Chuck Schumer

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, the MAGA Supreme Court majority seems to have forgotten one of its jobs is to protect Americans from discrimination. The Republicans' cruel crusade against trans Americans infringes on the rights of parents and the rights of kids. Once again, Republicans use these issues to divide America and distract them from their plans to rip healthcare away from millions of people. We will keep fighting to protect the rights of all Americans.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, first, about safety and the Capitol and our meeting today that Senator Thune and I called. First, I would like to say that the Capitol Police have always been the silent heroes behind the scenes, keeping Members safe. That is no secret. The country saw that for themselves on January 6 and in the footage after, and they are doing a good job. We had a very good meeting where Members brought up their concerns, and efforts--strong efforts--are going to be made to answer those concerns with expanded--expanded--activity by the Capitol Police. But after the awful situation this weekend, there is real concern, not just here in the Capitol but with folks across the country, about the safety of elected officials. These violent acts are an attack not just on the individuals who were targeted but on our democracy itself. Public servants should never have to fear for their lives simply for doing their jobs. There should not be an attempt to intimidate public servants not do their jobs or not to take their jobs. So we need to take immediate steps to ensure the safety of Members. That includes sending additional funding and resources to the Capitol Police. There was agreement today in the Senate, among Democrats and Republicans, that we ought to be spending some more dollars here to protect the Capitol, the Senators, and their staffs. But it is amazing. Instead, the Trump administration is doing the exact opposite. USA Today reported that, as lone actor attacks are on the rise, Donald Trump had cut the program called AIMED at spotting them. This program is aimed to spot lone-actor, violent, domestic extremists--exactly what happened in Minnesota. The day before a violent political attack in Minnesota [occurred], the last top officials at a program that aims to spot so-called ``lone actor'' violent domestic extremists were reassigned to other roles. And that is USA Today's reporting. In the 4 months since Trump took office, his administration has shrunk the Department of Homeland Security's Center for Prevention Programs and Partnerships, known as CP3, from dozens of analysts and supervisors. Now it has fewer than 10 people, and it is led by a 22- year-old recent graduate with no law enforcement experience. Here we have more violent attacks, and at the same time, the Trump administration is cutting the very unit in law enforcement that is supposed to go after these lone-wolf, violent attacks and prevent them. Right now, we need to give law enforcement more resources to prevent these horrific attacks, not less. A program in charge of doing these things shouldn't have fewer than 10 people and be led by a 22-year-old with no experience. What I am saying here, that this program has been cut dramatically-- the AIMED Program--will reverberate among everybody who wants a safer America and should reverberate among all elected officials, Democrat and Republican, about the need to keep this program. So we need to give more resources to law enforcement, but let me be clear: This dangerous environment isn't spontaneous. It is being stoked, often deliberately, by the reckless rhetoric coming from some of the most powerful voices in the country. When political opponents are treated like enemies, danger follows. And that is what Trump has done. He has weaponized the Justice Department and law enforcement. It is going after his political enemies instead of going after criminals. It is the responsibility of all leaders, especially the President of the United States, to not just unequivocally condemn hatred but to stop violent and aggressive language against political opponents. Trump has to see that his words have real impact and consequences, and here is one way he could start right now: He could demand of Senator Lee that he take down his inflammatory, despicable posts about the deaths of the two people in Minnesota. They are gross. They are disgusting. They are the kind of thing that just riles people up. Let Trump call Lee up and say: Take them down. Take those posts down. That will be a start. But in general, he has to stop treating his political opponents as enemies because danger will always follow.