Chuck Schumer

Mr. SCHUMER

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

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I enter a motion to reconsider.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, shortly after the news leaked that the U.S. Supreme Court was ready to overturn Roe v. Wade, Leader McConnell acknowledged that a Federal ban on abortion was now ``possible''--his words. Well, later today, the senior Senator from South Carolina is going to make good on Leader McConnell's warning by introducing a radical bill to institute a nationwide restriction on abortions. Proposals like the one today send a clear message from MAGA Republicans to women across the country: your body, our choice. Rather than expanding women's rights, MAGA Republicans would curtail them rather than give individuals the freedom to make their own healthcare choices. They hand that power over to radical politicians. And let me add this. Republicans are twisting themselves into pretzels trying to explain why they want nationwide abortion bans when they said they would leave it up to the States. Even the senior Senator from South Carolina said a few months ago that ``if the Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade,'' it would mean that ``every state will decide if abortion is legal and on what terms.'' And yet here he is, introducing a bill to restrict abortions nationally. For the hard right, this has never been about States' rights. This has never been about letting Texas choose its own path while California takes another. No, for MAGA Republicans this has always been about making abortion illegal everywhere. The contrast has become clear. While Democrats want to protect a woman's freedom to choose, MAGA Republicans want to take that right away with proposals to ban abortions, to punish women and doctors for carrying out abortions, and even to push bans with no exceptions for rape or incest. We are seeing it play out across the country. It is chilling-- chilling--to the bone. Every single American should stand in opposition against these radical MAGA Republican views.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now, on the IRA, this afternoon I will join with my Senate Democratic colleagues at the White House to celebrate the enactment of the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. When this bill passed the Senate a little over a month ago, I expressed confidence that this legislation would signal a turning point in our country's fight to lower costs, to meet our Nation's climate challenges, and to usher in the era of affordable clean energy. A month later, the good news is already pouring in. Companies like Toyota have announced billions in new investments to start manufacturing batteries for electric and hybrid vehicles right here in America. Elsewhere, Honda and LG Energy have also recently announced over $4 billion for EV battery production in the United States. And recently, the CEO of First Solar said it was the Inflation Reduction Act that provided the ``clarity'' needed to make their investments here in America. Had we not done this, many of these plants would have been built but probably overseas. And yet, despite this record of success, despite the fact that Democrats have told Republicans that this is opening a new way for the future for American jobs with good futures here, not one Republican voted in favor of this bill. That is the difference between the two parties in a nutshell: While MAGA Republicans are fixated on their extremist agenda, Democrats are focused on creating jobs, lowering costs, bringing our country together. While Democrats will join today with President Biden to promote our job-creating agenda, Republicans will spend today introducing new, radical legislation to ban abortions on the national level, right here on the Senate floor. That is the contrast between the parties, clear as day, and we know which side the American people are on. And while Democrats want to lower costs, increase prosperity, and strengthen ladders to the middle class, the junior Senator from Florida, who serves as the chief elections architect for Senate Republicans, continues to promote tax hikes--tax hikes--for working families and putting Medicare on the chopping block. This split screen is unmistakable for all Americans to see for themselves. Democrats will spend today focused on the job-creating, inflation-fighting agenda we promised and delivered for the American people, while Republicans continue defending tax hikes for the working class while pushing national abortion bans here in the Senate. And the American people will have no trouble deciding for themselves which party is truly in their corner.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, finally, on sepsis, I want to say a few words on a health issue that rarely gets the attention it deserves here on the Senate floor, and that is the issue of sepsis. Every year, roughly 1.7 million Americans are infected with sepsis. That is a population roughly the size of Phoenix, AZ. Of those, 270,000-- 270,000--are ultimately killed by the disease. For those unfamiliar, sepsis is a terrible, life-threatening condition where the body overreacts to an infection in an extreme way. Most cases are preventable, if they are caught with enough time. Sadly, because of a lack of public awareness, too many cases fly under the radar until it is too late. So today, I am here to introduce a resolution designating September 13 as National Sepsis Day. It would encourage greater public education about this condition, urge Federal entities to streamline treatment guidelines, and marshal our resources to ultimately bring sepsis to an end. The Federal Government has a great model to follow in my home State of New York, which adopted Rory's Regulations to guide health officials when it comes to this illness named in honor of Rory Staunton, a 12- year-old from Queens who died from sepsis 10 years ago. These rules have undoubtedly saved countless lives and should inform Federal policy. I cannot imagine the profound suffering that Rory's parents must feel to this day, but I hope they find strength in knowing that the rules bearing their son's name have gone a long way to help others. It is time we take this disease seriously at the Federal level. For that reason, I am proud to introduce this resolution today. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. On judges, last night I moved to file cloture on the nomination of Sarah Merriam to be U.S. circuit judge for the Second Circuit. She will be the sixth circuit court judge this Chamber has considered since the beginning of this work period--the sixth. She will be in exceedingly good company. Later today, we will vote on the nomination of Arianna Freeman to be U.S. circuit judge for the Third Circuit, followed by cloture on the nomination of Lara Montecalvo to serve on the First Circuit. Altogether, the Senate has now confirmed 80--80--judicial nominations to serve lifetime appointments on the Federal bench. I made clear that confirming more of President Biden's judicial nominees would be a top priority for Senate Democrats, and we are making good on our promise by being on track to vote on six circuit court judges in the first 2 weeks of this work period alone. Among the judges confirmed this month are a number of notable firsts: the first Latino to serve from the State of Washington to the Ninth Circuit, the first Black Tennessean to ever sit on the Sixth Circuit, and the first Asian American from anywhere to sit on the Seventh Circuit. And that is just in the last 2 weeks. The 80 jurists we have confirmed also include the first Native American judge, the first Muslim American district judge, and the first Black woman, of course, in the history of the U.S. Supreme Court. I mention these firsts because even though it takes a lot to be a successful jurist, representation is a key part of the equation. There has been a lot of talk lately about the public's trust in our courts--in my judgment, for very good reasons. So if our courts are to long endure--to say nothing of our democracy--they must reflect the rich vibrancy of our country. So as we continue confirming judges, we will make sure that the individuals on the bench meet this important standard. We have come a very long way, but there is much work left to be done.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 1032.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum call for the cloture motion filed today, September 12, be waived.

