DOCSLIB.ORG

Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-NY S2216 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 3, 2019 nominations because it is taking too I look forward to this dialogue, and I The question is, Is it the sense of the long, and so they made a proposal. It look forward to the day we can get this Senate that debate on the nomination was 2 hours, equally divided—so it issue resolved so we can get back to of Jeffrey Kessler, of Virginia, to be an would actually be 1 hour—for district the work of legislation because we Assistant Secretary of Commerce shall court judges, 8 hours for other nomi- can’t even get to legislation right now be brought to a close? nees, which again equally divided because we are blocked on nomina- The yeas and nays are mandatory would actually be 4 hours total for tions. So let’s get the nomination issue under the rule. other lower nominees, 30 hours for cir- resolved, as we have for two centuries, The clerk will call the roll. cuit court, Supreme Court, Cabinet of- and then let’s get on to legislation and The senior assistant legislative clerk ficers. finish the task. called the roll. Republicans joined with Democrats I yield the floor. Mr. THUNE. The following Senator is in 2013 and with 78 votes at the begin- I suggest the absence of a quorum. necessarily absent: the Senator from The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. ning of President Obama’s second Mississippi (Mrs. HYDE-SMITH). term—and may I remind this body, Re- PERDUE). The clerk will call the roll. Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the The senior assistant legislative clerk publicans were not excited about Presi- Senator from California (Ms. HARRIS) is proceeded to call the roll. dent Obama’s second term—Repub- necessarily absent. licans joined with Democrats on this Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for The PRESIDING OFFICER. Are there one principle: Every President should any other Senators in the Chamber de- be able to hire their own staff and their the quorum call be rescinded. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there siring to vote? staff not be blocked. When the Amer- The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 95, ican people vote for a President, this objection? Without objection, it is so ordered. nays 3, as follows: body should respect the vote of the Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, we raise [Rollcall Vote No. 58 Ex.] American people and allow that Presi- this point today, not just because of dent to hire their staff. Now, when YEAS—95 what has happened to Donald Trump’s President Trump was elected, Demo- Alexander Fischer Peters nominees over the last 2 years, but we Baldwin Gardner Portman crats have 128 times blocked President reached this point because 16 years ago Barrasso Graham Reed Trump from getting his nominees—128 Bennet Grassley the Senator from New York started Risch times. Blackburn Hassan Roberts this Senate down a path that was un- I have, for now 2 years, met with my Blumenthal Hawley Romney precedented in 200 years. For 200 years, Blunt Heinrich Democratic colleagues, and I have Rosen any President’s nominees got an up-or- Booker Hirono Rounds asked, let’s put back into place exactly down vote. That was the custom, the Boozman Hoeven Rubio what Republicans voted with Demo- Braun Inhofe Sasse unwritten rule, if you will. Brown Isakson crats to do. I am asking Democrats to Schatz Burr Johnson Starting in 2003, specifically geared Schumer now vote with Republicans to do that. Cantwell Jones toward a brilliant young lawyer named Scott (FL) They have said no for 2 years. Capito Kaine Miguel Estrada, the Senator from New Scott (SC) So I simplified the proposal and said: Cardin Kennedy York warped those unwritten rules and Shaheen Let’s just make it straightforward and Carper King customs. That has brought us to where Casey Klobuchar Shelby simple, taken from the same principles Sinema we are today. So today Senator SCHU- Cassidy Lankford Harry Reid put forward under Presi- Collins Leahy Smith MER will reap what he sowed. I will call Stabenow dent Obama. Let’s make that perma- Coons Lee it Miguel Estrada’s revenge. Cornyn Manchin Sullivan nent, no matter who the President is I yield the floor. Cortez Masto Markey Tester now or in the future. Let’s make it Cotton McConnell Thune I suggest the absence of a quorum. Tillis consistent and straightforward. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Cramer McSally I was told no by every single Demo- Crapo Menendez Toomey clerk will call the roll. Cruz Merkley Udall crat, with this one exception. I will The senior assistant legislative clerk Daines Moran Van Hollen vote for that proposal as long as it proceeded to call the roll. Duckworth Murkowski Warner starts in January of 2021. I am glad you Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I Durbin Murphy Whitehouse Republicans joined with Democrats, Enzi Murray Wicker ask unanimous consent that the order Ernst Paul Wyden they would say, to help President for the quorum call be rescinded. Feinstein Perdue Young Obama get nominees, but we will not The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without NAYS—3 help President Trump and will block objection, it is so ordered. him all the way through. Now, if you Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous Gillibrand Sanders Warren want to open this up for 2021, we will be consent that the mandatory quorum NOT VOTING—2 glad to be able to help. call be waived. Harris Hyde-Smith I want to reiterate that Republicans The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there believe whoever the President is, when objection? The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this the American people select a Presi- Without objection, it is so ordered. vote the yeas are 95, the nays are 3. dent, they should be able to hire their CLOTURE MOTION The motion is agreed to. staff. I wish my Democratic colleagues