Chuck Schumer

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I raise a point of order that impeachment article II does not allege conduct that rises to the level of a high crime or misdemeanor as required under article II, section 4 of the U.S. Constitution, and it is, therefore, unconstitutional.

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I move to adjourn the impeachment trial of Alejandro N. Mayorkas sine die, and I ask for the yeas and nays. Vote on Motion

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. For the information of Members, there are no further votes today. I remind all Members that we have very serious business ahead of us in the next few days, and we will keep you informed as to schedule as things can get scheduled.

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Environment and Public Works be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 4389 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, finally, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it stand adjourned until 12 noon on Thursday, April 18; 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. 365, H.R. 7888.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I move that it stand adjourned under the previous order.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I have eight requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate:

Mr. SCHUMER

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 Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, for the information of all Senators, under impeachment rules, Senators will be sworn in as jurors tomorrow at 1 p.m. I suggest the absence of a quorum.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, right now, the world is in desperate need of American leadership. Russia's invasion of Ukraine, Iran's attack on Israel, and the Chinese Government's encroachments on the South Pacific threaten world peace, threaten America's prosperity, and threaten the very future of western democracy. That is why, 2 months ago, the Senate passed a bipartisan national security supplemental with aid for Ukraine, for Israel, for the South Pacific, and for humanitarian assistance. We have called on the House of Representatives repeatedly to move our bill because the fastest way--the surest way--for Congress to get desperately needed aid to our allies is for House Republicans to put the supplemental on the floor. It would pass. That was true 2 months ago. It is still true today. Yesterday evening, Speaker Johnson laid out a process for House consideration of the supplemental that would break it up into separate parts. I am reserving judgment on what will come out of the House until we see more about the substance of the proposal and the process by which the proposal will proceed. Hopefully, we will get details of the Speaker's proposal later today. Again, time is of the essence. Israel was attacked for the first time in its history directly by Iran. The people of Ukraine are now in all-out desperation. In fact, last week, the head of the U.S. European Command testified before the House Armed Services Committee that Russia's Army is now 15 percent larger than it was at the start of the war, and in a matter of weeks, Russia will outgun Ukraine by 10 to 1--10 to 1. That is not a very good prospect for Ukraine's survival. And anyone who thinks that the war in Ukraine will stay in Ukraine, remember the warning of Japanese Prime Minister Kishida: Ukraine today may be East Asia tomorrow. Around the world, civilians caught in the crossfires of war await desperately needed humanitarian assistance. So the time for delay is over. Democrats have shown repeatedly our willingness to compromise to get important things done; and I will remind everyone of what I said from the beginning of this Congress: The only way to get things done is in a bipartisan way. Again, we await to see more details of the Speaker's proposal. I urge him to keep working in a bipartisan way to ensure this vital aid gets to our friends abroad as quickly as possible.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate stand in recess until 2:10 p.m.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 365, H.R. 7888.

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. I move to recess until 3 p.m. on Monday, April 15, and I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. SCHUMER. I announce that the Senator from Illinois (Mr. Durbin), the Senator from New Jersey (Mr. Menendez), the Senator from Vermont (Mr. Sanders), the Senator from Arizona (Ms. Sinema), and the Senator from Michigan (Ms. Stabenow), are necessarily absent.

Mr. SCHUMER

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

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, on a few other matters. This morning Prime Minister Kishida Fumio became only the second Japanese Prime Minister to ever formally address a joint meeting of the Congress. The best way the House can heed Prime Minister Kishida's words is to pass the national security supplemental as soon as possible, to approve defense funding, not just for Ukraine, but also for the Indo-Pacific. If we want to protect against the Chinese Communist Party endangering Taiwan, the House should quit stalling and pass the supplemental. If we want to prevent handing Putin a victory in Europe, the House should do the right thing for democracy and pass the Senate's aid package now.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, as in legislative session, I ask unanimous consent the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 638 submitted earlier today.

Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent 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. President, today, I am very proud that the Senate just passed Leader McConnell's and my resolution calling for Ryan Corbett's immediate and unconditional release. By passing this resolution today, the Senate sends a resounding message that it is time to bring Ryan home. This weekend is Ryan's birthday. We are all thinking about him because it has now been 609 days since Ryan, a New York native, was unjustly detained by the Taliban in Afghanistan during a routine business trip. I met with Ryan's beautiful family this week, and I told them the Senate is standing with them and has their back. I promised them that as long as Ryan is held by the Taliban, I will never stop fighting to bring him back home and unite him with Anna, his children, and his family as quickly as possible. Again, I thank Leader McConnell for joining me in this legislation.

Mr. SCHUMER

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I have four requests for committees to meet during today's session of the Senate. They have the approval of the Majority and Minority Leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committees are authorized to meet during today's session of the Senate: