Chuck Schumer

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. I object.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

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

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 President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.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, this morning, we got some more troublesome news about the economy under Donald Trump. Today, we learned the economy added only 73,000 jobs last month, far below expectations. But that wasn't the worst of it. We also learned the economy actually added less than 20,000 jobs, each in May and June, the 2 months following Donald Trump's Liberation Day. That is more than 250,000 fewer jobs than originally thought. Let me say that again. We learned this morning that the economy actually added over a quarter million fewer jobs than originally thought. We also learned that unemployment has gone up. It is disturbing to say, but the chickens are coming home to roost on Donald Trump's destructive trade war and the American people are paying the price. You sow chaos, Donald Trump, you reap chaos. And that is what the President is finding out this morning. A quarter million fewer jobs is a significant revision and a flashing red light. Donald Trump's chaotic tariffs are already bleeding our economy of good-paying jobs. In fact, aside from the pandemic, this job revision is the largest since 1979. In other words, the revision saying we lost jobs is more than any since 1979 except for the period of COVID. That is what tariff whiplash looks like. Businesses--small, large, medium--always need stability. But businesses are waving around their arms in the dark without a clue of what Donald Trump is going to do next. And we now have clear evidence that it is stunting hiring and growth. If Donald Trump's tariffs have created this much trouble just 4 months after Liberation Day, imagine the trouble Americans will have 8 months after Liberation Day, a year after Liberation Day, when the effects of tariffs go further and more deeply into the economy. Remember, this jobs report comes a day after we learned inflation accelerated over the last month, and it comes 2 days after we learned growth slowed down in the first half of this year and that business investment is down--down--3 percent. But what is Donald Trump doing about all this? As bad as his previous trade policies have been, today he is doubling down on his awful trade policies. Last night, he imposed a slew of tariffs on 68 countries around the world, including some of our most important trading partners. Again, if the effects of Liberation Day have been this bad just in 4 months, imagine the pain and harm Americans will feel 8 months, 12 months from now with these new tariffs just imposed yesterday. Well, if this is what Liberation Day was supposed to look like, then God help us. Hiring is down; prices are ticking up; families are paying more than $2,400 a year because of these tariffs--$2,400 is a lot of money, even to families way into the middle class. Businesses have no clue of what Donald Trump is doing next. Worse, we still don't have any idea what Donald Trump is actually agreeing to with partners like Japan, the European Union, and South Korea. Typical of this administration, this President mistells the truth. He lies more than any other President we have seen. He just makes it up as he goes along and then changes, retracts--we know all about those cartoons, that he never did cartoons. That happens over and over again. And somehow too many of the American people forgive him for baldly lying. Look at these trade breakthroughs. Look at the pattern. Donald Trump hails the agreement as a major breakthrough, announces huge amounts of money coming into the United States. Then the next day, the people he has made the deals with, the countries he made the deals with retract. They say that didn't happen. He just makes it up. But Donald Trump, you pay the price for making it up because businesses don't know what you are doing and so they cut back. Business investment was down 3 percent in the last quarter. Before Donald Trump was President--let's not forget, he is trying to sell a 15-percent tariff as a great thing. Before Donald Trump was President, these countries had tariffs in the 1 percent to 2 percent range. Now it is 15 percent. Do you know what that is? That is a price hike on American families. Asking Americans to bear the brunt of 15-percent tariffs is no sane person's definition of victory. Instead of cutting off five of your fingers, we are only cutting off three. Don't you want to congratulate us? That is the kind of thing Donald Trump says. We have no clue what America is actually getting in return. In fact, we don't even know what these deals are because Trump lies about them. There is a pattern here. As I said, there is a pattern. One day, Donald Trump comes out bragging that his so-called deals are somehow major victories. But the next day, reality sets in, and it is abundantly clear when you look at the details, he