The cloture motion having been pre- The Democratic leader. believed the same thing. Because of sented under rule XXII, the Chair di- Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, this is that, we are making a change today. I rects the clerk to read the motion. a very sad day for the Senate. At a have worked for months, meeting with The senior assistant legislative clerk time when Leader MCCONNELL brags Democratic colleagues, trying to find read as follows: about confirming more judges than some way we could come to an agree- CLOTURE MOTION anyone has done in a very long time, ment as was done in 2013, where Repub- We, the undersigned Senators, in accord- he feels the need to invoke the terribly licans and Democrats came together to ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the destructive and disproportionate proce- resolve this. I have been rebuffed for 2 Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby dure of the nuclear option in order to years. Not a single Democrat has been move to bring to a close debate on the nomi- fast-track even more of President willing to join us in this, not a single nation of Jeffrey Kessler, of Virginia, to be Trump’s ultraconservative nominees to an Assistant Secretary of Commerce. one. That is unfortunate. the Federal bench. Mitch McConnell, Steve Daines, John Before I discuss that in greater de- At the end of the day, we will try to Thune, John Cornyn, James M. Inhofe, restore this body back to how it used Pat Roberts, Mike Crapo, Chuck Grass- tail, I want to note for the record that to function for two centuries, when ley, Richard Burr, John Barrasso, Democrats were prepared to confirm every President was allowed to get a Jerry Moran, Roy Blunt, Shelley the nomination of Mr. Kessler by unan- hearing for their nominees and get a Moore Capito, John Boozman, Johnny imous consent, so the cloture vote we vote in the Senate. For two centuries, Isakson, Thom Tillis, John Hoeven. had was unnecessary. we functioned that way. I think it is The PRESIDING OFFICER. The If you have been listening to Sen- not unreasonable to function that way mandatory quorum call has been ators debate this issue in recent days, again in this body. waived. you have heard a lot of claims and VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:33 Apr 04, 2019 Jkt 089060 PO 00000 Frm 00008 Fmt 0624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G03AP6.011 S03APPT1 April 3, 2019 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2217 counterclaims about cloture votes, far-right Supreme Court nominees, and Two hours for a lifetime appointment . about rates of confirmation for circuit then have candidate Trump pledge to is unacceptable. and district courts in different Con- only nominate people on that list. And She said: gresses, about judicial vacancies and not just the Supreme Court—the Fed- Two hours for a lifetime appointment, with other arcane things that may not eralist Society is and continues to be a huge influence on people’s lives, is unaccept- sound very illuminating. So I want to huge influence on nominees to the cir- able. It’s ridiculous. It’s a mockery of how start by making clear what this debate cuit courts. this institution should work. is really all about. I want to issue a No other Presidential candidate had It is not just the courts. There are warning about what is at stake in this so willingly and openly outsourced ju- many examples in the executive branch fight. Underneath all of the statistics, dicial nominations this way, but it as well. Ann Marie Buerkle, nominated what Leader MCCONNELL, President mollified the hard right, and the Presi- to chair the CPSC—just today the Post Trump, and Republicans in the Senate dent has dutifully nominated people reported that this nominee blocked ac- are trying to do is use the courts to from the list to the Supreme Court.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • The First Day of a New Congress: a Guide to Proceedings on the House Floor
    The First Day of a New Congress: A Guide to Proceedings on the House Floor -name redacted- Specialist on the Congress Updated December 19, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-.... www.crs.gov RL30725 The First Day of a New Congress: A Guide to Proceedings on the House Floor Summary Article 1, Section 2 of the Constitution sets a term of office of two years for all Members of the House. One House ends at the conclusion of each two-year Congress, and the newly elected Representatives must constitute a new House at the beginning of the next Congress. Consequently, the House must choose its Speaker and officers and adopt the chamber’s rules of procedure every two years. The Constitution mandates that Congress convene at noon on January 3, unless the preceding Congress by law designated a different day. P.L. 113-201 set January 6, 2015, as the convening date of the 114th Congress. Congressional leaders planned that the 115th Congress would convene January 3, 2017, and that the 116th Congress would convene January 3, 2019, obviating the need for a law to set the date. Although no officers will have been elected when the House first convenes, officers from the previous Congress perform certain functions, such as conducting the election of the Speaker. The House follows a well-established first-day routine. The proceedings include— a call to order by the Clerk of the House; a prayer led by the Chaplain and the Pledge of Allegiance led by the Clerk; a quorum call ordered by the Clerk; the election of the Speaker, ordered by the Clerk and conducted with the assistance of tellers; remarks by the Speaker-elect, followed by his or her swearing-in by the dean of the House; the oath of office for the newly elected and re-elected Members, administered by the Speaker; adoption of the rules of the House for the new Congress; adoption of various administrative resolutions and unanimous consent agreements; and announcement of the Speaker’s policies on certain floor practices.
