interests. and the smartest utilitarian egotistic think we should do in her own interest is to prevent this to happen because then why would come closer to us. >> yes. i would say to add to what norbert said, what we would tell to the congressman, in the next nato summit what will think about the future of the transatlantic allies? it links to what you said. what but we think u.s. is ave parker? what is the signal that will be demonstrated, shown to the rest of the world? but you're right to question the

european military readiness. first those countries, goes country by country. if i take france, we have an operational army but up to now we have, we were more targeting say expeditionary conflicts like in africa, in the sahel. this is a high speed is we will break away here for live coverage of the u.s. senate. lawmakers are considering more of president biden's u.s. district court nominees. also pending house approval the senate is expected to take up legislation reauthorizing section 702 on the foreign intelligence surveillance act until 2026. this authority is set to expire this coming friday. you are watching live coverage of the senate here d on c-span2.

the chaplain: let us pray. god of our destinies, guide our senators this day by your higher wisdom. watch over them and use their work for your glory. lord, replace fear with faith, pessimism with hope, and error with truth. may these lawmakers become your instruments for enabling justice to thrive. give them serenity to accept what can't be changed, the courage to change what they can, and the wisdom to know the difference.

lord, we also ask you to comfort the many who mourn the loss of loved ones because of the horrors of war. we pray in your merciful name. amen. the presiding officer: please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the presiding officer: the clerk will read a communication to the senate. the clerk: washington d.c.,

april 15, 2024. to the senate: under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3, of the standing rules of the senate, i hereby appoint the honorable tammy duckworth, a senator from the state of illinois, to perform the duties of the chair. signed: patty murray, president pro tempore. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the pending bu business. the clerk: nomination, the judiciary, ramona villagomez manglona of the mariana islands to be judge for the district judge for the northern mariana

your story from yesterday, they may out on ukraine. >> the request for 600 million n95 billion dollars taiwan israel package and it went past the house for that convinced them not to bring it up.

now the speaker may use opportunity to move something similar making ukraine brand alone using russian assets to pay for so the decision in the next 24 hours and to do something more political and standalone felt, it failed but mostly it was democrats saying it would pass israel in ukraine will. >> over the weekend, was the reaction? i received the republican side with this idea out of this week? >> mart retailer claim, a conservative republican filed a motion ousting the speaker, she

was very angry by the spending process in which the border was not included, it shut down for what she would like to see. she could trigger within two days on but but she reacted over the weekend saying there's no briefing, we don't know what's going on. funding ukraine evil and is convinced the war should be entered by ukraine and baddest reports all along. this because doing a good job in mart retailer queens attic.

>> a weekend with major movement joining ms. awsat. the block of republicans pushing for border components of events overtaken. >> they are still very much focused on securing the border first. biden's executive action remain in mexico closing on the border and biden studied that. the census one of the president would do would not go far enough so to essentially move the ukraine bill but it's a political regulation and they

don't want him to take action or demonizing immigrants are going along with the immigrants are bad for the country. >> alejandro mayorkas beach metro last week to make that happen, take us through the timeframe and expectation. >> the homeland security secretary to take it up and those will be brought over on tuesday and majority leader schumer said they will be sworn in and patty murray will preside in the chair. we expected to be quickly dismissed. i'm not sure if that day or the day after but the deadline is adding emphasis to this

surveillance act in the bill that passed the house from of the senate he talked about before april 19, and of the week so that would give argument for those who want and we have to get back to this agenda. we are told they will reconsider as a procedural object in the house and go to the house sunday night but will bring it right up to the deadline. >> you talk about sedro, is there a procedural way to drag out treatment beyond the next day? the mark are ways to drag out but in the end, we got the boat and the majority to dismiss it looks like democrats are on

board and it's not something they need to be on. >> the next 20, 25 minutes, fantastic resource and questions about what's happening on capitol hill expected this week. what are you watching for? >> it's really something i am focused on but bloomberg has people, closely or in the region. he could turn the world history into self that is counting out everything a long time i was focused on tax day passing 78

billion dollars tax cut bill house republicans and senate democrats are on board with some thought maybe schumer quickly about is a chance to highlight that. the house the numbers they need on the verbal consent and willing to end debate so they are working to change that. the chairman of senate finance committee to the section. hereon this tactic.