lied, exaggerated, hyped what was in the deals. One day, he said Japan is going to invest $500 billion in the United States. You know what Japan says the next day? It is, at most, 2 percent of that $500 billion--2 percent. How does this guy get away with it? But he doesn't get away with it because the chaos he creates, the mistrust he creates hurts businesses and hurts the country. So we want to know--the administration refuses to be transparent, refuses to provide the details, and that is very bad for the American people and for the economy. So, today, my colleagues and I are urging transparency from the administration. We are writing Secretary Bessent, Secretary Lutnick, and Ambassador Greer to immediately come clean with answers to a number of important questions about Donald Trump's trade deal. First of all, how are any of these deals going to be actually verified and enforced? How do we know these investments Donald Trump has bragged about are going to take place because it seems the countries who are making the deals have a different story than what Trump tells? Second, what system or mechanism exists to track any of this information? What industries will see the benefit? What kind of investments are we talking about? Have they thought these things through or does this pop up in Donald Trump's head, and it then comes out of his mouth? Finally--especially crucially--how do we know that these investments, even if they happen, are going to benefit the public and not just benefit the businesses and industries owned by Donald Trump and his friends? We have seen over and over again that what they do in the White House doesn't benefit the American people but benefits the people who work in the White House, their cronies, and Donald Trump, himself, who is gaining millions and millions of dollars from his Presidency by taking advantage of the laws they passed. No other President would do it. Ronald Reagan would turn over in his grave if he saw what Trump was doing to benefit himself as President. It causes Americans to just lose faith in democracy. It has been 4 months since Donald Trump's so-called Liberation Day. By now, we have enough evidence to show these chaotic tariffs are inflicting real damage to the economy. We would be foolish to think doubling down is somehow going to make it better, but that is what Trump did yesterday. Donald Trump needs to reverse course because the only deal he has actually struck is a raw deal for American families. The only deal Donald Trump has struck is a raw deal for American families, consumers, and businesses. Today's jobs report is the latest warning sign that this tariff chaos must end.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, what is a very bad leader? What does a bad leader do when they get bad news? Shoot the messenger. That is just what happened with the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Today, we got some of the worst labor numbers that we have gotten in a long time. The economy added only a paltry 73,000 jobs last month. But that wasn't the worst of it. We learned the economy actually added less than 20,000 jobs each in May and June following 2 months of Donald Trump's ``Liberation Day.'' That is 250,000 fewer jobs than we thought. So, of course, that is very bad news for the economy, but what does Donald Trump do? Instead of trying to fix the economy, he shoots the messenger. The woman he fired, the head of the Bureau of Labor Statistics passed, this Senate 88 to 8. Vice President Vance voted for her. And now, fire her. Well, Donald Trump, firing her isn't going to relieve the chaos that you have created with your ramshackle tariff regime. Shooting the messenger isn't going to make the jobs that we are losing in healthcare and clean energy because of your so-called Big Beautiful Bill come back. None of this will change. The American people will still suffer in exactly the same way that they did an hour ago before you fired the head of the BLS. You know, Donald Trump sometimes admires dictators. He admires them. Well, he sometimes acts just like them. It is classic Donald Trump: When he gets the news he doesn't like, he shoots the messenger. Now, there is a word for this when the Soviet Union does it, when the dictators of the Russians did it. They called it ``pripiski.'' It meant ``Fire the messenger. Don't change your policies.'' As long as Donald Trump keeps firing messengers who bring him truth-- he hates truth when he doesn't agree with it--as long as he does that, this economy will not improve, inflation and costs to the American people will not go away, and new jobs will not return to this country. He ought to start governing like a leader, not like someone who imitates authoritarian leaders. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, so we have now passed three appropriations bills--helping our farmers, helping our veterans, helping our security. It shows that when both sides want to work together, we can get things done. We hope we can make the same kind of progress on further appropriations bills that we have made on these. I yield the floor.

