Chuck Schumer

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I am about to file cloture on the postal reform bill, so let me say a few words about that. So this week the Senate has kept making progress toward our goal of passing and ultimately enacting the largest bill to support the U.S. Postal Service in a long, long time. This is a bipartisan bill, long overdue and far-reaching in how it will place our post office on secure footing for the future. Democrats have spent the day working with Republicans on a list of amendments that they want to hold with regard to this bill, and these negotiations are ongoing. So while we work on an agreement--and to keep the process moving--I will be filing cloture so that we can take the next steps toward the final passage. It is my hope that we can arrive at an agreement tomorrow and finish this bill before the weekend. There is every reason in the world to do so. At the end of the day, the vast majority of Democrats and Republicans want to see this bill sent to the President's desk quickly. I want to thank my colleagues on both sides of the aisle for their continued work, especially Chairman Peters. This postal reform bill has been a long time coming, and when passed it will ensure that the tens of millions of Americans who rely on the post office every single day for medicine, Social Security, checks, other goods, they can be sure that the post office remains in good hands and is strengthened. Cloture Motion

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that at 11 a.m. on Thursday, March 3, S.J. Res. 38 be discharged from the Committee on Finance and the Senate proceed to its consideration; further, that there be 3 hours for debate only, with the time equally divided between the Leaders, or their designees, on the joint resolution; and that following the use or yielding back of that time, the joint resolution be read a third time and the Senate vote on the resolution, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on the State of the Union, last night, before a joint session of Congress, President Biden made the case to the Nation and to the world that in the face of immense challenges, the United States remains strong and ready to meet the tests of our time. In an hour-long speech delivered before a Chamber that was much fuller than last year, President Biden demonstrated, yet again, the kind of leader he has been all of his life: optimistic, unifying, decent, and honest. He is honest about where we are today and where we must go. I applaud President Biden for laying out a bold, strong, and comprehensive vision that will resonate with the vast majority of Americans. In particular, I was glad the President focused on three important things. First, he united the parties in supporting Ukraine and against Putin. Second, he showed how under Democratic leadership America has turned the corner on COVID. Third, he confronted the urgency of lowering costs for American families, something our caucus has been focusing on. First, I was glad that President Biden united the room, the country, and the world in opposing Vladimir Putin and his savage assaults on Ukraine. It is obvious that the President has done an incredibly good job in unifying the Europeans and the West as a united front against Putin. That was felt by people on both sides of the aisle. When the President called on the Chamber to stand up and applaud Oksana Markarova, the Ukrainian Ambassador, the feeling in the room reminded me of the unity we all felt after 9/11. But just like on 9/11, that unity comes with the sobering recognition that the scale of Putin's brutality in Ukraine is worsening. Ukraine's State Emergency Service reported this morning that more than 2,000 civilians--2,000 men, women, and children--children--have now been killed as a result of Putin's savage brutality. What is happening in Ukraine is carnage, and the blood of every one of those innocent people falls on the hands of Vladimir Putin and on his band of crony oligarchs. This evil man must be stopped. As an important step, last night, the Senate unanimously passed bipartisan legislation that will protect America, our government, and our critical infrastructure from cyber attacks. Finally, the holds were lifted from the other side of the aisle, and we passed unanimously this cyber legislation. It is more important now than ever before because Putin is brandishing a cyber weapon. Cyber warfare is truly one of the dark arts perfected by Putin's authoritarian regime. It is a weapon he is happy to employ around the world. When our authorities in government know of these attacks, they can prepare against future attacks. They will know who is attacking, where they are attacking, how they are attacking, and that will allow them to strengthen our defenses against future cyber attacks. Many in the industry--at times, I believe even the Chamber of Commerce--were not for this legislation, but with the urgency of the moment--the need to protect ourselves from cyber attacks--finally, the Senate rose to the occasion. So I thank Senators Peters and Portman for getting this bill done. The passage of this bill was little noticed because it came right before Congress adjourned for the State of the Union, but it is a giant step forward to protecting ourselves, and I am glad that we got it done last night. But, of course, we must do more. The Senate must keep working on a bipartisan basis to pass a robust aid package in the upcoming omnibus so we can send an unmistakable message to Ukraine that we