    [Show full text]
  • The Rule XIX Call to Order for Disorderly Language in Senate Debate
    The Rule XIX Call to Order for Disorderly Language in Senate Debate Christopher M. Davis Analyst on Congress and the Legislative Process Michael Greene Senior Research Librarian June 27, 2018 Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov R45241 The Rule XIX Call to Order for Disorderly Language in Senate Debate Summary The Senate has, from the 1st Congress (1789-1790), valued the importance of decorum in debate and included a “call to order” mechanism in its rules to sanction Senators who use “disorderly” language. The rules adopted in 1789 contained such a call-to-order provision, and its language has been amended multiple times over the years. Table 1 of this report details the historical evolution of the rule. The present form of the Senate’s call-to-order provision was adopted on June 14, 1962. Senate Rule XIX identifies specific language that is considered disorderly. This includes language directly or indirectly imputing to another Senator or Senators “any conduct or motive unworthy or unbecoming a Senator” (paragraph 2) and referring “offensively to any State of the Union” (paragraph 3). Rule XIX prohibits imputing conduct or motive “by any form of words” to a sitting Senator, which includes not just original words spoken in debate but quotes, news articles, and other materials. The statements in paragraphs 2 and 3 are not considered to be a comprehensive recitation of language that may violate decorum in Senate debate. Although precedents on the subject are mixed, Senators have at times also been called to order for making disparaging references in debate to the House of Representatives or its Members.
    [Show full text]
  • The Senate in Transition Or How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Nuclear Option1
    \\jciprod01\productn\N\NYL\19-4\NYL402.txt unknown Seq: 1 3-JAN-17 6:55 THE SENATE IN TRANSITION OR HOW I LEARNED TO STOP WORRYING AND LOVE THE NUCLEAR OPTION1 William G. Dauster* The right of United States Senators to debate without limit—and thus to filibuster—has characterized much of the Senate’s history. The Reid Pre- cedent, Majority Leader Harry Reid’s November 21, 2013, change to a sim- ple majority to confirm nominations—sometimes called the “nuclear option”—dramatically altered that right. This article considers the Senate’s right to debate, Senators’ increasing abuse of the filibuster, how Senator Reid executed his change, and possible expansions of the Reid Precedent. INTRODUCTION .............................................. 632 R I. THE NATURE OF THE SENATE ........................ 633 R II. THE FOUNDERS’ SENATE ............................. 637 R III. THE CLOTURE RULE ................................. 639 R IV. FILIBUSTER ABUSE .................................. 641 R V. THE REID PRECEDENT ............................... 645 R VI. CHANGING PROCEDURE THROUGH PRECEDENT ......... 649 R VII. THE CONSTITUTIONAL OPTION ........................ 656 R VIII. POSSIBLE REACTIONS TO THE REID PRECEDENT ........ 658 R A. Republican Reaction ............................ 659 R B. Legislation ...................................... 661 R C. Supreme Court Nominations ..................... 670 R D. Discharging Committees of Nominations ......... 672 R E. Overruling Home-State Senators ................. 674 R F. Overruling the Minority Leader .................. 677 R G. Time To Debate ................................ 680 R CONCLUSION................................................ 680 R * Former Deputy Chief of Staff for Policy for U.S. Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid. The author has worked on U.S. Senate and White House staffs since 1986, including as Staff Director or Deputy Staff Director for the Committees on the Budget, Labor and Human Resources, and Finance.
