Brian Schatz

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. For the information of Senators, there will be three rollcall votes beginning at 6:15. Unanimous Consent Request

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays.

Mr. SCHATZ

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

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, you know, this is a very important week in the United States Senate. Our infrastructure bill is big, it is bold, and it is bipartisan, and it reflects the needs of a population especially important to me--Native communities and Indian Country across the United States. As chair of the Indian Affairs Committee, I have made it my mission to support these communities. This legislation contains more than $11 billion in direct investments for Native communities, including $3.5 billion for clean water access and delivery, $3 billion for safe roads and bridges, and $2 billion to close the digital divide for American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian families. This bill will have a direct and long-lasting impact, and I am proud to support it. Since taking the committee gavel, I have worked with President Biden, with the Presiding Officer, with the members of the committee, and my colleagues in both Chambers to ensure that Native voices are always at the table. Our Tribal provisions in the American Rescue Plan and the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act were the two largest investments in Native communities in American history--the two largest investments in Native communities in American history. Both bills contained resources and policy reforms that were long awaited and desperately needed, and they are already paying dividends. But our work has to continue, and this historic budget resolution is the next step. At its core, our budget is about restoring the middle class and giving more Americans the opportunity to get into the middle class. It cuts taxes for millions of American families. It creates millions of American jobs while tackling the climate crisis, and it is paid for by the wealthy paying their fair share. No one who makes under $400,000 will see an increase in their taxes. I used to hate charts. I used to not be a chart guy. I have a rule in my office: If you are coming in to present to me, no PowerPoints. I just don't like charts. But I am making an exception right now because it is really important that the public understand what we are about to do. We are going to lower costs for all Americans. We are going to cut taxes for American families. We are going to create millions of jobs while tackling the climate crisis. And it is going to be paid for by requiring the wealthy to pay their fair share in taxes. The budget also addresses Native communities specifically. For far too long, historical underfunding of Federal programs serving Native communities and Tribes has left them vulnerable. Today, one in three Native Americans lives in poverty, and just 19 percent of Native American students are attending college. Native Americans have a life expectancy 5\1/2\ years lower than the general population, and Native Americans are on the frontlines of the climate crisis. This budget reverses these systemic injustices through a $20.5 billion targeted investment. The budget makes significant investments in climate resiliency for Native communities and gives them the tools that they need to mitigate the impacts of climate change, deploy their own clean energy solutions on their own terms, and restore and protect their homelands. It ensures that Native students and families have more access to Native language programs, early childhood education, and college. It also includes historic investments in health and education programs to provide much needed support to Native people across the country. We have already made the biggest investment in Native communities in American history, and we are not done yet. The responsibility of the U.S. Government to American Indians, Alaska Natives, and Native Hawaiians isn't just for Democrats or Republicans to live up to. It is a commitment that we all share This budget resolution will empower these Native communities like never before, and it will make our country stronger, safer, and more resilient. I will be proud to move it forward. I yield the floor.

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, 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 with no intervening action or debate.

Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the consideration of S. Res. 343, submitted earlier today.

Mr. SCHATZ

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

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the provisions of S. Res. 343.

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 12 noon, Sunday, August 8; 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; and that upon the conclusion of morning business, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 3684.

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar Nos. 249, 271, and 166; that the Senate vote on the nominations en bloc with no intervening action or debate and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table; that any statements related to nominations be printed in the Record; that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's action and the Senate resume legislative session.

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of H.R. 1448 and the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that when the Senate completes its business today, it adjourn until 11 a.m., Saturday, August 7; 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 conclusion of morning business, the Senate resume consideration of H.R. 3684.

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. 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. SCHATZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Committee on Veterans' Affairs be discharged from further consideration of S. 1031 and that the Senate proceed to its immediate consideration.

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the filing deadline for second-degree amendments be at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday, August 7.

Mr. SCHATZ

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

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate consider the following nominations en bloc: Calendar No. 143, 144, 145, and 272; 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 and that the President be immediately notified of the Senate's actions; and that the Senate resume legislative session.

Mr. SCHATZ

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

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 110, S. 812.

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. I ask that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table.

Mr. SCHATZ. I know of no further debate on this measure.

Mr. SCHATZ. I ask unanimous consent that the bill, as amended, be considered read a third time.

Mr. SCHATZ. I ask unanimous consent that the committee-reported amendment be agreed to.

Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the Senate proceed to the immediate consideration of Calendar No. 86, S. 1041.

Mr. SCHATZ

Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, if there is no further business to come before the Senate, I ask unanimous consent that it stand adjourned under the previous order.