stand with them and a message to Putin that we stand against him. The quickest way we can assure that aid reaches Ukraine is through the omnibus, which needs to get done next week; so I am glad that we seem to be having bipartisan support to get that done. Second, I was also glad President Biden showed how the country under Democratic leadership is turning the corner in the fight against COVID- 19. By passing legislation last year to fund vaccines, expand testing, and support our healthcare workers, we are beating this disease. What the President said last night was absolutely correct in that we cannot--we cannot--have COVID control our lives anymore, but neither can we let our guard down. Right now, as cases are dropping across the board, Congress must pass more funding for vaccines, testing, and therapeutics. ``Therapeutics'' is a word for medication that helps alleviate the virulence of COVID. Very few people who take the therapeutics have to be hospitalized. We also have to ensure that our doctors and nurses and healthcare workers are prepared in case another variant comes this way so that we can stay as close to normal as possible even if another variant arrives. We have to have an ample supply of vaccines, of therapeutics, and of testing ahead of time. We cannot wait. Some of our Republican colleagues seem to be saying: Oh, we don't need this now. We do need it now while we still have the chance. If Congress waits until another variant arrives, it will be too late. Let me say that again. Even as cases drop across the board, we cannot be complacent against COVID. Congress must pass more COVID funding now so we can be ready by funding vaccines, testing, therapeutics, and supporting our healthcare workers. If Congress waits until another variant arrives, it will be too late. So we need our Republican colleagues to join us in a bipartisan way, just as they are joining us on Ukraine. Finally, I am glad that President Biden zeroed in on cutting costs for American families. A year into the President's first year, the economy is surging and creating an unprecedented number of jobs. But people are struggling because costs are also going up. Your wages are going up, but if the costs keep going up, it eats up those wage increases. Now, why are costs up? Costs are up because of supply chain disruptions stemming from COVID and pent-up demand, as people during COVID didn't buy a lot of things. All the while, Americans are watching incredulously as some of our largest corporations are raising prices despite growing profits. In some cases, executives are seeing lavish pay increases, and in the end, Americans are footing the bill. Senate Democrats will not stand for this, and we are working with the President to lower costs and build upon the wage growth we have seen over the past year. We are laser-focused on reducing America's costs, from lowering the costs of insulin so no one pays more than $35 a month, to lowering the cost of all prescription drugs, to lowering the cost of meat at the grocery store, to fixing our ocean shipping lines so the bottlenecks don't raise their costs. Shipping costs have gone way up, as the President mentioned. Do you know what else we can do to lower costs? We can innovate. Congress should continue working to finalize our bipartisan, bicameral jobs and supply chains bill so we can boost American manufacturing, solve our chip crisis, and make our country less dependent on foreign tech companies. In short, despite everything the world faces, President Biden reminded supporters and critics alike why the American people entrusted him with the Presidency. He didn't shy away from our challenges but, rather, advanced an optimistic and unifying plan for how to meet the moment. Senate Democrats will continue working with the President to precisely move our country forward on lowering costs, on addressing COVID, and on defending our democracy in this hour of peril. I thank the President for his leadership. Let us continue in our work. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now for my remarks. Earlier this morning, it was an honor--a truly rare honor in my time in public service--to meet with Judge Jackson for the first time since her nomination to the Supreme Court. Before the meeting, I said Judge Jackson was brilliant and beloved, but now that I have met her, I will add another word: ``belongs.'' She is not only brilliant and beloved but belongs on the Supreme Court. I believe her nomination certainly merits a good number of votes from both parties, and I hope we see that as we move forward in the process. I am certain that when other Senators have a chance to meet with Judge Jackson, they will understand why she is beyond qualified to replace Justice Breyer on the Supreme Court. For one, if confirmed, Judge Jackson would have one of the most diverse professional backgrounds of any sitting Justice. Throughout her career, she has been a Federal defender; worked in private practice; sat on the U.S. Sentencing Commission; served as a district judge and as a circuit court judge on the DC Circuit; and of course, she was a clerk to Justice Breyer, the very same Justice whose seat she would now fill. As a district judge, Judge Jackson rendered more than 550 rulings and was rarely reversed by higher courts, illustrating her evenhanded application of the law and facts. Then, when you meet with her, you see that she has brought that broad experience and adopted it into her being. She empathizes with people. She emphasized to me that as a judge, she