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, last night, law enforcement apprehended the man suspected in the assassination of Minnesota State Representative Melissa Hortman and her husband and the shootings of State Senator John Hoffman and his wife. We in the Senate thank our law enforcement for their remarkable work in bringing the attacker into custody. As we have all seen, the attacker planned to continue his killing spree had he not been thwarted and had a list of over 70 public officials potentially targeted for violence, including Members of the Senate. Naturally, a number of Members in the Senate remain profoundly shaken. The victims were friends of our colleagues from Minnesota. Some of them were together at a dinner the night before the shooting. To think that one moment, you can celebrate each other's company--laugh and joke, share a meal, a drink--only for violence to strike the next moment makes us all sick to our stomachs. It is haunting. My prayers are with the families of the victims. I am heartbroken for the loss of Representative Hortman and her husband. I can't get their faces--those nice pictures of such nice people--out of my mind. On the other hand, I am glad to hear Senator Hoffman and his wife are making progress toward recovery. May God bless them all and their loved ones.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, second, I would like to take a moment and step back and share a quick word on the events of this weekend--the good and the bad alike. On one hand, this weekend we witnessed one of the largest peaceful demonstrations in American history. Nearly 5 million Americans took to the streets and made their voices heard against the rise of authoritarianism on our shores. I was proud to be one of them. We gathered in the streets. We gathered in front of State capitols. We gathered on beaches and at national parks and in cities and towns, big and small alike. For the most part, the demonstrations were peaceful. In some cities, there were acts of unlawful disruption, and those who broke the law should be held accountable. I have always been clear that the right to free speech is fundamental but must be exercised peacefully. But, again, for the most part, the millions who marched this weekend did so peacefully. In many cities, there wasn't a single incidence of lawbreaking. In fact, the demonstrations were much more than just simply peaceful; they were inspiring. After all the attacks we have seen this year against our institutions and our values, it is so comforting to know that the roots of democracy run deep in this country; and even though we may disagree fiercely, the marches remind us we can stand up for our country and our democracy while still keeping the peace. What happened in Minnesota, however, should be a warning. Political violence is not just on the rise in America; it is becoming all too normal, and it falls on all of us to stop it. When lawmakers are shot in their own homes, when a Governor's mansion is set ablaze, when the spouse of a Speaker of the House is nearly beaten to death, when a violent mob storms the U.S. Capitol, and when a gunman tries to assassinate the President of the United States, it is not enough to just condemn these acts and move on. We need to recognize something needs to change. Condemning violence is only the first step-- necessary--but a first step. We must all work together to address violence's root causes. We must take a serious look at the toxic forces that are radicalizing too many Americans into embracing violence. Most of all, when violence strikes, the answer is for us to come together regardless of party. That is especially important for U.S. Senators. Sadly, we didn't see that this weekend. I wish I didn't have to say this, but I was deeply disappointed and sickened to see a Member of this Chamber use the tragedy in Minnesota to take cheap, political shots at the other side on social media and risk escalating a perilous moment. What the senior Senator from Utah posted after the shootings was reckless and beneath the dignity of his office. For a Senator to fan the flames of division with falsities while the killer was still on the loose is deeply irresponsible. He should take down his post immediately and apologize to the families of the victims. And this isn't even about politics. This is about simple human decency. Our divisions run deep, but we are still all Americans. We may disagree sometimes, many times, maybe most of the time, but we are still human beings. The victims this weekend--no matter what party they belonged to--still leave behind kids who now will never speak to their parents ever again. So I say to my colleagues: Now is the time to speak with moral clarity. Every single one of us must condemn political violence no matter where it comes from and work together to eradicate its root causes. We cannot be silent because silence only serves to enable more violence. And in the meantime, I will continue to work with Leader Thune, with the Capitol Police, the Sergeant at Arms, and all of my colleagues to ensure the safety of every Senator and our staffs. This is a dark moment for America, but I believe firmly in my bones we will endure.