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, yesterday, Donald Trump announced what he called a deal with South Korea, and it is very similar to the deals we saw with Japan and the European Union. It is all talk, no substance; all hat, no cattle. And it raises the costs for average Americans. Now, instead of levying a 25-percent tariff, as he has threatened, South Korea will face 15 percent tariffs. And then he pretends like that is some kind of victory. Fifteen percent is far from a victory because it is American families who are the ones who will have to pay for it in the end. Raising your prices by 15 percent on imported goods--that is a lot of money to a lot of people. In fact, we got some more news this morning. According to the Federal Reserve's preferred inflation gauge, inflation continues to accelerate as Trump tariffs continue to hammer American pocketbooks. That means Americans are paying more. Inflation goes up, the American family pays more. That is because, in part, of Donald Trump's tariffs. That sure doesn't sound like a golden age to me. Just like the supposed deals with Japan and the European Union, Donald Trump has claimed that South Korea will invest billions towards the United States. The problem is, there is no way to enforce what Donald Trump is saying. It is just talk--more talk, no action. That is all he does. When he announced his deal with the EU, for instance, the EU immediately said there is no way they are going to be able to meet the kinds of investments Donald Trump was bragging about. The EU stated publicly the agreement was nonbinding and there was no plan to back it up. So on day one, Donald Trump talks about some huge number that will be invested in America, and the next day, the people who say they are investing say: No way. It is not happening. The same thing happened with Japan. In Japan, they said--after Donald Trump announced a $500 billion investment--that they will only be able to invest 2 percent of what Donald Trump bragged about. So listen to what the negotiators from the other side say the day after Trump puts out his braggadocio. If they were being totally honest, the Europeans, the Japanese, the Koreans would announce that day that what Donald Trump is saying isn't true, but they are announcing it the next day, and people hear it. It is so typical of Donald Trump. He makes bold promises, talks a big game, but when reality sets in, he changes the goalposts, makes excuses, lies about what he has done, and then the American people are left paying the price because his policies hurt them. It may get worse. At midnight tonight, unless Trump changes course, a slew of tariffs will come into effect for dozens of countries that include America's most important trading partners. Four months since Donald Trump's so-called ``Liberation Day,'' his trade war has been an experiment in chaos, dishonesty, and inflation. Donald Trump has launched America against the rest of the world without a clue, it seems, about what he is trying to do. He seems to make it up every morning when he wakes up. If what he says 2 days later contradicts what he said previously, he doesn't care. Lying doesn't matter to him, and he doesn't believe the American people will see through it, but they do. Americans are left paying, meanwhile, more of out-of-pocket expenses for everyday goods. It is estimated the average household pays $2,400 a year extra. That sure doesn't sound like a golden age to me. And more problems. The tariffs are affecting companies, businesses large and small. Yesterday, Ford said that Donald Trump's tariffs will cost the company $2 billion--$2 billion--and that is certainly going to be passed on to the consumers. Imagine what that $2 billion could do if it weren't for tariffs. Ford might have hired more workers, invested in more plants. What Donald Trump is doing--costing Ford $2 billion, costing companies billions more--that doesn't sound like a golden age to me. Amazon, Walmart, popular toy companies, and other retailers say price hikes may very soon happen. That is where everybody shops. Americans are going to pay more for their groceries, more for their toys, more for their clothes, more for their cars. As families get ready to send their kids back to school, they are facing the pinch as the cost of clothing and pencils and backpacks and all that kind of stuff goes way up. It doesn't sound like a golden age to me. So Donald Trump can stay in his bubble. He can pretend like 15 percent tariffs on our biggest partners are a cause for celebration. But Donald Trump should ask the American people if 15 percent more for everyday goods is a victory. He won't like what they tell him.

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, so this morning, we got more worrying news showing how Donald Trump's administration is raising costs, sowing chaos in the economy. The New York Times headline put it succinctly: ``U.S. Economy Slowed in First Half of 2025 as Tariffs Scrambled Data.'' And while the Trump administration will try to wave rosy headlines about the Q2 numbers, today's GDP number is, in fact, a mirage because some ominous numbers lurk under the hood. Business investment plunged in the second quarter by 3.1 percent. The fact that business investment plunged so starkly is very troubling. It shows that, already, businesses are worried about growing their operations, worried about hiring more workers, worried about trading with their international partners, and worried in general about the future. And this number is another data point in a larger pattern. Donald Trump's tariffs are weighing down the U.S. economy, spiking costs for small businesses and families alike. And if Donald Trump keeps up the chaos, the dangers for the economy will continue to get worse.