should try to understand both sides. You could tell, when you met her, that she really believed it and, since, has sort of integrated all of her experiences into her being. She had an incredibly phenomenal interview, as well as has an amazing record. For all of these reasons, Judge Jackson's nomination has already won support from individuals and organizations across the political spectrum. She is supported by civil rights advocates; she is supported by conservative judges and lawyers; she is supported by the Fraternal Order of Police. Someone who was a public defender is now supported by the Fraternal Order of Police? You can't get much better than that. And she is supported by scores of men and women who had the honor of working with her over the years. I have gone through her record. You can hardly find a single person she has met, as she has walked through life and met people, who has said a bad thing about her. And when you meet her, you can see why. When you meet her, you can see why. America will be much better off with someone like Judge Jackson on the Supreme Court. Our country deserves someone deeply experienced, broadly supported, and someone whose elevation as the first Black woman Justice signifies a long overdue step toward perfecting our Union. I am grateful to have had the chance to have met with the judge. I thank her for her time this morning, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to elevate this outstanding nominee to the Supreme Court very soon. In having met her and having studied her record, she deserves the support of Members from the other side of the aisle, and I am hopeful she will get a good number of them to support her.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I understand that there are three bills at the desk due for a second reading en bloc.

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 ask unanimous consent that the Senate be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now, with each new day of war in Ukraine, the brutality and sheer evil of Vladimir Putin's aggression against the Ukrainian people becomes more apparent. Failing at securing the country with quick strikes, Russian forces are evidently starting to engage in siege tactics. Over the past 12 hours, the city of Kharkiv has endured especially heavy fire. Civilian casualties, tragically, are mounting. Today, every single Member of the Senate must say once again, without equivocation, that the United States stands behind the Ukrainian people and behind all people in all nations who oppose the aggressions of despotism. In the weeks to come, the Senate must work on a bipartisan basis--and in lockstep with the Biden administration--to pass a strong aid package providing both humanitarian aid and security assistance to Ukraine. The strongest signal we can send to Vladimir Putin right now is that the United States stands together--together--with the people of Ukraine. Twenty years ago, when our own democracy was attacked right here on our own soil, Americans banded together--Democrat and Republican--to defend our Nation and our democracy. Today, as democracy faces its greatest crisis in Europe since the end of the Cold War, we must likewise band together in support of our friends in Ukraine. So far, the President has done an excellent job uniting our Nation and our allies against Putin. This was not an easy job. The President had to show patience from some who had urged him to do things that would have torn the relationship apart--the European- American relationship. Now, because of the President's strong leadership, the Russian President finds himself more isolated and a greater pariah than at any other moment in his time in power. When the full weight of international sanctions takes effect, the consequences will be catastrophic for Putin and the Russian economy. On the flip side--on the flip side--divisions within the United States or amongst our allies will only strengthen Vladimir Putin and strengthen his resolve that he can win this war, and we must resist him and his deeply cynical efforts however necessary. We must be united in this moment, and so far our unity has precisely been our greatest asset in resisting Putin's aggression: from unity amongst American people in solidarity with Ukraine to America's unity with our European allies. So I hope our Republican colleagues in this Chamber will work with us and the administration to stay unified with a strong aid package. We don't know how this crisis will evolve, but one thing that will not change is the need to maintain a united front so long as Vladimir Putin continues down his path of violence. For that reason, the Senate will continue working in the weeks to come on a strong aid package that will erase any doubt where our allegiance lies. State of the Union Address Mr. President, now on another subject, tonight, President Biden will come to the U.S. Capitol and deliver the first State of the Union of his Presidency. Whenever the Nation takes stock of the state of our Union, it is important to know where we are today compared to where we were a single year ago. That, indeed, is a revealing measure of any President's leadership. And despite the immense challenges we still have, what a difference between last year and this year. At the beginning of last year, we were facing the very worst of the pandemic. Unemployment was over 6 percent. Most forecasters said it would take years--perhaps more--to make significant progress in our recovery. And, of course, as the Trump Presidency came