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now, on Senator Padilla, what happened last week to Senator Padilla was beyond the pale. I don't care who you are or what your views are, there is never justification for Federal agents to put their hands on a Member of the U.S. Senate, throw him onto the ground, and cuff him for no reason other than he was doing his job. The way agents treated Senator Padilla is what you see in totalitarian regimes. It is outrageous that Secretary Noem let this happen and then lied about the incident after the fact. Neither the Senate, nor any member of government, can tolerate a Member of this Chamber being treated in this way. Secretary Noem has proven herself to be derelict in her responsibilities. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Now, Mr. President, as we convene, I want to start with this: My highest priority right now is working with the Senate leadership on both sides, the Senate Sergeant at Arms, and Capitol Police to ensure everyone's safety. This weekend, I asked Capitol Police and the Sergeant at Arms to increase the security for Members, including Senator Padilla and the Minnesota Senators. Knowing that the Sergeant at Arms, her entire operation, and the Capitol Police are there to help us right now is comforting. Tomorrow, the Senate will hold an all-Members' briefing, organized at my request and that of Senator Thune, with the Sergeant at Arms, to talk about security for Members. The Sergeant at Arms and Capitol Police are doing an outstanding job and have bent over backwards, under very difficult circumstances, to keep everyone safe. Tomorrow's briefing will be a chance for them to convey what they are doing for Members to keep them safe.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I don't often agree with the conservative Wall Street Journal editorial board, but they had it right this morning in their op-ed. They said: Trump Has No China Trade Strategy. That is what The Wall Street Journal said. Trump Has No China Trade Strategy. I agree, Trump has no China trade strategy. Yesterday, President Trump shouted from the mountaintops that a trade deal with China has been ``done,'' but in reality, nothing of the sort happened. It is typical Trump. He just makes things up that he thinks please himself and please his rightwing for the moment. In truth, Donald Trump struck a feeble truce and calls it a victory. In fact, calling this a ``truce,'' calling it ``feeble'' would be putting it kindly. Donald Trump's actions with China and the handshake yesterday accomplished virtually nothing. China has outfoxed him, and we are just back where we started. After months of Donald Trump trying to talk tough on China, China today has more leverage over the United States than when Trump started on this venture. Donald Trump's trade war has been a colossal failure and a chaotic mess, with virtually nothing to show for it. Donald Trump should go back to the drawing board and start over and come up with a plan that actually goes after China, by joining with our allies instead of going to war with them, by having them be allies with us to put pressure on China. And that will make action against China much tougher and more successful, instead of what Trump did, alienating our allies and having them ally with China instead of us. And Donald Trump should tell Mr. Navarro to get another job. This man has had terrible advice, in Donald Trump's first term and now in Donald Trump's second term. Two months since America's supposed ``Liberation Day,'' it is clear that Donald Trump's trade strategy is not working, and his main problem is that he doesn't have a coherent strategy at all. Donald Trump's only move seems to be creating chaos. It is as if he wakes up in the morning and picks a country out of a hat. It just pops into his head, and he runs with it--no strategy, no coherence, no understanding or appreciation of what occurred the day before or might occur the day after. He has turned markets manic, and he has paralyzed business. Business leaders you talk to, from one end of America to the other-- big business, medium-size business, small business--say they are paralyzed. They can't move because they don't know what he is going to do next on tariffs. And given how erratic and inconsistent he has been, who can blame them. One Kentucky small business owner, a Trump supporter who runs a baseball goods company, described this trade war as ``a vacation from hell.'' To millions of American businesses, that is exactly what has happened. This is a vacation from hell, self-imposed by Donald Trump. As the summer break begins, and families start traveling around the country, that is exactly what Americans are feeling as well: a vacation from hell, thanks to Donald Trump's tariff policies.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask consent to address the Chamber for 20 seconds.