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I thank my great friend from Connecticut who cares about these issues so much and is one of our most effective advocates in the whole country for things like this. I thank him and thank all of my colleagues who have come to the floor--Senator Whitehouse, Senator Markey, and so many others who are just eloquent spokespeople for helping people with healthcare. Today, Democrats are holding the floor on the 60th anniversary of Medicare and Medicaid being signed into law to talk about the Republican all-out assault on our healthcare system. Look, the American people are just fed up--fed up, up to here--with the soaring costs of healthcare. They are fed up with Donald Trump and Republicans cutting their healthcare to help the billionaire class. But, unfortunately, Donald Trump and Republicans seem to live in a bubble because while they brag about how big and beautiful their bill is, the American people feel the opposite. The more Americans learn about the Republican bill, the more they are realizing that Donald Trump and Republicans sold them a raw deal--a raw deal. The Republicans' ``Big Ugly Betrayal'' is one of the most devastating bills for American healthcare that we have ever seen. The largest cut to Medicaid in American history, $1 trillion in healthcare cuts, 15 million people at risk of losing their healthcare coverage--why? To pay for tax breaks for billionaires; telling a mom whose daughter has cancer that she can no longer afford treatment, and the child may die because some billionaire needs more money? I don't have anything against the billionaires. God bless them. They made a lot of money. They don't need a tax break at the expense of middle-class, working- class American families, poor American families who desperately need healthcare. What is big or beautiful about what they are doing? Nothing. It is even nervy to call it big and beautiful. They listened to Donald Trump who just makes it up as he goes along, and they say: Yes, whatever he says, no matter how bad it is for the American people. The American people don't want their healthcare cut to help out the ultrarich. It is a nasty proposition from our Republican colleagues. If I may add an aside--I want to be clear. It is not just healthcare that is in danger. It is not just healthcare. Today, we got a rather stunning admission from the administration on Social Security, another part of the safety net that deserves some mention now before I give up the floor. Today, Secretary Bessent admitted in a podcast that the so-called Trump accounts that the Republicans snuck into the ``Big Ugly Bill'' are, in Secretary Bessent's eyes, a ``backdoor for privatizing Social Security.'' Let me repeat that. These are Bessent's words. What they put and snuck into the reconciliation bill that they call BBB, and we call the ``Big Ugly Betrayal,'' is a ``backdoor for privatizing Social Security.'' America, do you hear that? From one end of the country to the other, probably the most popular Federal program ever passed, and they want to privatize it. Do you know what ``privatize'' means? It means you are in trouble, Mr. or Mrs. Senior Citizen, because when they privatize it and the big boys get ahold of it, it is going to be much less money for you, if any at all. But now we have it. Bessent actually slipped and told the truth: Donald Trump and his government want to privatize Social Security. Another great lie from Donald Trump--he just lies at will--he promised that Social Security, under his watch, ``would not be touched,'' while, at the same time, his administration has strangled the program behind the scenes, laying off staff, shutting down offices, making it harder to claim benefits. And now they are openly talking about privatizing it. Rarely is the end game for Republicans so obvious. They are ramming historic cuts down Americans' throats to help their billionaire buddies. So in light of the attacks, as we mark the anniversary of Medicare and Social Security--it was a proud, proud day 60 years ago, when America finally understood that we were a wealthy country, and we had to use some of it to give people healthcare, the most important thing in their lives. If you ask the average American: What do you want most? I want to live long and healthy. And the reason we are living longer and healthier, with all the troubles in the system, is because we have Medicare and Medicaid. And this is the anniversary. This morning, I was proud to introduce legislation to reverse the disastrous healthcare cuts in the ``Big Ugly Betrayal.'' The bill is simple: It repeals the entire healthcare subtitle of the Republicans' bill and permanently extends the ACA premium tax credits that Republicans let expire. Extending these tax credits should be a no-brainer. It will save Americans on the ACA hundreds--if not thousands--of dollars a year on their health insurance. Anyone who objects to this wants Americans to pay more for healthcare, plain and simple. The Senate should take up our legislation as soon as possible because the worst of the Republican cuts are already starting to take effect. It is not going to happen. Republican colleagues who thought: Oh, we can delay it so no one will know until after the 2026 elections. Bunk. It is starting already. Healthcare premiums are going to start spiking very soon. Hospitals and clinics are at great risk of closing now, not after 2026. Some have already shut their doors in Maine, Nebraska, and other States. People in rural communities are worried sick that they will have to travel even farther to get healthcare. In many rural counties, including some of mine in New York, the local hospital is the biggest employer. Those jobs will go by the wayside. Again, this is not what the American people want. People want healthcare that is easy to access, easy to navigate, easy to afford. Seniors, kids, people with disabilities, people who rely on Medicare and Medicaid don't want to see their coverage ripped away. Republicans should be working with Democrats to strengthen these programs, not slash and burn them to the ground. Don't go home and tell people lies, that your healthcare won't be affected by this bill. Of course it will. Even the Republican gurus say: Oh, talk about other things; don't talk about healthcare--because they know how bad it is. It isn't too late. It is not too late for Republicans to reverse course. Democrats, meanwhile, will never, never, never--Senator Whitehouse, Senator Markey, Senator Hickenlooper, and all of my other Democratic colleagues will never stop fighting to fix our broken healthcare system. