Tim Kaine

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I have four 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. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 3 p.m. on Monday, December 4; 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 morning business be closed; that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Ramirez nomination postcloture and that all time be considered expired at 5:30 p.m.; finally, that if the nomination is confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I will start by thanking my colleagues, especially Senator Murray, for organizing this effort and also for her life of being a passionate advocate for kids, especially as an early childhood educator. And I will start in another way that is a little nontraditional and just be a proud dad. I have three adult children, and I am proud of them all for different reasons. But my middle son, I am proud of him because he is my only Phi Beta Kappa, and he also is an early childhood educator. He decided that working as a childcare provider is what he wants to do, and he has worked in both pre-K classroom settings and also individually for families. I know how little he makes, 10 years out of college. I know how he loves to find some extra hours where he can make a little bit more. I was excited that he was excited, a few years ago, when he told me that he had picked up extra hours shoveling snow at the pre-K classroom. Because he lives in Minnesota, there is a lot of snow to be shoveled. So on nights or on weekends when there is snow, he is going to make a little bit more by being the snow shoveler, so that kids, parents, and teachers can come safely to school that day. The stories that I hear traveling around Virginia are the same that my colleagues have shared, but I just want to share two, one from a parent and one from a provider. Heather is in Fairfax City, in the most populous part of Virginia. Here is what she told us: One of the reasons my family ended up homeless was because we didn't have access to quality, affordable childcare for our boys when they were little. They also lost access to programs that would allow them to be school-ready. When I was pregnant with our twins, I was hospitalized for almost 12 weeks, and we couldn't afford childcare for our boys, so my husband would drop them off at the hospital so that he would be able to go to work. Unfortunately, without access to child care and a hospital being no place for kids to stay all day long, he ended up losing his job, which in turn meant we lost money to provide for ourselves. We had to go on SNAP to have food, and eventually, he lost his business, and we became homeless. . . . One of the biggest contributing factors was the lack of access to affordable child care. At the time there was not enough space in programs like Head Start. Without access to affordable, quality child care, families are hurting. The lack of access to this vital service has forced families to not be able to go to work, go to school, or even leave kids at home in compromising positions just to be able to put food on the table. I forgot to include that at this time, we were considered middle class before all this; both my husband and I are college educated. I was working at first, too, but also had to leave my job because we couldn't afford the child care for both of us to work. And my husband is an honorably discharged combat veteran. I meant to add this to help demonstrate how far-reaching this is and to break down myths about who this affects. Quickly, at the other end of my State in Appalachia, Kristi, the owner of a childcare center in Blacksburg: Since the pandemic, we have had to decrease the number of families that we were able to serve because we are having such a difficult time with our staffing. Being able to pay early childhood teachers has always been a significant difficulty for us, but since the pandemic, it has [become] tremendous. . . . I think what the Senate needs to understand is that if this industry collapses, and I would say we are very much on the verge of a major collapse, it is going to have a detrimental impact on the workforce [and our economy]. That is why we have to act to restore the childcare funding that created breathing room for our providers and our families, and I stand together with my colleagues to do all we can to support President Biden's request that we have $16 billion in childcare funding at this most critical time. With that, Madam President, I yield the floor.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 383, COL Michael C. Henderson, to the rank of brigadier general.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 339, Maj. Gen. Sean M. Farrell and Calendar No. 340 Maj. Gen. Adrian L. Spain to the rank of lieutenant general.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 342, BG Mary V. Krueger to the rank of lieutenant general.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 343, MG Stephen G. Smith to the rank of lieutenant general.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I am glad that I am rising after my colleague from Alaska because I am rising on behalf of a group of very special people and also in commemoration of three very special dates. The group of people are 364 nominations for military appointments who have been pending for months and months and months on the floor of the U.S. Senate; and I rise in their honor with the intention, in a few minutes, to begin offering unanimous consent motions so that they may finally be confirmed to the positions they have earned through their sacrifice in the uniform of this country. I also rise to commemorate three special days: November 9, November 10, and November 11. November 9, today, is Military Day in Alabama, designated by Governor Kay Ivey about 10 days ago, recognizing the deep connection between Alabama and our Nation's military mission. Governor Ivey asked all who were veterans or in Active Duty to wear their uniforms today. She asked employers to encourage that to happen. And she said that this day--Thursday, November 9, 2023--in the State of Alabama should be a day where we commemorate our Active Duty and veterans. When I saw that today had been designated Military Day in Alabama, I was interested in that, and I wondered whether that was the case in other States as well. It turns out, no, that it is not. I hope it might be a trend that other Governors pick up on in future years. The second day that I want to acknowledge is tomorrow, November 10, which is the Marine Corps' 248th birthday. I offer this one with a little bit of parental pride because my oldest son was a marine infantry commander who is now a marine reservist. The Marine Corps was founded on November 10, 1775, when, at the Second Continental Congress in Philadelphia, there was enacted the creation of this corps of marines. And almost immediately, the effort began to recruit marines to fulfill the Continental Congress's mandate. And the recruitment began at a tavern, Tun Tavern, which is still commemorated in Philadelphia. And then the final day is Veterans Day, which is set for November 11 every year. We commemorate it, when it is on a weekend, on the nearest weekday. So Veterans Day this year is going to be celebrated tomorrow, November 10. Veterans Day has an amazing history as well. World War I hostilities ended on the eleventh hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918. And so, a year later, Congress, President Wilson, acted to declare that November 11 would henceforth be a day to recognize the heroism of World War I veterans. It was originally Armistice Day. Armistice Day then began to be celebrated as Armistice Day beginning in--it was first commemorated in 1921 with the burial of an unknown soldier from World War I at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, VA. In 1954, by now, Armistice Day had been extended to celebrate all veterans of all wars, and the name of it was changed by Congress under President Eisenhower to Veterans Day. And so we stand here today, on November 9, Military Day in Alabama. Tomorrow will be the Marine Corps' 248th birthday. And we will commemorate tomorrow and Saturday Veterans Day all across this country. I said I was standing on behalf not only of three special days but also hundreds of special people. My colleague and Armed Services colleague Senator Tuberville of Alabama has, as is his right as a Senator, imposed a blockade on consideration in the normal course of business, pursuant to Senate practice, the confirmation of now 364 high-ranking military officials who have come through the Armed Services Committee. Senator Tuberville did not object to them coming through the committee, but he has placed a hold on these nominees on account of his disagreement with a Department of Defense policy that provides leave and travel authorities for military servicemembers and their families who must travel to seek noncovered reproductive healthcare, including abortion care, in vitro fertilization services, and others. As of today, according to the Pentagon, 364 individuals are being held in this way. Huge numbers of these individuals are either in Virginia awaiting confirmation for new positions, in other States awaiting confirmation for positions that would move them to Virginia, or have had some of their military service in the Commonwealth of Virginia. I haven't done the math, but I would venture to suggest that this affects Virginians and future Virginians more than it might any other State. And, to be plain, none of these 364 have anything to do with or any responsibility over the policy with which my colleague from Alabama finds significant disagreement. My colleague and I disagree on the policy. That is the norm on the Senate floor. My colleague has had his opportunity to convince Armed Services Committee members that the policy is wrong and has failed to do so, and he has had the opportunity to bring it forward on the Senate floor and has failed to do so. But these individuals are in a limbo that is very painful to them, and it is my hope that because my Senate colleague did not object to them when they were before the Armed Services Committee, he might see fit--on Military Day in Alabama and on the eve of commemorating the Marine Corps' 248th birthday and Veterans Day--to finally allow them to serve in the positions that they have earned. And so, with that, Mr. President, I would like to quickly read a letter that we recently received from the American Legion, also timed around Veterans Day, and then move into an effort to seek by unanimous consent the confirmation of all 364 nominees pending before this body. To begin--from the American Legion--this was a letter that came to us yesterday, no doubt timed because of the pendency of Veterans Day. Dear Senate leadership: On behalf of our 1.6 million dues- paying members, The American Legion respectfully requests your timely attention to the hundreds of U.S. military vacancies awaiting confirmation. Your leadership and the resolve of your conferences to come together and end this blockade is vital to American national security and to preserving the lives of our men and women in uniform. Failure to find a bipartisan solution to the continued political chess risks the lives of our servicemembers and the safety of our nation. Since 1919, The American Legion has emphasized the importance of a strong national defense. A well-funded, well- equipped, and well-trained military plays a vital role in safeguarding the principles our nation holds dear. As U.S. troops are targeted in the Middle East and global tensions are on the rise, it is imperative leadership vacancies within our military are filled now! Our allies and adversaries are watching closely; inaction risks innumerable consequences. The personal toll of confirmation purgatory extends far beyond uniformed candidates with uncertain promotions. U.S. servicemembers may pay the ultimate price if the perception of chaos continues to create opportunity for our adversaries. As we've seen in the past month alone, the Pentagon has reported more than 38 attacks against U.S. troops in the Middle East. While politicians continue to play games and use our servicemembers as pawns, their lives remain in harm's way and could be left paying the ultimate price. The American Legion urges both conferences to come together to end the inaction holding our armed forces hostage. Your leadership is vital to protect our servicemembers, national security and our country. For God and country, Daniel J. Seehafer, National Commander, American Legion. With that, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of the following nomination: Calendar No. 46, Col. Leigh A. Swanson to brigadier general; that the Senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate; that if confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate; that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the Record; and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 47, MG Sean A. Gainey to be lieutenant general.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 48, MG Heidi J. Hoyle to be lieutenant general.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 49, BG Laurence S. Linton to be major general.