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I just saw something that sickened my stomach--the manhandling of a U.S. Senator. We need immediate answers to what the hell went on. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. I mentioned a few minutes ago, I had seen a video that sickened my stomach of a U.S. Senator being manhandled, we now know, by Federal agents and dragged out of a hearing room. Now there is a second video that is even worse. He has been thrown to the ground--again, manhandled, brutally taken down, handcuffed. It was disgusting. Anyone who looks at this--it will turn their stomach to look at this video and see what happened. It reeks--reeks--of totalitarianism. This is not what democracies do. Senator Padilla was there legitimately in that building to ask questions of what is going on in California, which everybody wants to know answers to. We don't get answers when we ask the administration questions in one way or another. So Senator Padilla was exercising his duty as a Senator for his constituents to try and find out what happened and, instead, he gets manhandled, thrown out of the room, thrown on the ground, and handcuffed. We need a full investigation immediately as to what happened and who did what and what is going to be done to see that this doesn't happen again to Senator Padilla or other American citizens who are seeking their right to redress. It is despicable; it is disgusting; it is so un-American--so un-American--and we need answers. We need answers immediately. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, Donald Trump's order mobilizing U.S. troops to an American city sets a dangerous precedent for our civil liberties. As I have said, violence is not the way to achieve justice. Freedom of speech is fundamental, but it must be exercised peacefully and lawfully. And the vast majority--the overwhelming majority of protests have been peaceful, and they are exercising their American right, their privilege, to peacefully protest. That has been with our country since its founding. But sending troops to an American city against the wishes of local officials is outrageous, unnecessary, and reeks of authoritarianism. That is what authoritarian countries do. Using troops on U.S. soil should only ever be used as an absolute last resort. The last time it happened without State consent was 60 years ago to protect civil rights heroes. What Donald Trump is doing, rather, is spoiling for a fight. He wants chaos. He would love any excuse to divert attention. And doing it this way is--he does it all the time. This is one of the most shameful, awful ways you can do it. Our troops don't deserve to be exploited in this way, to be used as pawns in a nakedly political fight. It is a deep disservice to them and to all servicemembers and law enforcement who serve our country and protect our community. And why is Donald Trump doing this? To divert attention. He knows that his ``Big Ugly Bill'' is highly unpopular with the American people. The more they learn about it, the more they hate it. He knows he has got big trouble with his fight with his erstwhile friend Musk. He knows that the tariffs are hurting the American people. So he seeks to divert attention. That is his MO. But what it does is create chaos. And the American people don't like chaos. And so I urge the President to immediately reverse course at once, remove all of the troops and the marines, and let local law enforcement do their jobs to keep the peace, as the Governor of California and the mayor of Los Angeles said they are perfectly capable of doing.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, from the moment Donald Trump entered the public sphere, he has thrived on division and diversion. He fans the flames of chaos, then pretends to be the firefighter--always looking for someone else to blame for the infernos he helps ignite--all in an attempt to divert Americans away from his many failures. Now Donald Trump, cornered by his own failures from pushing a heartless bill that would rip healthcare away from 16 million Americans and raise costs from his reckless tariffs war, to waging war with Elon Musk--Trump is desperately seeking a distraction. His order to deploy the National Guard and Marines--our own troops on Americans--is not just outrageous and provocative; it is a dangerous authoritarian overreach that threatens the very fabric of our democracy. This isn't leadership; it is provocation. To be very clear, violent protest is not the answer for achieving the work of justice--full stop. Protests must remain peaceful, and law and order must be maintained, but let me emphasize: Deploying federalized troops without a State's consent hasn't happened in over 60 years, and when it did, it was to protect civil rights heroes who were marching for justice in Selma, AL. That moment was about progress. This one is about power and intimidation. We must all stand up and say loud and clear: America will not be bullied into submission by a President who confuses strength with force and democracy with domination. Americans don't deserve more fear, more division, more chaos. The President is using the military not to protect the people but to silence them. He is playing politics with the lives of our troops and the safety of our citizens. It is shameful. It is unlawful. It is deeply un-American. Once again, President Trump is choosing chaos over competence and division over democracy. We must all stand up and say loud and clear: America will not be bullied into submission by a President who confuses strength with force and democracy with domination. The only consequence of Donald Trump's order of sending troops to Los Angeles is chaos, and Americans don't like it. Instead of deescalating, Donald Trump is pouring fuel into a fire, hoping for an explosion to distract from what he is really doing. President Trump should call back the National Guard and the Marines immediately and leave the work of law enforcement to the Governor and the mayor who are more than capable of keeping order without escalation.