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, just about an hour ago, the President announced a tariff agreement with South Korea. But if past is prologue, this so-called deal with South Korea is one where U.S. families will pay more. It will increase their costs with the rise in tariffs of 15 percent. It is one where bold promises are made that billions in investments will come our way but with no substance to back it up. It seems to be just another one of these so-called deals that hurt the American people. Earlier this morning, we got more warning signs that Donald Trump's foolish trade war is taking its toll on the U.S. economy. According to the New York Times, the ``U.S. Economy Slowed in [the] First Half of 2025 as Tariffs Scrambled Data.'' ``Scrambled'' is precisely the right word or you might call it chaos because from the moment that Donald Trump announced his so-called ``Liberation Day,'' his tariffs have ushered a season of pandemonium for markets, small businesses, retailers, and families. Just today, Ford, one of the biggest American car manufacturers, announced that these tariffs will end up costing the company $2 billion a year. Big retailers like Walmart or Amazon and others have at one point or another warned of price hikes for everyday goods like clothes, appliances, and toys. The American people are worried about the increased costs of the things they buy, and yet these tariffs even raise those costs higher. This sure doesn't sound like a golden age to me, and nor does the $2,400 that households will pay extra on average under this tariff scheme by the President. Instead, do you know what this sounds like? It sounds like a national sales tax on the American people, plain and simple. That is what Donald Trump's tariffs are--a national sales tax on families and small businesses. On August 1, if Donald Trump doesn't change course, a whole new slew of tariffs on dozens of countries will come into effect and tax the living daylights out of households and businesses even more. Look, nobody is fooled by Donald Trump's ruse. My Republican colleagues in their private moments know that Donald Trump is a BS artist when it comes to tariffs. His pattern is always the same: He makes wild promises, he talks a big game, but he never seems to follow through. He lies about what he says. He blames others. Just look at the so-called deal with Japan. Donald Trump hailed it for supposedly delivering $550 billion in investments, but almost immediately--almost immediately--the Japanese Government said the real investments would be less than 2 percent of that figure. What nerve for Donald Trump to mislead the American people on these tariffs, but he does it over and over again. What about his supposed deal with the European Union? Again, Donald Trump howled from the mountaintops, saying that Europe would buy $750 billion worth of American energy and would make $600 billion in new investments in the United States, but immediately, typically, after the announcement was made, it was painfully obvious that those numbers were essentially made up. The EU stated publicly that the agreement was nonbinding and they had no real plan to back it up. Tonight, the South Korea deal doesn't sound much different--a big increase, a sales tax on the American people--15 percent is a lot--and bold promises of investments that are made that never materialize, that almost vanish the day after they are announced. The only parts of these deals that are real are the real costs Americans will pay out of their pockets. Grocery prices will go up. Everyday goods prices will go up. But savings, earnings, and prosperity in this country for American families will go down. Meanwhile, is Donald Trump being tough on China like he wants people to think? Of course not. On the contrary, he is giving the Chinese Government greater access to U.S. semiconductors that are vital-- vital--for our national security. Where it counts the absolute most, which is getting tough on China, Donald Trump is acting like a pushover. By sending them these sophisticated chips, they are going to allow China to catch up to us in things like AI and many other new technological advances. A few years back, we worked hard to see that these vital chips were not sent to China, but in one fell swoop, without any real explanation as to the damage it will do, Donald Trump reversed it. Democrats have been fighting back against these catastrophes from the start. I am disappointed. Just a few minutes ago, our Republican colleagues chose fealty to Trump over relief to the American people by blocking Senator Shaheen's bill and also Senator Welch's bill that would have halted many of Donald Trump's tariffs and would have protected so many American small businesses. The right answer here was so glaringly obvious, but Republicans elected to worship at Donald Trump's altar yet again, even though they know these tariffs are terrible for people back home. Republicans are going to have to explain to the people back home why they are so OK with increasing their costs and abandoning them to Donald Trump's endless tariff chaos. I yield the floor.