to a bitter and ignoble end, our country was still in shell shock from the violent assault waged upon this Capitol and upon democracy itself. Today, as we continue to face the serious challenges of our time, just look at how far we have come. The economy has now grown at the fastest rate in a single year since the 1980s. We have added back the most jobs in a single year than in any President's term ever--6 million jobs. Congress passed--and the President signed--the biggest comprehensive, standalone infrastructure law in generations, which is now fixing our roads and bridges, supply chains, and putting people to work across the country with good-paying jobs. Jobs have always been the No. 1 issue to working families. And on that measure, this first year has been a very, very large success. And after years of President Trump currying favor with despots and autocrats--we all remember what he said about Vladimir Putin over and over again--the world can now rest assured that the United States is once again a reliable ally in the defense of democracy and our alliances like NATO. And of course, COVID cases are significantly dropping, communities are reopening, mask mandates are reversing, and over 215 million Americans--215 million--have now been fully vaccinated. The road has not been easy, and certainly the work is not yet done. The pain of inflation is being felt around this country and around the world, thanks largely to the disruptions of the pandemic. The two greatest things vexing the American people are completing our recovery from COVID and getting life back to normal and fighting increasing costs. And Democrats in the Senate will keep our laser focus on precisely those issues: bringing down costs for the American people so we can reap the full benefits of our historic growth. From relieving shipping bottlenecks to making insulin more affordable, to lowering the cost of food, these are some of the things Americans want, and these are the issues that Democrats right now are working to help solve. These problems must be handled, and Democrats and the Biden administration continue to work on them like a laser. Again, full recovery from COVID and increasing costs are the two biggest remaining issues on our domestic calendar, and we are focused on them. But even so, we cannot ignore that we have come far. And let me say this: The State of the Union is also an important and rare moment for the American people to see what the party in office actually stands for. It is under Democratic leadership that we will continue to work to lower costs, to fight inflation, give working families ladders of opportunity to get to the middle class, and thrive there once they are in the middle class. Republicans can't say that. Crippled by Trump's cult of personality, beholden to corporate interests and the ultrarich, the Republican agenda would trap Americans in a vortex of deep cynicism--issues that would not solve today's dilemmas--while they pass legislation that overwhelmingly would benefit the very few wealthy people. If anyone doubts where the Republican Party stands today, all they have to do is read the bizarre, truly stunning plan released by the junior Senator from Florida last week--the head of the Republican Campaign Committee--which proposed everything from raising taxes on low-income Americans to naming a useless and ineffective border wall after Donald Trump. Imagine, we are talking about getting back to normal and recovering from COVID and reducing costs, and they are talking about naming a border wall after Donald Trump. Which party is going to solve America's problems? Indeed, an analysis released yesterday by the Tax Policy Center found that low-income households would pay an average of nearly $1,000 more in taxes next year under a plan like Senator Scott's and that nearly all of the new taxes under a plan like his would be paid by those making less than $100,000 a year--cut the taxes on the wealthy, as they did when Trump was President and they had the majority, and now increase taxes on poor people and working-class people. That seems to be where the Republicans are at. This is just wrong, especially at a time when American families are looking for our help in lowering costs. So, tonight, the President will make clear that while we have a lot of work left to do, we have gotten a lot of work done already. And the Democratic Senate will continue, likewise, to focus working on legislation that completes our recovery from COVID and does everything we can to make sure it doesn't come back, to lower costs, to strengthen our buoyant economy, and preserve America's place as a nation of immense opportunity deep into the 21st century. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I know of no further debate on the motion to proceed to H.R. 3076.

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. 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 Senate 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, just one more point. As we have always said, we in the Democratic majority want to work with our Republican colleagues on bipartisan legislation whenever we can, and this is an example of that. Obviously, there are times when we can't, and we will move forward. But the more we can get done and accomplished in a bipartisan way on important legislation like this, the better. So, once again, let me salute the bipartisan coalition led by Gary Peters and Rob Portman and so many others on both sides of the aisle who contributed to this very important legislation.

