Chuck Schumer

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. I move to proceed to executive session.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. I move to proceed to legislative session.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Finally I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum calls for cloture motions filed today, March 28, be waived.

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 717.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam 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. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, finally, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10 a.m. on Tuesday, March 29; 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 proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the Coloretti nomination; that the cloture motions filed during Thursday's session ripen following the disposition of the motion to discharge the Cook nomination; and that the Senate vote on the motion to discharge the Cook nomination at 11:45 a.m.; that if cloture is invoked on the Coloretti nomination, all postcloture time be considered expired at 5:30 p.m. and that the Senate recess following the cloture vote until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings; further, that notwithstanding rule XXII, the Senate vote on cloture on the Kang nomination at 2:15 p.m. and that if cloture is invoked, all postcloture time be considered expired following the disposition of the Coloretti nomination; finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during Tuesday's session of the Senate, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar Nos. 816, 817, 818, and 819; that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc without intervening action or debate; that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that any statements related to the nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action; and that the Senate resume legislative session.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 718.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I have one request 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. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, in a few moments I will file a discharge petition to move forward on the nomination of Lisa DeNell Cook to serve on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Not very long ago, a nominee like Ms. Cook would have sailed toward final confirmation. She serves on the advisory board of the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago. She is a professor of economics at Michigan State and has served on the White House Council of Economic Advisers. She would also be the first Black woman to sit on the Federal Reserve Board of Governors. Sadly, every single Republican in the committee voted in lockstep against Ms. Cook--that was in the Banking Committee--providing no good explanation for obstructing this qualified and historic nominee. Nonetheless, the step I am taking now will make sure Ms. Cook's nomination will move forward, setting up a vote as soon as tomorrow.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, in a few minutes, the Senate is going to take a final vote on the major bipartisan jobs and competitive legislation. As we all know, it has been a long road to reach this point. I want to thank my Democratic and Republican colleagues for working in good faith on the bill. Nearly every Member of this Chamber has had a hand in shaping this legislation. There are three important reasons for passing the bill. It will create more American jobs. It will lower costs for American families. It will help ignite another generation of American scientific research and innovation. After we pass this bill, we will be one step closer to initiating a conference committee so we can resolve the House and Senate bills. I am hopeful we will be able to reach a conference committee before the end of this work period. I thank all my colleagues for their good work on this bill and ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, this morning, President Biden released his budget for fiscal year 2023. When you compare the President's agenda with the nasty Republican proposals, like the one from the Senator from Florida, it is clear that the contrast between the two parties is stark and glaring. One budget is for the ultrarich, and the other budget is for the middle class and those working to get there. President Biden's vision for America is refreshingly bold, responsible, and taps into our Nation's greatest strength--the American people themselves. It is a good, strong budget that will help build on the historic growth of the past year. For starters, the President's budget zeros in on fighting inflation. It calls, for instance, on increasing domestic manufacturing and relieving supply chain bottlenecks, especially at our ports. It increases help for American families to afford childcare, pre-K, and provides more funding to help schools with the academic and mental health resources to help students thrive. It builds on the President's promise to expand healthcare and supports efforts to lower prescription drug costs. Lowering prescription drug costs is one of the highest priorities of Senate Democrats, and we are eager and ready to work with the administration on this front. After years of Trump budgets that didn't even mention the word ``climate,'' President Biden's plan would boost investments in clean energy, lower the costs of energy for low-income Americans, and speed up our transition to clean cars made right here in America, which will create thousands and thousands of good-paying new jobs. Critically, the President's budget will grow our country while making sure the richest Americans pay their fair share. Most Americans think it is unacceptable for those at the top to pay less in taxes than teachers and firefighters. God bless the rich--I have nothing against them--but I applaud the President's proposal for making sure the ultrarich chip in to growing our country. Finally, I commend the President for releasing a budget that honors our Nation's promise to Ukraine while keeping Americans around the world safe from harm. Now compare the President's budget, President Biden's budget, to the bewildering vision laid out by Senate Republicans in recent weeks. While Democrats want to lower costs for American families, Republicans are openly calling on raising taxes on most Americans. Yesterday, the