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. Madam President, I come to the floor this morning not as Democratic leader, not even as the senior Senator from New York, but simply as a New Yorker, as a kid from Brooklyn, as someone who has walked that stretch of Park Avenue a thousand times. Yesterday, my city--the greatest city on Earth--was shattered when a gunman took the lives of four innocent New Yorkers in cold blood just four blocks from my office in Midtown Manhattan. I actually worked in the building where the shooting took place for one summer as a summer associate at a law firm. One of the victims, Officer Islam, was a husband and a father of two, with a third baby on the way. He was the best of who we are--a proud Bangladeshi American, a proud cop from the 47th Precinct, and a proud New Yorker. He died doing what NYPD officers do every day--running toward danger, protecting others, putting his own life on the line. That is what he did, and he paid--he paid the ultimate price. When an NYPD officer is killed doing his duty, it is not just a tragedy; it is a rupture in the soul of our city, our beloved city, and it requires that we mourn and honor all those we lost. I have lived in New York my whole life. I know this city, I know the people, and I know how we carry pain like this, how it lingers--I still remember the officers who had been shot in the line of duty months, even years and decades ago--because that is what happens when innocent lives are taken in the heart of your home. This happened just four blocks from my office, in broad daylight, in one of the busiest, safest, most iconic parts of Manhattan, right across from where New Yorkers pour in and out of work, pick up lunch or stop to say a prayer at St. Bart's or St. Pat's or Central Synagogue or at the Muslim Community Network mosque, all of which are in Midtown Manhattan, very close to the location where the shooting occurred. We also grieve for another victim--Wesley LePatner, killed in the building. She was a brilliant executive from Blackstone, a beloved wife and mother of two. We know there are two other victims as well whose names have not yet been made public, and we mourn them as well. When something like this happens, every single New Yorker feels it. It is felt in every precinct, every kitchen table, and it is etched in the hearts of the families left behind, who will always have a hole in their hearts for the rest of their lives. I want those families--especially Officer Islam's wife and kids and the families of Wesley LePatner from Blackstone and the other victims not yet named due to family notifications--to know this: You are not alone. All of New York grieves with you. We ache for you. We will always remember the sacrifice Officer Islam--a husband, a son, and a father--made for all of us. To the other victims--people just trying to make a living, do their jobs--our hearts are broken, and we, too, grieve with your families. The city will carry their memories forward. We will continue to pray for those still recovering and in critical condition. I want to thank the first responders who ran toward the gunfire--all the cops, EMTs, and firefighters that got there fast and prevented even more bloodshed. They are heroes, every one of them. That is New York-- courage under fire, grace in the face of horror. It is who we are. As we mourn this awful day in New York, we must remember that we cannot keep meeting these moments with thoughts and prayers alone. We owe these families more than silence; we owe them action. For now, we mourn, but we mourn as New Yorkers--together. We will carry on, yes. That is who we are. But we will never, never be the same.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I want to be very clear about what Senate Republicans are doing. Tonight, Senate Republicans vote to put Emil Bove--a January 6 sympathizer--on one of the highest courts in the country. They reward a man--credibly accused of wanting to lie to judges--with a black robe and a gavel of his own. And they are confirming him for one reason only: Mr. Bove is loyal to Donald Trump. Therefore, Donald Trump wants him on the bench. The calculus is as simple as that--as simple as that. It is unfathomable that, just over 4 years after the insurrection at the Capitol--when rioters smashed windows, ransacked offices, and desecrated this Chamber--Senate Republicans are willingly putting someone on the bench who shielded these rioters from facing justice, who said their prosecution was a grave national injustice. To my colleagues who were here on January 6 and who are now putting him on the bench, shame on you. To confirm Mr. Bove is a sacrilegious act against our democracy, a deep violation against the spirit of our oaths of office. But this is not just about January 6. Mr. Bove has been accused by multiple whistleblowers of telling DOJ lawyers to intentionally mislead judges about the administration's policy. Mr. Bove denied these claims, but we have text messages, emails, and other documents saying otherwise. Recently, another whistleblower has come forward, sharing evidence with Senators, suggesting Mr. Bove misled the Judiciary Committee during his sworn testimony. Since it seems very likely Mr. Bove lied to Senators, he never should become a Federal judge, but Republicans are rushing Mr. Bove through tonight, hoping the American people aren't paying attention. That includes the Judiciary chairman, someone who prides himself on standing up for whistleblowers but who rushed the process through in committee without fully vetting this nominee and without getting to the bottom of the facts underpinning these grave accusations. Honestly, how have Republicans allowed the bar to fall so low--so dismally low--that they would confirm someone accused of lying to judges to the bench without turning over every stone and examining every lead before making this decision? How have our Republican colleagues forgotten the horrors of January 6 so soon that they would let Mr. Bove--one of the great defenders of the insurrectionists--sail through this Chamber? This is a dark, dark day, a dark vote, and a dangerous nominee Republicans are confirming. I yield the floor.