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 107 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
    E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 107 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 148 WASHINGTON, WEDNESDAY, APRIL 10, 2002 No. 38 Senate The Senate met at 9:16 a.m. and was APPOINTMENT OF ACTING RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME called to order by the Honorable DAN- PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- IEL K. AKAKA, a Senator from the State The PRESIDING OFFICER. The pore. Under the previous order, the of Hawaii. clerk will please read a communication leadership time is reserved. to the Senate from the President pro f PRAYER tempore (Mr. BYRD). The legislative clerk read the fol- NATIONAL LABORATORIES PART- The Chaplain, Dr. Lloyd John lowing letter: NERSHIP IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2001 Ogilvie, offered the following prayer: U.S. SENATE, Gracious God of Hope, we praise You PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE, The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- that You have vanquished the forces of Washington, DC, April 10, 2002. pore. Under the previous order, the death and given those who believe in To the Senate: Senate will now resume consideration Under the provisions of rule I, paragraph 3, Your resurrection power the assurance of S. 517, which the clerk will report. of the Standing Rules of the Senate, I hereby The legislative clerk read as follows: that this life is but a small part of appoint the Honorable DANIEL K. AKAKA, a eternity. We join with the British peo- Senator from the State of Hawaii, to perform A bill (S. 517) to authorize funding the De- ple in profound gratitude for the long the duties of the Chair.
    [Show full text]
  • Filibusters, Cloture, and the “Nuclear Option”: the Current Debate Over Changing Senate Rules for Approving Judicial Nominations
    Filibusters, Cloture, and the “Nuclear Option”: The Current Debate Over Changing Senate Rules for Approving Judicial Nominations March, 2005 Paul E. Stinson Janelle M. Smith Nixon Peabody, LLP © 2005. All Rights Reserved. Filibusters, Cloture, and the “Nuclear Option”: The Current Debate Over Changing Senate Rules for Approving Judicial Nominations March, 2005 © 2005, Nixon Peabody, LLP. All Rights Reserved. Abstract This background research paper examines the possible use of a simple majority vote rule to end filibusters of federal judicial nominees in the United States Senate. Recently, political controversy surrounding filibusters of presidential judicial nominations has prompted some Senators to suggest the use of a Senate procedure for ending filibusters by simple majority vote. Currently, Senate Standing Rule XXII requires a 60-Senator majority for ending debate upon a nomination, and a 67-Senator vote for ending debate on a motion to alter the Senate Rules themselves. This procedure, deemed the “constitutional” option by its supporters and the “nuclear” option by its detractors, is essentially a means for bypassing the Standing Rules through alternate Senate procedures such as rulings from the Chair, motions to table, modifications of Senate precedents, and Standing Orders. The debates over both the use of the filibuster and the use of the nuclear option raise significant questions of constitutional interpretation, the historical record, and the nature of the Senate itself. This paper presents an outline of the major issues surrounding both debates, as well as a description of the option and how it might be implemented. Part I presents a brief introduction. Part II explores the history of the filibuster.
    [Show full text]
  • 111-Quorum.Pdf
    QUORUM Paragraph 1 of Rule VI provides that a quorum shall consist of a majority of the Senators duly chosen and sworn, and under the rules and practices of the Senate, any Senator may suggest the absence of a quorum before the Senate is permitted to act on any business. However, under a unanimous consent agreement placing a limitation on the debate of a measure and assigning control of that time, while that matter is pending no Senator may suggest the absence of a quorum unless that Senator con­ trols a sufficient amount of time (which has been held by the precedents to be 10 minutes). But, it has been equally well estab­ lished by the precedents that any Senator has a right to call for a quorum before a vote begins even if that Senator controlled no time, or even if there was an order that a vote occur at a time certain. However, certain unanimous consent agreements have been interpreted to preclude quorum calls. The Presiding Officer has no authority to count to see if a quorum is present when a Senator suggests the absence of a quorum unless the Senate is operating under cloture; the rules provide that once a Senator makes a point of no quorum, "the Presiding Officer shall forthwith direct the Secretary to call the roll" and the Presiding Officer "shall announce the result." U nti! a point of no quorum has been raised, the Senate oper­ ates on the assumption that a quorum is present, and even if only a few Senators are present, a measure may be passed or a nomi­ nation agreed to.