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, now, on something that is very important to this country, Senator Peters, in a minute, will move to pass the Strengthening American Cybersecurity Act. As we all know, protecting America--our government, our businesses, our utilities, and so many of our entities--from cyber attack has been very, very important over the last decade. It becomes even more important now. As the war in Ukraine goes on and as Putin mounts his illegal, immoral, and unprovoked attack, he is escalating cyber attacks on democracies around the world. So, as the need to protect this country from cyber attack is always very, very, very important, it has assumed even greater importance now with Putin's fighting in Ukraine and threatening cyber attacks throughout the world. Today, the Senate is taking an urgently needed step to protect the American people, American critical infrastructure, and American Government institutions from the dangerous threat of cyber attacks. The most important part of this provision will require our companies--our individual businesses--to report cyber attacks when they occur. There has been a reluctance on the part of many in the business community to want to do this because it may expose them to other kinds of harm, and maybe the public will not want to be involved in these businesses, but the importance of the reporting is vital. When our authorities in the government know of the attacks, they can prepare against future attacks. They will know who is attacking, where they are attacking, and how they are attacking. That will allow them to strengthen our defenses against future cyber attacks. So this knowledge of cyber attacks, caused by foreign entities or domestic entities, is vital as America seeks to protect itself. This legislation has been around for a while. For too long, certain business interests opposed it, but now they have come to see the light, and, in fact, we have a bipartisan agreement--unanimous in this Chamber--that this bill move forward. That is very important for America's security. It is more important than it ever has been. Cyber warfare is truly one of the dark arts--specialized by Putin and his authoritarian regime--and this bill will help to protect us from Putin's attempted cyber attacks against our country. Last year, I asked Chairman Peters and other relevant committee chairs to draft legislation to counter the increased threat, and Senator Peters has done an outstanding job. I want to commend him and Senator Portman and so many others--Senator Warner among them--for being heavily involved in this issue. Tonight, we will pass legislation by unanimous consent. When this legislation passes and is signed into law, America will be a safer place from one of the greatest scourges we worry about--cyber attack. I am glad we are doing this, and I am glad both sides have agreed. I yield to Senator Peters, who, as I said, as chair of the HSGAC Committee, has done a terrific job in shepherding this legislation through the Senate.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar Nos. 639, 409, 411, 693, and 694; 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 with no intervening action or debate; 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. I now ask for a second reading, and I object to my own request, all en bloc.

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I understand that there are three bills at the desk, and I ask for their first readings en bloc.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that at 12 p.m. on Wednesday, March 2, the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 291, S.J. Res. 32. Further, I ask unanimous consent that the time until 2:30 p.m. be equally divided between the leaders or their designees on the joint resolution, and that following the use or yielding back of that time, the joint resolution be read a third time and the Senate vote on the joint resolution.

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Now, Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate recess until 8:30 p.m. today and proceed as a body to the Hall of the House of Representatives for the joint session of Congress provided under the provisions of H. Con. Res. 69; and that upon dissolution of the joint session, the Senate adjourn until 11 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2, 2022; that following the prayer and the 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 conclusion of morning business, the Senate resume consideration of Calendar No. 273, H.R. 3076, the Postal Service Reform Act.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, we will gather in the Senate Chamber at 8:20 this evening to proceed as a body to the House for the State of the Union. If there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask that it recess under the previous order. Thereupon, the Senate, at 6:23 p.m., recessed until 8:30 p.m. and reassembled when called to order by the President pro tempore.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Today is the fifth day since Russian President Vladimir Putin undermined decades--decades--of stability in Europe by launching an unprovoked, immoral, and terribly violent, vicious assault on Ukraine. This evening, the Senate will receive a classified update from the administration that Senator McConnell and I have requested, and we will be briefed on the situation on the ground and the steps that President Biden has taken to help the Ukrainian people. In the coming weeks, the Senate will also work on a bipartisan basis and in lockstep with the Biden administration to build a robust assistance package for Ukraine. The administration has asked for a $6.4 billion package of humanitarian aid, of economic aid, and of the kind of military aid that will help the Ukrainians defend themselves, and we intend to work on a bipartisan basis to include it in the