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, the Senate gavels back into session to consider more Federal judges, continue working to fund the government, and to find a path forward to protect marriage equality and other critical issues. Later this afternoon, the Senate will vote on the confirmation of Judge Salvador Mendoza to serve a lifetime appointment on the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The child of Mexican immigrant farmworkers, Mr. Mendoza was the first Latino judge to ever serve in the Eastern District of Washington. And if confirmed today, he would be the first Latino from the State of Washington ever to sit on the Ninth Circuit. In 2014, the Senate confirmed Mr. Mendoza with an overwhelming bipartisan vote, 92 to 4. Today, it should be no different. If confirmed, Judge Mendoza's elevation will be significant for another reason. He would be the 80th, the 80th--8-0--judicial nomination confirmed under President Biden. That is more judges confirmed under President Biden than were confirmed by this point under President Trump, President Obama, and President Bush. It is something we Democrats are very proud of because the impact of these judges will last for years, if not decades. And we are by no means done. After Judge Mendoza is confirmed, we will turn to the nomination of Arianna Freeman to serve as circuit judge for the Third Circuit. She would be the fourth circuit judge nominee we would consider since the beginning of this work period. Let me say that again. We are going to begin considering the fourth circuit court nominee since we returned from the August State work period. I said judges would be a priority, and this is what that looks like. And it is my intention, as majority leader, to keep the Senate focused on judges this week and beyond. Our fundamental rights and our democracy itself depend on it.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.

Mr. SCHUMER. I know of no further debate on the bill, as amended.