    [Show full text]
  • Dear Senator Elect, Congratulations on Your Election to the Senate of the United States
    Dear Senator Elect, Congratulations on your election to the Senate of the United States. The Senate is one of the greatest deliberative bodies in the world, partially because of its unsurpassed protection of minority rights. It is designed so that one individual Senator can slow down, or even stop, the Senate from passing a bill. Although some in today’s culture of immediacy see this as a weakness, it is actually a strength of the Senate. The Founding Fathers did not create our government to be fast acting. The process was designed to be slow and make sure that the government was actually doing the right thing. James Madison once wrote, “Ambition must be made to counteract ambition.” Our Founders created a government with checks and balances, both among the three branches as well as within the legislative branch. The House of Representatives follows a majority rule system that can be fast, but not always the most thoughtful process. Therefore, the Founding Fathers wisely designed the Senate to be slower, more deliberative body. According to Madison, it would serve as a “necessary fence” against the “fickleness and passion” that tended to influence the attitudes of the members of the House. The Senate not only serves as a check against the House, but we also are a check against the executive branch. We have the responsibility to advise and consent to treaties and presidential nominations. Although the executive has the responsibility to negotiate treaties, it is our obligation to ensure that the United States does not enter into any treaties that are against our interests.
    [Show full text]
  • Glossary of Legislative Terms
    GLOSSARY OF LEGISLATIVE TERMS Act B Legislation that has passed both chambers of Closed Hearing B Hearings closed to all but mem‐ Congress and become law. bers, staff, and witnesses testifying; also called Executive Hearings. Adjourn B To close a legislative day. Closed Rule B In the House, a prohibition against Amendment B A change in a bill or document by amendments not approved by the committee adding, substituting, or omitting portions. which brought the bill to the floor. The House must either accept or reject the bill Aas is@. Appropriations Bill B Legislation that provides funds for authorized programs. Cloture B Method of limiting debate or ending a filibuster in the Senate. At least 60 Senators must Authorization Bill B Legislation establishing a pro‐ vote in favor before cloture can be invoked. gram and setting funding limits. Cosponsor B Member who joins in sponsoring leg‐ Bill B Legislation introduced in either the House or islation but who is not the principal sponsor or the Senate. one who introduced the legislation. By Request B Phrase used when a member intro‐ Commit B To refer a bill or matter to a committee. duces a bill at the request of an executive agency or private organization but does not necessarily Committee B A group of Members assigned to give endorse the legislation. special consideration to certain bills. See Joint Committee. Calendar B List and schedule of bills to be consid‐ ered by a committee. Committee of the Whole B A mechanism to ex‐ pedite business in the House whereby the House Caucus B Meeting of Republican or Democratic itself becomes a committee, allowing for less rigid Members of Congress to determine policy and/or rules and a quorum of 100 instead of 218.
    [Show full text]
  • Tis (B/ I 9R / Ss
    UNITED STATES OF AMERICA tiS (b/ i 9r / ss . Q:ongrcssional Rccord d PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 93 CONGRESS FIRST SESSION VOLU,ME 119-PART 19 JULY 13, 1973 TO JULY 19, 1973 (PAGES 23745 TO 25050) UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT PRINT:::NG OFFICE, WASHINGTON, 1973 23896 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD-SENATE July 1J,., 1973 carrier under the .provisions of this para­ the bill; and to the distinguished Sen­ graph shall be made by the Secretary of the funds or intrusion of the Federal Govern­ Treasury from funds hereby authoriZed to ator from West Virginia (Mr. RAN­ ment into the area. ofchild abuse.. be appropriated in such amounts as may DOLPH), who has undertaken the floor Its authorization of $90,000,000. over a be necessary for the purpose of carrying management of the bill, together with 5-year period-roughly $20,000,000 a out the provillions hereof." Senator STAFFORD. year-is very modest indeed considering It is quite clear that the dimensions The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ques­ the present efforts I have.outlined and of child abuse in the Nation exceed the needs-and even then it is 'to be tion is on agreeing to the committee greatly the capa~ity of State and local amendment. directed in efforts in which the Federal and Federal efforts to deal with the Government will serve basicallY an inno­ The committee amendment was agreed problem. to. vative and catalytic function. As noted in the committee report, The bill is clearly only an interim The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ques­ 60,000 cases of child abuse are reported tion is on the engrossment and thil'd measw'e-not yet a comprehensive pro­ almually; in New York City alone more posal to deal with child abuse across the reading of the bill.