upcoming omnibus bill. Already, the reports of civilian casualties in Ukraine are just tragic. At least 350 civilians have been killed according to the Ukrainian Government. But amidst the violence, one thing is clear: the Ukrainian people are giving Putin a tougher fight than he, in his monomaniacal overconfidence, bargained for. There are two people in particular who deserve recognition in these early days: President Zelenskyy and President Biden. On the one hand, President Zelenskyy is facing the worst nightmare any head of state can face: a full assault on his country's sovereignty. But his bravery and defiance is inspiring. Many said he should leave the country. Putin thought he would run away. He said: Even though I may be their No. 1 target, I am staying. What courage. What strength. And it gave the Ukrainian people and all the people in the Western world courage and strength as well to unite and do everything we can, each in our own way, to help the Ukrainian people keep their independence, their freedom, and their sovereignty. President Zelenskyy is admired all around the globe and most by the Ukrainian people whom he stood so strong for. President Biden also deserves credit--credit that is due him for successfully bringing democracies together against Putin with crushing sanctions and an outpouring of security assistance. Today, President Putin is more isolated than ever before while democracies have rallied together, and this is much to the credit of President Biden. He has done an amazing job. Here in the United States, we stand unflinchingly with the people of Ukraine. Twenty-one years ago, in the aftermath of 9/11, Americans rallied together after our democracy was attacked here at home. Today, as democracy is under assault, we must come together in solidarity with the Ukrainian people. We should all be together supporting this country's efforts. When I said the President did an amazing job, here is one thing I was referring to: No one thought that the Europeans would go along with removing parts of the SWIFT system from the Russian financial system; no one thought that we would sanction the Russian Central Bank--two of the most powerful weapons we have, but the Europeans were going to be reluctant. Because President Biden was strong, was patient, was persistent, and didn't let himself get pushed around by would-be critics, that is now happening. Over the next several months--even now, today, but even more so as time goes on--those are going to have severe effects on President Putin. So he deserves a lot of credit, and I just hope we will all, all of us, come together, just as we did after 9/11 when freedom was under assault in our own country, and rally, united in supporting the President and what he is doing.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, now, next, on Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson, on Friday, Joe Biden--President Biden--made history, wonderful history, by announcing his nominee to replace Stephen Breyer on the U.S. Supreme Court, Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson. As promised, President Biden named, for the first time in history-- the first time in history--a Black woman to sit on the High Court. As promised, his nominee is beyond qualified and brilliant. And as promised, the Senate will now begin the work of quickly confirming Judge Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States of America. Appointing individuals to the High Court, as we all know, is truly one of the awesome responsibilities of any President. And in choosing Judge Jackson, President Biden has hit a home run with an evenhanded and so gifted jurist. More importantly, I congratulate Judge Jackson for this historic honor--one that reflects her skills, her accomplishments, and, above all, her dedication to our democracy. I have been doing a lot of reading on Judge Jackson over the last month, and I cannot recall any one of her colleagues, anyone from her private life, or anyone in the public sphere say anything negative about her. It is amazing. That is how fine a person she is and how fine a mind she has. Judge Jackson encapsulates the two b's: brilliant and beloved. That is a rare combination. And her nomination is a cause for immense celebration. I will be meeting with Judge Jackson Wednesday when she comes to the Capitol for the first time. Meanwhile, I am working with Chairman Durbin to schedule confirmation hearings on Judge Jackson as soon as we can. Once the Judiciary Committee completes its consideration of Judge Jackson, I will move to have her nomination come immediately to the floor of the Senate so the Senate wastes no time fulfilling its constitutional duty. We are going to have a fair but speedy process where Members from both sides will get to ask their questions and explore the judge's record. Of course, Judge Jackson is no stranger to the Senate. This will be the fourth time--the fourth time--she comes before this body. In each previous instance, Republicans and Democrats together voted in favor of her various nominations. We voted last year to confirm Judge Jackson to the influential DC Circuit Court of Appeals, and she received support from all 50 Democrats and 3 Republicans. And, of course, the first time she came before us as a district court judge, it was a voice vote, which meant no one objected to her getting on the Federal bench--no one in the Senate, anyway. Judge Jackson's various nominations have won bipartisan support in the past, and her nomination now merits bipartisan support in the present. I hope both sides can work together in a fair and speedy way to make it happen. I will have more to say on Judge Jackson's remarkable profile in the days and weeks ahead, but today, I want to congratulate her on her nomination. I thank President Biden for selecting her, and I look forward to meeting with her on Wednesday when she arrives at the Capitol.