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, while Senate Republicans have been focused on pushing partisan politics that would crush middle-class Americans all to pay for tax cuts for billionaires, while House Republicans are ignoring their responsibility to fund the government by leaving town early for the Epstein recess, and while the Trump administration continues to push policies that are sending costs up, chaos up, corruption up, Senate Democrats and House Democrats--myself, Leader Jeffries, and both of our caucuses--are fighting to build a new vision for America. I am working closely with Leader Jeffries, alongside Senator Klobuchar and Congresswoman Dingell, on a united vision. The American people are fed up with the costs, chaos, and corruption of the Trump administration and the aiding and abetting Republicans have done at his behest. Republican policies have sent the price of groceries, housing utility bills, essential goods, and more skyrocketing. They have gutted healthcare and essential services for working families, like Medicare and Medicaid. They have spiked healthcare premiums and put hospitals around the country in crisis mode. Many are talking about closing, and a few have already closed, leaving people without the healthcare they need--all for tax cuts for billionaires. They have unleashed rampant levels of corruption and warped our democracy, empowering the wealthy and well-connected to profit off the backs of working families. Donald Trump seems to be at the top of the list in using his government position to make personal profit. But Senate and House Democrats are fighting back. Democrats are fighting to lower the high costs of living, which have become far too expensive for American families. We are fighting to strengthen our communities, make our streets safer, and protect essential services that millions of people rely on every single day. Instead of further breaking our healthcare system--ripping healthcare away from millions--we think the healthcare system should be easier, not harder, for Americans to access and navigate and to afford. We are also fighting to fix our broken healthcare system to make sure that people who need the care can get it and be able to afford it. We are fighting to rid our government of the scourge of corruption. There is so much corruption and self-dealing and rich people-- billionaires--getting richer in terms of how they operate and what the government passes and doesn't pass. We are fighting to rid our government of that scourge. It has run rampant--the scourge of corruption has run rampant--under Donald Trump and Republicans. It is one of the most corrupt administrations in American history. The bottom line is this: Senate and House Democrats are united in creating an America that works better for everyone, not just the wealthy, not just the well-connected, and we will use every tool at our disposal in the appropriations process and beyond to fight back against the disastrous Donald Trump and Republican agenda.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, today marks the first day of the House embarking on their ``Epstein recess,'' and already the story Republicans hoped would quietly fade is growing louder by the hour. Just yesterday, the Wall Street Journal reported that Attorney General Pam Bondi and the Department of Justice informed President Trump back in May that his name appears multiple times in the Epstein files. Let me remind my colleagues, only last week Donald Trump told a reporter that Attorney General Bondi never told him his name was in those files. Now we know that this was a lie, plain and simple, a red- faced lie. And this revelation raises not just serious questions about President Trump but about Attorney General Bondi herself. Bondi has proven to do all of Trump's bidding. No matter what way you slice it, Attorney General Bondi lied to the American people. She told us we would see the report. She told us it is on her desk. Then we are told there is no report. So you can understand the deep skepticism Americans have when they hear that today, Bondi's personal prosecutors--yes, the very ones under her direction--are preparing to interview Ghislaine Maxwell, Jeffrey Epstein's longtime accomplice, behind closed doors in Florida. Let me repeat: Under no circumstances should anyone from Donald Trump's Department of Justice be allowed to privately interview Ghislaine Maxwell. The conflict of interest just stares you in the face, and it is unacceptable. If you have been following this saga, and given how the White House and Speaker Johnson have so mishandled it--and who hasn't been following it--you know exactly why this moment is so dangerous. There is every reason to fear that Donald Trump could offer Ghislaine Maxwell a pardon in exchange for silence or, even worse, phony exoneration. Let me be clear, Trump is sending his personal lawyer, Todd Blanche, to try to execute a corrupt coverup, potentially offering leniency to a woman who also abused the victims. Enough. Enough. Enough with the hiding; enough with the excuses; and enough with the coverup. The American people deserve transparency. They deserve answers. And there are massive questions here, not just for the President but for the Vice President, the Attorney General, the FBI Director, and Republican leaders in Congress. What is in the files? When did they learn about it? And how long have they been misleading the American people? So, today, on the heels of Speaker Johnson fleeing town to avoid accountability and following this damning report from the Wall Street Journal, I am calling on the administration to provide a closed-door briefing to all Senators on the Epstein files. The Senate deserves to hear directly from senior administration officials about Donald Trump's name appearing in these files and the complete lack of transparency shown to date. Let me say it again. Donald Trump can't play ignorant anymore. He was caught red-handed in a lie, as were his lackeys. He reportedly knew for months that his