Mr. KAINE. I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 344, COL Renea V. Dorvall to the rank of brigadier general.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 50, BG Stacy M. Babcock to be major general and COL Peggy R. McManus to be brigadier general.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 51, Maj. Gen. Andrew J. Gebara to be lieutenant general.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 52, MG Robert M. Collins to be lieutenant general.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 92, Col. Evelyn E. Laptook to be brigadier general.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 93, Brigadier General Ronald R. Ragin--R-A-G-I-N--to be major general.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 98, to be rear admiral (lower half): CAPT Brian J. Anderson and CAPT Julie M. Treanor.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 99, two individuals nominated to be rear admiral: Rear Admiral (lh) Casey J. Moton and Rear Admiral (lh) Stephen R. Tedford.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 100, Rear Admiral (lh) Rick Freedman to be rear admiral.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 101, Rear Admiral (lh) Kenneth W. Epps to be rear admiral.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 345, COL Robert S. Crockem, Jr., to the rank of brigadier general.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 346, COL Clifford R. Gunst to the rank of brigadier general.

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to Calendar No. 106 to be major general: Brig. Gen. Thomas W. Harrell, Brig. Gen. Jeannine M. Ryder.

Mr. KAINE

Mr. KAINE. Mr. President, I first ask unanimous consent to use three easels rather than the two prescribed in Senate rules.