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the text of the bill be printed in the Record.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, let me begin this morning with a sobering headline from the New York Times. Times headline: ``Millions Would Lose Their Obamacare Coverage Under Trump's Bill.'' That is exactly what Democrats have been warning about for weeks. What Republicans call their Big Beautiful Bill is really repeal and replace by another name. It is really repeal and replace by another name. It is a big beautiful betrayal, not a big beautiful bill. Yesterday, we learned that the devastation potentially has only worsened. The nonpartisan CBO has now grown the number of impacted Americans to 16 million. Sixteen million will lose their Medicaid and ACA coverage. So the more you look at this bill, things keep getting worse, because CBO now says that not 13.7 million would lose coverage but 16 million. The number of impacted people grows the more you look at this bill. Things keep getting even worse. We learned yesterday the news that Republicans may want to even go after Medicare. Medicare is on the chopping block. That is right--at yesterday's lunch, Republicans raised the possibility of Medicare cuts to pay for their billionaire tax cuts. The junior Senator from North Dakota reportedly said: Why don't we go after that? I think we should. For Republicans to even suggest Medicare be cut to bankroll billionaire tax breaks is frightening and revolting. There is more. The junior Senator from Louisiana said: I'm not worried about people losing their healthcare. Do you know what happens when people lose their healthcare, when they can't afford it? People die. But what do Republicans have to say about that? Well, the junior Senator from Iowa said this: Well, we're all going to die. That quote tells you everything you need to know about this plan-- callous, clueless, careless. That is right--this plan is callous, clueless, and careless. But that is the Republican Party for you these days. They don't get it or, more likely, they don't care--just so long as billionaires can pay less in taxes. Republicans should forget calling this gargoyle of a bill their Big Beautiful Bill. They might as well call it the We're all Going to Die Act after what the Senator from Iowa said. At least that name is more honest, the We're All Going to Die Act. Donald Trump may claim this bill won't cut anyone from coverage, but he is lying. Sixteen million people will lose coverage, and 11 million people will lose affordable food. Costs will spike, hospitals will close, and people will die. And why? For a tax break for billionaires. Now, let me finish with this on a separate note. In order to make the ultrarich even richer, their bill, according to CBO, would add over $2.4 trillion to the debt. Even Elon Musk calls this thing an ``abomination''--his word. As the saying goes, a broken clock is right twice a day. The Republicans pride themselves as the supposed party of fiscal responsibility, but this bill they have belongs on the Mount Rushmore of fiscally irresponsible bills. So I close with a warning to Republicans in the Senate: If you proceed with this ``Big Ugly Bill,'' this big betrayal of the American people, it won't be Donald Trump's soothing words that will be enacted in your States but, rather, deep and devastating cuts, millions of job losses. You will rip healthcare from millions, you will explode the debt, and you will shower billionaires with tax breaks. That is what you will be doing no matter what Donald Trump tells you on the telephone, I say to our Republican Senate colleagues. Tread carefully. Tread carefully.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, over the past few days, Donald Trump has bent over backwards to try to sell his so-called Big Beautiful Bill with a new lie. He said no one will lose healthcare coverage. He says no benefits will be slashed. He says the bill won't harm a single recipient. He is lying. This is all total nonsense, and Senate Republicans need to reject Donald Trump's snake oil sales pitch. I implore my Senate colleagues, tread carefully with your Big Beautiful Bill. If you pass this bill, it won't be Donald Trump's soothing words that will be enacted in your States but, rather, deep and devastating harm to your constituents. And your constituents, Senate Republicans, will hold you responsible for going along with Donald Trump's ruse. If you go down this road, he will take away coverage from kids, from seniors, from parents, from moms. You will put doctors and nurses out of work. You will put rural hospitals in particular jeopardy since they depend on Medicaid, Medicare, and government help to stay going. They are often the biggest employer in your rural counties, Senate Republicans. They are often the only source of healthcare. When Americans see this is all to make the ultrarich even richer, they will know that it was this nasty bill that made it happen. Donald Trump's Big Beautiful Bill is repeal and replace by another name. Here are the facts: Under the bill, over 14 million would lose healthcare coverage. As bad as this bill is, we just got news that it will get even worse. CBO today will announce that it is not 14 million people kicked off but more--estimates as high as 15 million. The Republican bill will kick even more people off healthcare than