Mr. SCHUMER. Finally, I ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 5754 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read three times and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, four words are inscribed in the stone above the U.S. Supreme Court: ``Equal Justice Under Law''--``Equal Justice Under Law.'' In many ways, the story of America has been about making those words true for all Americans. Sometimes we take bold steps forward. Other times, unfortunately, we take disturbing steps backward. We all know that when the Constitution was written, there was not equal justice under law. That is pretty obvious. So many people were excluded from voting and other rights. But we have tried to move forward, and that is one of the beautiful things about America. We keep moving forward. We push. But, unfortunately, today America finds itself in one of those frightening moments of regression--of regression. A few months ago, tens of millions of women saw their fundamental right to choose taken away before their very eyes. Justice Thomas, in a concurring opinion, suggested that other rights, like the freedom to marry protected in Obergefell might come next. The mere thought should make us sick to our stomachs. The Senate has a responsibility now to act. Because of this threat, the Senate will hold a vote on the Respect for Marriage Act in the coming weeks so that no American is discriminated against because of whom they love. My colleagues Senators Baldwin and Sinema and others have worked for months to build bipartisan support for this legislation. I applaud them for their efforts. I hope that we will get at least 10 Republicans to join us to pass marriage equality through the Senate. If the Respect for Marriage Act can win significant Republican support in the House, there is no legitimate reason for Republicans in this Chamber to stand in the way. Over the past few weeks, we have heard many on the other side say: Well, this vote isn't necessary. They say marriage equality is not something Americans spend a lot of time thinking about anymore. They want us to believe that the Supreme Court would never do something as reckless as reversing the precedent of marriage equality that millions have relied on for years. Well, where oh where have we heard that before? The very same people who suggested that Roe was established precedent now want us to think that the Supreme Court won't go further, even though a sitting Justice on the highest Court in the land openly said something to the contrary, and he is often joined by four others. Lest we forget, marriage equality was not the law of the land a decade ago. Discrimination against LGBTQ Americans still continues to this day. Now MAGA Republicans have escalated their rhetoric against same sex marriage and want to normalize gender discrimination. MAGA Republicans seem to make it their business to pick on certain groups, not to do things that are positive and move things forward but to sort of just point their fingers at someone and blame them for some abstract reason that really doesn't hurt them at all. That is where this Republican Party--unfortunately, too many of them--are headed, led by these MAGA Republicans and often fomented by former President Trump. Earlier this year--here is what I am talking about. This isn't pie in the sky. The Texas Republican GOP, earlier this year, even adopted a party platform. This is of the largest Republican State in the country, the one with the most congressional representatives. The Texas GOP adopted this year a party platform that said ``homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice.'' Let me repeat that. The largest Republican State in the country, its Republican Party, captured by MAGA fervor--absurd fervor--said ``homosexuality is an abnormal lifestyle choice.'' Just yesterday, a judge said that employers can deny access to medication if they believe it would encourage homosexuality. And we all know that these MAGA Republicans and their ilk, led by this man named Leonard Leo, with billions of dollars of dark money, use the courts to move America backward--move the courts to move America backward. And that is what happened yesterday with this judge coming up with this absurd, obnoxious, despicable resolution. I trust that that radical view of that judge and of that Texas GOP is not something many of us embrace here in this Chamber. But we can't act as if our fundamental rights will stay safe if we aren't willing to safeguard them through legislation. If we are going to let these MAGA judges--rightwing, appointed by Leonard Leo and the Federalist Society--if we are not going to let them move America backward, then we have an obligation to act. So let me make clear that a vote on marriage equality will happen on the Senate floor in the coming weeks, and I hope there will be at least 10 Republicans to support it.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on the related subject, obviously, of judges, today the Senate will continue fulfilling its constitutional duty to confirm more judges to sit on our Federal judiciary. It has really been a productive week here on the floor when it comes to judges. Yesterday, we confirmed John Lee to serve a lifetime appointment as circuit judge on the Seventh Circuit, the first Asian American to ever sit on that court. Today, we will confirm another circuit judge--Andre Mathis--to sit on the Sixth Circuit. When confirmed, Mathis will be the 78th judge we have confirmed under President Biden--more than President Trump, more than President Obama, more than President Bush had confirmed up to this point. It is a great record. We are proud of it, and we aren't done. Later this afternoon, we will begin working on our third--our third-- circuit court judge of the week, Salvador Mendoza, to sit on the Ninth Circuit. After we vote on cloture today, Members should expect to vote on his confirmation as early as the beginning of next week. Moving forward, it will be one of our top priorities to confirm as many judges as possible. It is one of the best things we can do with our time here on the floor, especially given how many MAGA-type judges President Trump and the Republican majority appointed. The lion's share of legal disputes never make it to the Supreme Court, giving those who preside in the lower courts immense power to affect the lives of the American people. And, of course, when they get it wrong--as they have all too frequently recently--the results can be disastrous. Just yesterday, a hard-right judge in Texas, as I mentioned, stripped away Americans' rights to access preventive care. Over 150 million Americans could now be at risk of losing everything from breast cancer screenings to cholesterol screenings, free vaccinations, mental health assessments, and so much more. Add that to the previous case I mentioned before, and you can see that judges are out of control, far away from what most Americans want, foisted upon us by the Republican Senate majority, President Trump, and a small band of rightwing, MAGA billionaires. In the long run, this decision could mean more people get sick or die needlessly simply because they can't afford preventive care to stay healthy. That is the kind of thing that is at stake when it comes to judges. It is a frightening reminder of the difference between our side and the hard right, the MAGA hard right, the extreme MAGA hard right. Whether through judges or legislation, the hard right remains obsessed--obsessed--with stripping away people's rights to affordable healthcare. It is dangerous. It is malicious. It is wildly out of step with the American people. Democrats want something different. We want to protect people's healthcare, not destroy it. We want judges who will preserve long- established precedent, not obliterate it, who will move us forward on our fight to equality, not take steps backward. And in the coming weeks and months, we will maintain a laser-like focus on confirming judges who will do the kinds of things that we believe must be done in America. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.