name was in the Epstein files. He lied about it to the press, and now the truth is coming out. Over the past few weeks, Trump has tried to change the subject-- throwing out wild accusations, attacking his critics, and calling the files a hoax run by Democrats. He has blamed ``foolish'' and ``stupid'' Republicans for taking it seriously. He even scolded the American people for caring too much. Well, we now all know why he was so desperate to make it all disappear--because whenever Donald Trump points a finger, it is because he knows he is guilty of what he is accusing everyone else of. That is his MO. When he does something, when he knows he has done something wrong, instead of admitting it, instead of trying to make amends, he points the finger at someone else and accuses them of the very thing he has done. That is how he has lived his whole life. That is how he has conducted his Presidency. As I said, it is his MO. Let us not forget, Donald Trump campaigned, just several months back, on releasing the Epstein files. Donald Trump is the only President or politician to ever campaign on releasing the Epstein files. And now, very simply, Americans are demanding he honor it. A good number of people voted for Trump because he promised to be their voice against the so-called deep state. But now they have seen he is very much a part of that deep state. He is right in the middle of it. People believed he would drain the swamp; now he is right in the middle of the swamp. And that is why Americans across the political spectrum--right, center, left, Democrats, Republican, Independents-- Americans across the political spectrum are angry with Donald Trump because they now are seeing his promise to drain the swamp was total fiction. He is in the middle of it. He is adding to it. Trump promised transparency. He told his supporters he would expose the truth. He has done the opposite. He has smothered it more than ever before. And meanwhile, House Republicans had the chance to show courage, to do the right thing and act, but, instead, Speaker Johnson ran for the exits, sending everyone home early and triggering what we now call the ``Epstein recess.'' But I would say to Speaker Johnson, I would say to Donald Trump and his minions, I would say to all of my Republican colleagues in the Senate: This issue isn't going away. It is only getting bigger and more dangerous the longer Republicans ignore it. Instead of focusing on appropriations or national priorities like transparency for Americans or funding the government, Speaker Johnson and House Republicans will be left cleaning up this mess, a mess of their own making. Republicans cannot escape the issue--not next week, not next month, not until the American people get answers and the transparency they were promised.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER. Now, Madam President, we have a little over 20 legislative days left for Republicans to get serious about funding the government. That is not very much time. As always, the best way forward is this: bipartisan cooperation. Senate Democrats, for our part, are working in good faith to counter the devastating actions of the Trump administration on the American people, and in this case, the bill reverses DOGE cuts to veterans. That is a very good thing. These DOGE cuts were so cruel to our veterans. Ultimately, Senate Republicans will have to join us to save all of our constituents from the proposals we have seen from the administration and from the House Republicans. Now, yesterday, the Senate took the first vote on the MILCON-VA bill. This bill is not perfect, but it is a good step forward. It reverses some of the terrible cuts from DOGE against our veterans--our veterans who defend us, who risk their lives for us, who volunteer to serve their country, and, then, when they need help, cut, cut, cut--cruel, mean, un-American. The Senate version, thank God, is significantly stronger than the House version in protecting our members. My colleague from Georgia has done good work shepherding this legislation on the Democratic side. We hope to have a good process for this bill on the floor. Republicans should allow amendments and a robust floor process. This bill shows the process can still work, but much, much more needs to be considered. But Senate Democrats know we can't take anything for granted and will expect our colleagues to show their commitment to bipartisanship on all future appropriations bills, because for weeks--for weeks--they have tainted the Senate with their partisan reconciliation tax bill and the rescissions package. This process won't work if they listen more to Donald Trump and Russell Vought than to the needs of the American people back home. Jeffrey Epstein Mr. President, now, meanwhile, yesterday was truly a sorry sight in the House of Representatives. The ghost of the disgraced Jeffrey Epstein is haunting our Republican colleagues, so much so that Speaker Johnson decided to cut bait and send the House home to escape discussions about Epstein, instead of doing their jobs like grownups and making progress on appropriations. By shutting Congress down early, Speaker Johnson has assured that August has become the ``Epstein recess,'' because this issue is going to grow and grow and grow the longer House Republicans dodge this issue. Now, maybe they declared the ``Epstein recess'' to give Trump time to prepare papers for the pardon of Ghislaine Maxwell. Speaker Johnson shouldn't be skedaddling out of town early. If the Speaker thinks he can make the Epstein escapade disappear by sending folks home early, he has got another thing coming. So, again, the Speaker should not send people home early to avoid dealing with the Epstein issue. The American people have a right to know what happened, but, instead, Speaker Johnson created the ``Epstein recess.'' Speaker Johnson created that ``Epstein recess.'' It is an awful decision. It is derelict of their job in terms of keeping the government funded.

Mr. SCHUMER

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