troops, DACA, on government spending, and on all the other priorities all of us can work together to resolve.

Recognition of the Minority Leader

Mr. President, reserving the right to object.

Thanks to the Democratic leader's decision, along with my good friend from Michigan, to filibuster an extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, low-income families are going to slip closer to losing health coverage for their kids. In many States, it is already an emergency.

There was a carefully crafted compromise that she and every Democrat on the committee supported. The Senate has not reviewed this new proposal currently being offered today, but Members are serious about funding CHIP.

There is a bill before us that reauthorizes the program for a full 6 years and can be signed into law today. The only thing preventing CHIP's reauthorization from being signed into law today is the Democratic filibuster of the House-passed bill. Therefore, I object.

Mr. President, the House of Representatives, the President, and a bipartisan majority of Republican and Democratic Senators all agreed on a compromise bill that would have prevented a shutdown. We can pass this bill today and have it signed into law so we can end this nonsense. There is one way to do all of this, and it is right in front of us--the pending measure.

It would enable Congress to do the commonsense thing: keep negotiating other issues while providing for our troops, our veterans, and millions of vulnerable Americans, but the Democratic leader chose to filibuster that bipartisan bill.

So here we are. Day one, and already funding is in jeopardy for our veterans and our troops. Funding for a 6-year children's health insurance bill is sitting here because the Democratic leader filibustered a bipartisan compromise that a majority of Senators supported and chose instead to shut down the government.

Thanks to the Democratic leader's decision to filibuster an extension of the State Children's Health Insurance Program, low-income families will slip closer to losing healthcare coverage for their kids. In many States, this is already an emergency.

Again, we can do all of this today. We have a way forward. It is right in front of us and ready to go.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate immediately vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to concur with amendment, which funds CHIP and reopens the government; further, that if cloture is invoked, all postcloture time be considered expired and the Senate immediately vote on the motion to concur with further amendment.

Mr. President, reserving the right to object, the men and women of our armed services should not be left to suffer at the hands of political obstruction. These troops are deployed in harm's way, and left behind are their families and colleagues training to replace them. It is irresponsible that their pay, to include imminent danger pay, would be delayed because the Democrats are insisting that we deal with illegal immigration exclusively on their terms.

Let me remind the Senate that we have an All-Volunteer Force that doesn't ask much of us, but we are obliged to pay and support them. We owe them the certainty of a full-year funding bill. Therefore, I object.

Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 36, H.R. 1301; that the McConnell amendment at the desk, which provides for full funding for authorized activities in the National Defense Authorization Act, be considered and agreed to, the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time and passed, and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. President, the United States is 1 day into a government shutdown that Senate Democrats have forced on our country. Let's take a look at where we are.

Last night, a bipartisan majority of Senators--Republicans and Democrats--voted to avoid this. A bipartisan majority voted to advance a noncontroversial bill that has already passed the House and which the President has already said he will sign.

Of course, like any compromise, this funding bill cannot be all things to all people. But this bipartisan bill does what we need to do right now. It ends this pointless--pointless--irresponsible shutdown, funds the government for our troops, our veterans, and millions of vulnerable Americans, and extends health coverage for millions of children in low-income families.

None of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle can point to a single thing in the bill that they oppose. Not one thing. That is why a bipartisan majority voted for it last night. It would have passed smoothly and been sent for the President's signature, except that the Democratic leader took the extraordinary step of filibustering this bipartisan bill and initiating his own government shutdown.

Why? Because, he explains, the President would not give him everything he wants on the issue of illegal immigration in one afternoon in the Oval Office. That is it. That is it.

The leaders from both parties have spent months negotiating long-term fixes for immigration policy, government spending, and other important priorities. Senators on both sides want a bipartisan solution to DACA and other immigration issues. Senators on both sides want long-term funding for our troops. Bipartisan, bicameral negotiations on these matters have been under way for months.

Here is the difference between the Democratic leader and the rest of us tonight--the difference. He wants to keep the government shut down for hundreds of millions of Americans until we finish negotiating on the subject of illegal immigration. He wants

to keep the government shut down until we finish a negotiation on the subject of illegal immigration--shutting down the government over illegal immigration.

Look, those discussions on the immigration issue continue. We don't have to shut down funding for our veterans, military families, opioid centers, or anyone else who relies on the Federal Government over the issue of illegal immigration. The occupant of the Chair is one of the people involved on that very subject. There is a lot of interest here on both sides of the aisle in dealing with it. But it is not an emergency. All of these other issues, which are affected by the government's shutdown, are emergencies, particularly the children's healthcare issue.

Look, the American people know what is going on here. They have this figured out. The survey this week shows that a majority of Americans say that funding the government is more important than passing legislation on DACA--legislation, by the way, that doesn't really exist, which the Democratic leader cannot present to us. We hear a lot of talk about it, but we haven't seen it.

Fewer than half of Democrats--in this poll I am talking about--say that dealing with DACA is more urgent than keeping the government open. These numbers came in before Americans picked up their newspapers this morning. When they did, they read from the Associated Press exactly who is responsible for this chaos. From the AP: ``Democrats blocked a four- week stopgap extension in a late-night vote, causing the fourth government shutdown in a quarter of a century.'' You might say that they pinned the tail on the donkey.

The New York Times, not exactly a bastion of rightwing sentiment, put the blame exactly where it belongs. ``Senate Democrats blocked passage of a stopgap spending bill to keep the government open.''

Senate Republicans remain ready and eager to end this totally manufactured crisis. This is not a crisis. This is a manufactured crisis. We voted to avoid it entirely in our bipartisan vote last night. We are ready to vote again. All the country needs is the Democratic leader to withdraw his filibuster and let a bipartisan majority pass this bill and reopen the U.S. Government.

Earlier today, I asked for consent to move up a vote on this bipartisan solution and to end the craziness today. The Democrats objected. That will not work forever. If they continue to object, we cannot proceed to a cloture vote until 1 a.m. on Monday. But I assure you, we will have the vote at 1 a.m. on Monday unless there is a desire to have it sooner.

In the meantime, shutdowns have consequences. The Democratic leader may be playing for political points. But the rest of us understand the readiness of our Armed Forces, health coverage for poor children, and survivor benefits for families of fallen servicemembers are the furthest thing from a game--playing with all of those lives over the issue of illegal immigration.

Congress has a lot of work to do. We need to provide for our war fighters, secure the border, resolve the DACA issue, continue work on healthcare, and attend to many other key priorities. I want to move forward on all these issues, and we can when the Democratic leader's filibuster comes to an end. These talks are only being delayed--not advanced, but delayed--by the Democrats' filibuster and the Democratic shutdown it has created.

I want to assure the American people that we will be right back at this tomorrow. I say again to the American people, we will be right back at this tomorrow and for as long as it takes. We will keep at this until Democrats end their extraordinary filibuster of government funding and children's healthcare and allow a bipartisan majority of Senators to reopen the Federal Government for all Americans and to get Congress back on track.

The Democratic leader may put his personal political priorities ahead of everything else, no matter the cost, but Republicans stand with the American people.