Chuck Schumer

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. For the information of the Senate, we expect the cloture vote with respect to the CHIPS and science legislation to occur around 11 o'clock a.m. tomorrow, Tuesday, July 26. Cloture Motion

Mr. SCHUMER. Now, Madam President, I have a cloture motion to the motion to concur at the desk.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call for the cloture motion filed today, July 25, be waived.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, July 26; 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 resume consideration of the House message to accompany S. 3373; further, that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

Mr. SCHUMER. The cloture vote in relation to CHIPS and Science is expected at 11 a.m., for the information of Members. Please be here.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I understand that there is a bill at the desk that is due for a second reading.

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

Mr. SCHUMER. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. SCHUMER. I have an amendment at the desk.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. SCHUMER. I move to refer S. 3373 to the Committee on Veterans' Affairs with instructions to report back forthwith with an amendment.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the motion be dispensed with.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. SCHUMER. I have an amendment to the instructions at the desk.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. SCHUMER. I have a second-degree amendment at the desk.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that further reading of the amendment be dispensed with.

Mr. SCHUMER. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SCHUMER. I move to concur in the House amendment to S. 3373 with an amendment.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, over the last few decades, Americans' views on cannabis legalization have dramatically, dramatically changed. Twenty years ago, less than a third of Americans believed that cannabis should be made legal. Today, that share is nearly 70 percent of the population, the highest level of support ever. We can see this shift playing out in the States. Nearly 90 percent of Americans live in a State that has legalized cannabis for either medical or adult recreational use. New York legalized cannabis in 2021. And even voters in deep-red South Dakota voted to legalize it for adult recreational use. Cannabis legalization has proven immensely successful at the State level so it is time that Congress catches up with the rest of the country. Last year, Senators Wyden, Booker, and I released a discussion draft of the Cannabis Administration and Opportunity Act. After receiving more than 1,800 public comments and working with numerous Senate committees to improve the bill, today we are introducing this historic legislation. I am proud to be the first majority leader ever to say that it is time to end the Federal prohibition on cannabis, and this bill provides the best framework for updating our cannabis laws and reversing decades of harm inflicted by the War on Drugs. I have had many productive conversations with my Republican and Democratic colleagues about cannabis reform, and I look forward to working with Members from both sides of the aisle to secure support for this bill. Our bill will legalize cannabis by removing it from the Controlled Substances Act, empowering States to create their own cannabis laws instead. It will establish a robust regulatory system to protect public health and ensure that cannabis is as safe as possible. It includes rules to prevent impaired driving, prevent youth access, and prevent illegal diversion. We also robustly fund a variety of research programs to make up for lost time when it comes to cannabis research. So important, our bill will also expunge the Federal criminal records of people with convictions for nonviolent cannabis offenses and allow those in Federal prison for nonviolent cannabis offenses to appeal their sentences. It is a tragedy--tragedy--that far too many Americans, particularly Black and Hispanic Americans, have permanent blocks on their record, making it nearly impossible to move forward with their lives just because they were arrested with a little marijuana in their pocket. How unfair and what a waste of human resources. Our bill will also establish an Opportunity Trust Fund to reinvest in communities that have been devastated by the War on Drugs. And it will create opportunities for entrepreneurs and small businesses to legitimately pursue new opportunities in the growing cannabis industry. And, of course, underlying it all, this bill is about individual freedom and basic fairness. The fact that cannabis remains a schedule I controlled substance--in the same bad company of other drugs like heroin--is not just senseless; it is deeply harmful for countless Americans--again, almost always people of color--and it impinges on the freedom of all of us. If this is working in all the States, why not let people use it? We need to change that. We need to change the lack of freedom and fairness. We need to create opportunities for entrepreneurs to legitimately pursue new opportunities, and comprehensive Federal cannabis legislation is critical to reaching that goal. I want to extend my deep appreciation to Senators Booker and Wyden as well as all of my colleagues who have worked with us on this important and long-overdue change. I want to thank Senators Murray and Senator Peters and all the chairs of the more than 10 Senate committees who worked with us over the past several years to significantly improve the bill from the discussion draft we released last year. This bill would not be possible without the hard work of them and their staffs. I want to stress that this is the beginning of the legislative process, not the end. We are going to work hard to create support for our bill, and I hope we can make more progress toward cannabis reform in the future. I look forward to working with Democrats and Republicans to get something done this year.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I suggest the absence of a quorum.