    [Show full text]
  • EXTENSIONS of REMARKS 797 .Monday, Next, It Stand in Adjournment I Ask Unanimous Consent That the Order ADJOURNMENT to MONDAY, Until 11: 30 A.M
    .January 24, 1974 EXTENSIONS OF REMARKS 797 .Monday, next, it stand in adjournment I ask unanimous consent that the order ADJOURNMENT TO MONDAY, until 11: 30 a.m. on Tuesday next. for the quorum call be rescinded. JANUARY 28, 1974 The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without ·objection, it is so ordered. objection, it is so ordered. Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Mr. President, if there be no further business to come before the Senate, I move, in accordance ·ORDER FOR TRANSACTION OF ENROLLED BffiL PRESENTED with" the previous order, that the Senate ROUTINE MORNING BUSINESS ON The Secretary of the Senate reported stand in adjournment until 12 o'clock TUESDAY NEXT that on today, January 24, 1974, he pre­ nocn on Monday next. Mr. ROBERT C. BYRD. Mr. President, sented to the President of the United The motion was agreed to; and at 6:25 .I ask unanimous consent that at 12 States the enrolled bill (S. 1070) to im­ p.m., the Senate adjourned until Mon­ two leaders or their designees have been plement the international convention day, January 28, 1974, at 12 noon. recognized under the standing order on relating to intervention on the high seas Tuesday next, there be a period for the in cases of oil pollution casualties, 1969. ~ransaction of routine morning business, NOMINATIONS not to extend beyond 12 o'clock noon, ·with statements therein limited to 5 min­ PROGRAM Executive nominations received by the ·utes each. Senate January 24, 1974: Mr. The PRESIDING OFFirsR. Without ROBERT C. BYRD. Mr. President, DEPARTMENT OF STATE objection, it is so ordered.
    [Show full text]
  • Congressional Record United States Th of America PROCEEDINGS and DEBATES of the 116 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
    E PL UR UM IB N U U S Congressional Record United States th of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE 116 CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2020 No. 56 House of Representatives The House was not in session today. Its next meeting will be held on Monday, March 23, 2020, at 11:30 a.m. Senate SUNDAY, MARCH 22, 2020 The Senate met at 2 p.m. and was CORONAVIRUS RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY called to order by the President pro LEADER tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I bet all of our fellow Senators have been The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- jority leader is recognized. f hearing from businesses, hospitals, nursing homes, and local civic business f PRAYER and political leaders about the issues SENATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA they are facing right now due to the The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- coronavirus health crisis. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, fered the following prayer: Senators have now spent days engaged Let us pray. Likewise, I have been talking to fam- in vigorous bipartisan discussions Almighty God, open our eyes to Your ily and friends back home in Iowa. I among ourselves and with the adminis- movements in our midst. Remind our find that they are banding together to tration. lawmakers that You have brought us support one another. In times of strife, Earlier today, I hosted a productive through times more challenging than Iowans can count on each other. meeting in my office with the Demo- what we now face. Keep them from We have to give special attention to cratic leader, the Speaker of the House, being intimidated by this global pan- the hard work of our medical profes- the House Republican leader, and the demic, as they cling to Your promises sionals and first responders.
    [Show full text]
  • TO EARN "A PLACE of HONOR" If the Civil Rights Leaders Had Thought Th
    CHAPTER 13 "TO DIE ON THE BARRICADES;" TO EARN "A PLACE OF HONOR" If the civil rights leaders had thought they were going to sit around the Senate floor for a few hours and enjoy the fact that cloture had been invoked on the civil rights bill, they were mistaken. Immediately after cloture and following a brief exchange of congratulations, Senator Sam Ervin of North Carolina rose at his desk and offered an amendment which, if accepted, probably would have greatly weakened the bill. The amendment appeared acceptable at first glance. It provided that government officials who violate civil rights laws could not be tried by both the state government and the United States Government for the same violation. Not until several minutes after the amendment was presented did the civil rights forces realize that Southern states could use the amendment to punish civil rights violators with light or nonexistent state penalties and thereby protect the violators from prosecution and heavy fines and jail sentences in U.S. courts. To the amazement of the civil rights forces, Senator Ervin's amendment looked so good at first glance that it was adopted by a vote of 49 to 48. Only a procedural misstep on Ervin's part saved the newly clotured civil rights bill from what civil rights supporters would have considered disaster. In his eagerness to present the amendment, Ervin had offered it to a previous Southern amendment rather than to the Mansfield- Dirksen substitute amendment which had been produced by the Humphrey-Dirksen negotiations. Ervin's 287 TO END ALL SEGREGATION amendment, although officially passed by the Senate, died when the original Southern amendment to which it was attached failed to be adopted.
    [Show full text]