junior Senator from Florida went on FOX News Sunday to deny this part of his plan, only for the anchor--the FOX anchor--to remind everyone watching: ``No, it's in the plan.'' While Democrats want to strengthen Medicare and make healthcare more affordable, Republicans have resurrected calls to repeal healthcare and even possibly put Medicare on the chopping block. And lest anyone forget, a few months ago, the junior Senator from Florida, in another example, openly said inflation was a ``gold mine''--a gold mine--for the Republican Party, a gold mine. People are hurt; it is a gold mine for the Republican Party. Just how callous, how retrograde, how backward is the Republican vision for America? raising taxes on working people? cheerleading inflation? stoking divisions and even putting things like Medicare at risk while pushing tax breaks for the ultrarich? If that is their pitch to the American people, God help Republicans. In the meantime, I thank President Biden for releasing a strong, optimistic, and responsible plan that will build on the historic recovery our Nation has seen in the past year. Senate Democrats will work with the administration to put these proposals into concrete legislation in the weeks and months to come.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I move to proceed to executive session to consider Calendar No. 764.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, as I have said all week long, there has been an imperative for the Senate to unite and quickly pass legislation stripping Russia of normal trade relation status with the United States. The House has acted; the White House supports it. As the President meets with our allies in Europe, it is very important we send a message to the world that we are united in making sure Putin pays a heavy price for his war on Ukraine. After the House passed PNTR last week by 424 to 8, including the support from Leader McCarthy, it is unreasonable and deadly wrong for the Senate not to do the same, especially while the President is abroad. So we are seeking consent to move this legislation forward ASAP. After a day of long negotiations yesterday, I reached an agreement with Senator Crapo, with concurrence from Senators Wyden and Manchin, to move forward on PNTR while also taking action on oil ban legislation separately. Now, I understand that Senator Paul has further objection and is demanding we amend this agreement with a major change to the legislation. Senator Paul appears to be the lone Senator demanding this. I believe that all other 99 Senators are in agreement to proceed. Look, all of us want to see this bill move quickly because it is so very much needed and it is so bipartisan. I am willing to include, as part of our unanimous consent right now, that Senator Paul be entitled to have his amendment with a majority vote threshold. The question before Senator Paul is, even though the vote was 424 to 8 in the House and is very bipartisan here in the Senate, is he going to tank PNTR because his arcane interpretation is not forced into the bill? Can Senator Paul take yes for an answer? Can he let us move forward today to hold Putin accountable? Every Senator would like his proposal or her proposal put in the bill, but in the Senate, we vote; and we are willing to give the Senator a vote, even though we greatly disagree with his interpretation of the law that is here. I truly, I earnestly, and I strongly hope that my Republican colleague does not object to bipartisan legislation that would deal a heavy, heavy blow on Putin's Russia, especially after the House of Representatives acted with overwhelming bipartisan support. Many of our Republican colleagues have criticized the Biden administration for supposedly not acting quickly enough on Putin, but now, one Republican Senator is holding up this overwhelmingly bipartisan bill. I strongly hope some of my other Republican colleagues can persuade Senator Paul to accept our agreement here so that we can move forward. Let us be equally resolute in standing with Ukraine and fighting back against Putin's brutal war by passing PNTR in the Senate right away. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at a time to be determined by the majority leader, following consultation with the Republican leader, the Senate proceed to the en bloc consideration of H.R. 6968, the Russian Oil Ban, and H.R. 7108, Russia PNTR, both of which are at the desk; that there be 2 hours for debate on the bills en bloc equally divided between the two leaders or designees; that it be in order for Senator Crapo, or a designee, to offer the Crapo-Wyden amendment at the desk to H.R. 6968; that there be 30 minutes for debate equally divided prior to the vote on the amendment; that it be in order for Senator Paul to offer the amendment at the desk to H.R. 7108; that there be 2 hours for debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form prior to a vote on the Paul amendment, and that these be the only amendments in order to either bill; that upon the use or yielding back of time, the bills be considered read a third time en bloc and the Senate vote on passage of H.R. 7108, as amended, if amended, and H.R. 6968, as amended, if amended; finally, that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table without further intervening action or debate.

Mr. SCHUMER. Before I yield to my friend from the State of Maryland, the author of the Magnitsky Act, let me just say this to my good friend from Kentucky: Every Senator would like their amendment to be easily inserted into a bill, but in the Senate, we vote. I am offering the Senator a vote on his amendment. If each Senator said ``my way or the highway,'' we would have total paralysis even on an important piece of legislation like this. I yield to the Senator from Maryland.

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

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule XXII, the cloture motions on amendment No. 5002 and H.R. 4521 ripen at 5:30 p.m., Monday, March 28; that if cloture is invoked on the substitute, all postcloture time be considered expired; the remaining pending amendments be withdrawn; no further amendments be in order; the substitute amendment be agreed to; the cloture motion on the bill be withdrawn; the bill, H.R. 4521, be considered read a third time, and the Senate vote on passage of the bill, as amended, with 60 affirmative votes required for passage, all without further intervening action or debate.