we originally thought--not only by attacking Medicaid but by destabilizing the ACA, private insurance, and now even Medicare--even Medicare. So this bad bill is getting worse. The estimates of how many people will lose their healthcare coverage goes up and up and up each time we read the fine print. The closer and closer people look at the bill, the worse and worse it gets. Tens of millions of Americans who otherwise qualify for healthcare would be mummified in new redtape, shortened enrollment periods, higher premiums, and weaker coverage. People would fall through the cracks and get phased out of coverage altogether in the coming years. It is death by a thousand paper cuts, and that is no accident; that is the intention of the Republican bill. And let's talk about fraud. Donald Trump says, well, it is just knocking out fraud. Democrats would love to work with Republicans to eliminate fraud and waste in healthcare, but the bill Republicans have right now does not accomplish that. It is aimed at real people--real people who need healthcare, taking that away. This Big Beautiful Bill uses the fraud boogeyman as an excuse to kick people out of healthcare who would otherwise qualify, including people with jobs, including people with kids. The only fraud happening right now is the fraudulent sales pitch coming from Donald Trump and his statement that he won't boot anyone from coverage. That is the fraud here. The fraud is the lies Donald Trump is telling Republicans about this bill, that people won't lose coverage. That is a lie. That is the fraud. Republicans should know that and reject this awful Big Beautiful Bill before it is too late.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Reserving the right to object, I will object for two reasons. First, a few weeks ago, I announced I am placing holds on all DOJ political nominations because the Attorney General refuses to answer fundamental questions about Donald Trump seeking a luxury plane from Qatar to use as Air Force One. This is a grave national security threat, as everyone knows. The bottom line is very simple on this plane: The President of the United States accepted a luxury jet from a foreign government to use as his personal Air Force One. It wasn't just unethical. It reeked of corruption, of bribery, and threatened our national security. That whole plane will have to be taken apart piece by piece to make sure listening devices aren't in it and be even more expensive. And yet the Justice Department didn't just look the other way; they approved it. That is so typical of this Justice Department and something that I think if a Democratic President did it, the Senator from Iowa would be the first on the floor to stand here and object. Now we hear silence--silence. They won't even answer serious questions about this. This plane should be withdrawn, and I have introduced legislation to do that. But that is not the only reason. Donald Trump has turned the Justice Department upside down. It is politicized. It is weaponized. It is hollowed out. Donald Trump and his acolytes in the Justice Department are less interested in prosecuting criminals and more interested in prosecuting Trump's perceived political opponents. This is an absolute disgrace. Both sides in past administrations, Democrat and Republican, have worked together to uphold the rule of law at DOJ. But now, the rule of law has been replaced by loyalty tests. Career public servants who have dedicated years to prosecuting criminals are just shoved aside because when Donald Trump asks them to break the law, to undo the law, to set aside rule of law, they refuse. Investigations and prosecutions are dictated by political convenience and not justice. And now Republicans want the Senate to quietly rubberstamp a political nominee for the DOJ by unanimous consent--no hearing, no debate, no scrutiny. On an important position like this, this should happen regularly that there should be debate. But with this Justice Department, as horrible as it is, as political as it is, as destructive of American values as it has been--no way. The nominee is a former staffer for the very same Senator making the request. Now, as my colleague noted, in the past he has been up there when other administrations made ethical violations and did the wrong thing in his judgment. But now there is just silence from my colleague and from all of the Republican Senators. And they know what is going on. They know what is going on. But blind obeisance to Donald Trump is wrong when it comes to something as sacred as this: rule of law and a Justice Department that seeks to enforce the law, not just go after political enemies. If Donald Trump and Republicans want to poison and politicize our justice system, I am not participating. I object. I add one more point with deep regret. What is happening to the Judiciary Committee and the Justice Department is shameful. Inspectors general have been dismissed with no accountability. Again, my colleague who used to uphold the inspectors general and praised them--tons of them are dismissed now. The American Bar Association has been sidelined. And today, up in the Justice Department, unqualified judicial nominees--some barely out of law school--are being rushed through confirmation. This is not how the Senate should work. It didn't work that way when there was a Democratic President and my friend was chairman of the Judiciary Committee. There should be no special treatment--none; not for political allies; not for former staffers; not for anyone. What Trump and Bondi are doing to the Justice Department and the rule of law is dangerous. It undermines the public trust and erodes the rule of law. The Senate should not be complicit. I object.

