Chuck Schumer

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, first, I was deeply saddened this morning to learn of the passing of my friend, and our dear colleague, Dick Blum, husband of over 40 years to our friend and colleague Senator Feinstein. Senator Feinstein is our Senate colleague, but Dick Blum was also a colleague because he was a friend and adviser to so many of us. In his 86 years, Dick truly led a remarkable life. He was a force of nature, gifted with a winning smile and keen intellect that he applied to the benefit of California, America, and even international causes, including the American Himalayan Foundation, because he cared so much about those folks. Every now and then, he would call me with his frequently insightful--often brilliant--ideas. The only problem was his enthusiasm was so intense, it was sometimes hard to get him off the phone. He was a strong and wonderful partner to Senator Feinstein, and he fought valiantly against illness in the final chapters of his life--a life so well lived. Our thoughts are with our friend Senator Feinstein. She and he were so close. She was so dependent on him and he on her. And so our thoughts are with her during this time of mourning. We join her in both our grief and in remembering Dick's wonderful legacy. I talked with Senator Feinstein this afternoon. And I told her that when my father passed away a few months ago, I felt a loss, but some of the pain--a little bit--was sad because I would feel I was so close to him, he is still with me. And I told her that is how I believed Dick will be with her. And she told me that gave her a little solace, so that made me feel OK.

Mr. SCHUMER

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 Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, before I get into my remarks, I have one bit of business. I understand there is bill at the desk that is due for a second reading.

Mr. SCHUMER. For the benefit of the public, that is done so we can actually move forward on the bill. In the arcane rules of the Senate, that is what we have to do.

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, in order to place the bill on the calendar--and this is H.R. 4521, the COMPETES Act that came over from the House--under the provisions of rule XIV, I would object to further proceedings.

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, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 10:15 a.m. on Tuesday, March 1; 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 resume consideration of the motion to proceed to Calendar No. 273, H.R. 3076, Postal Service Reform, postcloture; that the Senate recess from 12:30 p.m. until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the weekly caucus meetings.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Presiding Officer of the Senate be authorized to appoint a committee on the part of the Senate to join with a like committee on the part of the House of Representatives to escort the President of the United States into the House Chamber for the joint session to be held at 9 p.m. on Tuesday, March 1, 2022.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, the vote before the Senate asks a simple question: As women's healthcare comes under assault in ways we have not seen in living memory, shall the Senate respond? The legislation we are considering today, the Women's Health Protection Act, is the first time--the first time--the Senate has taken an affirmative vote on stand-alone legislation to enshrine the right to an abortion in law. And it is needed now more than ever, as reproductive rights are on the chopping block in the legislatures, in the courts, and, most dreadfully perhaps, even in the Supreme Court. The right to choose is intensely personal, and, by and large, the American people support the protections enshrined in Roe. So Americans deserve to know where their Senators stand on this crucial issue. This vote--because we are in the majority--will, for the first time, accomplish that. The other side did not want to put this vote on the floor. When the House passed abortion rights legislation last fall, I said the Senate would act, and now we are holding a vote. I want to thank Senators Blumenthal, Baldwin, and Murray for their leadership in pushing the Women's Health Protection Act. And it is with strong enthusiasm that I will vote yes. I yield the floor. Cloture Motion

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. On the Women's Healthcare Protection Act, later today, the Senate is going to vote on a simple yet urgent question: Will this Chamber agree to begin debate on protecting a women's right to make her own healthcare choices? Across the country, it is a dark, dark time for women's reproductive rights. Last year, we saw the most--the most--abortion restrictions passed by State legislatures in a single year. Some of them were almost vicious--the vigilantism of Texas's law. I call it vicious vigilantism. Many of these new laws are downright extreme, effectively extinguishing women's ability to even exercise their rights at all. The new, extreme restrictions fly largely in the face of public opinion. They also fly in the face of commonsense health practices. Frankly, they fly against common decency itself, and sadly it seems like the Supreme Court is close to drastically restricting this long-established right in the coming months. So the Senate today is going to take action because abortion has never been more at risk in America. Indeed, this will be the first time the Senate takes a vote on a stand-alone bill to proactively codify Roe. Let me say that again. This will be the first time that the Senate takes a vote on a stand-alone bill to proactively codify Roe. Every American--every American--deserves to know where his or her Senator stands on an issue as important as the right to choose, and today's vote will do that. From the moment that Roe was decided in 1973, the most extreme elements of the Republican Party have plotted its demise. The Federalist Society was founded with the intent of cultivating a generation of judges loyal to conservative causes. Sadly, it seems like the Supreme Court is posed to severely limit abortion rights in the coming months. That is why this bill is essential. Congress must codify into law what most Americans have long believed--that abortion is a fundamental right and that women's decisions over women's healthcare belong to women, not--not--to extremist rightwing legislatures. We must vote in favor to hold a debate on this bill. I will proudly, strongly vote yes. I urge my colleagues to do the same.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Finally, on postal, this week, the Senate is also going to keep working to pass long-overdue postal reform to strengthen mail deliveries, take care of our postal workers, and put the post office on a path to long-term stability. I want to be clear that this bill has enough bipartisan support to ultimately become law. It is the product of weeks and months of good- faith negotiation by my colleagues, especially my friend Senator Peters. We could have passed postal reform at the end of the last work period were it not for the capricious obstruction from the Senator from Florida. Nevertheless, postal reform remains on the right track, and I expect we will be able to send it to the President's desk very soon. I yield the floor. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, first, I want to compliment Senator Leahy, our Senate pro tempore, for his wonderful reading of George Washington's Address. This is a tradition in the Senate, and I am very glad we are continuing it.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, now, on world affairs, today I chose the colors of my suit and my tie in honor of the Ukrainian flag and in solidarity with the people of Ukraine during these hard times. I will have more to say about this later on in my speech.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I further ask that the bill be considered read a third time.

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

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, finally, I ask that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 139, H.R. 3755.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs be discharged and the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of S. 697.

Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions be discharged from further consideration of S. 3373 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming adjournment of the Senate, the President of the Senate, the President pro tempore, and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences, or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law, by concurrent action of the two Houses, or by order of the Senate.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. I now ask for a second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.