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I continue to object for the many reasons that I have listed. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I want to thank my colleague Senator Welch, the great Senator from Vermont, for shining a spotlight on Donald Trump and the Republicans' attack on healthcare in their so- called Big Beautiful Bill. Let's be honest about what the Republican bill really is. It is repeal and replace by another name--not one fell swoop but death by a thousand papercuts. They are afraid to say they want to kill healthcare, Medicaid, ACA; so instead, they put so many barriers in the way that, in effect, they are doing the same thing. They are doing the same thing with Social Security. We have all heard how this bill will devastate Medicaid. It is the largest cut in history. Every day you learn more about this bill, it gets worse. It includes over $1 trillion--$1 trillion--in healthcare cuts--cuts to the ACA, even cuts to Medicare. We have been learning that Medicare will be hurt as well by the sequestration. And today, if you didn't think it could get worse with this ``Big Ugly Bill,'' it sure did. The CBO just announced that their bill will kick millions more people off their healthcare than we originally thought, not only by attacking Medicaid, but by crippling the ACA private insurance and even Medicare now. Yesterday, it was 13.7 million people who would lose coverage. Today, it is as high as 16 million. You know, that is a big number, 16 million. It is families; it is people who need healthcare; people whose kids might have cancer and they are desperate to get something done; elderly who are paying so much for medicine, they can't afford to go to a doctor to see if the medicine is working; families that are just starting out and maybe someone lost his or her job. Yes, 16 million, but that is each person, a family, a group. The more you look at the House bill, the worse it gets. Enrollment times will be shortened by an entire month. Wait times will be longer for everyone at the hospital. And 22 million people--22 million people--could see their average premium go up by an average of 93 percent. Small business owners--3.3 million--will see their premiums skyrocket. Hospitals, nursing homes, health centers are all at risk. I have been at nursing homes in many parts of my State. Guess what? They are all afraid they are going to close because 60 percent, 70 percent of their income is Medicaid. That is how they take care of the elderly. And those people will lose their coverage and be forced to leave because the nursing home will close. Well, how about those 45-year-old couples with three kids? They have no extra room in the house and Mom has to come back because she has no place to go; and there won't be adequate healthcare there at home. And job loss. Job loss on this ``Big Ugly Bill''--this betrayal-- 850,000 will lose their jobs in healthcare alone, another 800,000 in clean energy, and many, many more. Millions are losing their jobs. I don't know what the economists would think, but when you lose 2 million jobs, if that is the case, you are right on the edge of a recession, if not in one. And despite all this, Donald Trump has the gall to lie and say that his bill wouldn't harm Americans' healthcare. He says no one will lose coverage. Ladies and gentlemen, people of America, Donald Trump is lying. The bill will kick people off their healthcare coverage. It will slash healthcare benefits. It will close rural hospitals. People will get sicker and die. What did the junior Senator from Iowa say? Well, we are all going to die. How about the junior Senator from Louisiana? I'm not worried about people losing their healthcare. It shows the callousness of the Republican Senators when it comes to healthcare. They don't seem to care. They seem to say ``Tough luck.'' Republicans should forget calling this their ``One Big Beautiful Bill.'' You know what the new name for this bill is, a more suitable name? The ``We're All Going to Die Act.'' The ``We're All Going to Die Act'' because that just about sums up how callous they are being with the American people. For many Americans, healthcare is the difference between life and death. Democrats will fight this bill with everything we have. The American people deserve to know the truth. And one more point. I would say to my colleagues, Donald Trump is selling you Republican colleagues a bill of goods: It is not going to hurt anybody. Don't believe his false words because when you vote for this bill, the effects will actually occur, and the public will realize what you have done. So don't let Donald Trump sell you a bill of goods. We know he makes things up out of the clear blue all the time. He is doing it now. And when he calls you in and tells you that no one is going to be hurt, no one is going to lose coverage, you know that is a crock of you-know-what. I can't say it here. Don't listen to him because your constituents will pay an awful price in healthcare. And they will know you did it. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCHUMER

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