>> get back to that trial a little bit here. a big week ahead in the capitol hill for second how much, what's going to happen of the ink manhattan and how much will cast a shadow. >> let's say compass really exercising authority to affect

the agenda. one thing we saw is a lot of drama over this surveillance law. and there was a moment when is coming to the floor and trump went on truth social and killed the bill and basically was killed. republican said someone who used to be extraordinary once again voted on a rule like a filibuster in the senate on this bill the speaker revised for two-year bill and argued he could come back and reformat. the issue is surveillance and it's an interesting dynamic who voted against that bill. aoc's of the world and jayapal andy biggs and close to amending

the bill. one was to add more requirement it looks like the senate is on track. >> how significant is that? i saw stories of how speakers with operation not know he was going to join in putting down the rule of the bill. >> remember this going down with rules so they tried to pressure in the difference between rule and a bill on the floor

basically deciding how it's brought up and basically all the rules limit the number and basically structure and get a certain amount of time. what you would be much more efficient which can be dragged out and and debate but this was almost unheard of for the majority do not pass the rule. tactic to show that displeasure. just the two boat threshold here, they can at least block it not allowed to be talked about.

>> nancy pelosi with an operation -- >> they didn't because it was assumed. a lot of things and dcr norms, not really written down and eventually sometimes they collapse example that someone that of a crime there's no present but in recent days former president trump in jail could still surface term we just assume nobody would the party would rule and not give up that power. >> as american citizens what a

joke. you think american citizens care about that with open borders, crime, inflation? in the oval office it'd disgusting. so get over this and that's what i would like to say my crime and inflation, what are they doing on the inflation.

mike what this very question these numbers came out from a it is limited spending. and the energy. i would say to the extent they are going to come back. congress has not really pass a lot to affect that. federal reserve, it is really painful and 7% now trying to lower prices.

especially in wall street and it led to what we saw in his industry. >> how much money or funding to go back. >> they were enacted in law in recent weeks that make of that. he looked favorably on that he.

what was possible would be an republicans would be eager on that. and b appropriations process in the agreement for week remember the debt ceiling and how it felt on the obligation and there was a big deal with this and president biden and that included irs money but i was focused on this was just wrapped up and they will go back to the table and talk about it.

>> they are going to have to go back and negotiate in the debt ceiling will come back next year extended to january 25. we are going to see another big budget irs class and possibly spending cuts especially of trump is in the white house they long, likely do we blow through that deadline? >> going into the new year with elections coming up, they want to get a new chance to address this. still president biden and we will look at this session. and they don't visited field

but. that's when might be going through or certain trade members. >> as we look ahead to washington, good morning. >> three comments. the first was pfizer renewal and i consider myself a democrat and fairly liberal when it comes to civil liberties and i support with the conservative republicans were doing because there's no reason on earth they can't get a warrant and they are not saying you can't, you just have to get somebody to look at

it and i haven't heard any good arguments against that. number two, there's a gentleman, a collar on the last segment who said prosecuting trump? what ready if he wasn't persecuted? of course he would prosecute. he tried to overthrow the government and i don't know how you can say we would prosecute, it's just election interference. the third was if the democrats did take power, you're talking about the debt ceiling, wouldn't it make sense to get rid about so it can't be used to hang over the head of republicans? think they should repeal the whole thing, doesn't make any difference. thank you very much.

>> the first thing, progressives and service, i would say yesterday was the volume. it is so great how to hire and they are not ready for that. dedicating to that level issuing judges but he was saying if we do that, snap our fingers into it right now. that is the counterargument i have heard. and every congressman eliminating that and other

countries and get to pay for that. there's word united exercise and they have spending agreements. i think i would be the category of things that could happen if democrats. and to senators defendant the bus trip about the from being eliminated. an institution or you do anything super significant us out of these attacks and spending areas we have a little bit of possibility that to the

institution. and i think that would permanently create a theory by adding it is and it's a tossup but the debt ceiling elimination would be in the next year or so. >> i realize they are no longer democrat. >> it is interesting change in the democrat party and more uniformly progressive. it will be the next joe manchin.

and the battle fair in state nevada democrats as well is an end-of-the-year of ended plays out explaining. >> have a question about the agenda for this upcoming week. a lot of stuff has happened but wanted the fourth amendment not for sale 46 -- 39. it looks to me like it will be something to do with having a

want for this information. something possibly tided to the reauthorization and the warrant. >> davidson is one of the focus members and the bill of rights in amendment. there was an amendment to the pfizer boat. it was actually asked. would make the bill possible the senate invited to expire in a catastrophic. failure forget we will see how it goes in the fact that it is taken out will be involved.

mr. mcconnell: we saw two things. first, we saw a sovereign nation that takes its security seriously mount a successful defense. israel's air defense, with the help of regional and coalition partners, individual in support of brave u.s. servicemembers neuralized the bulk of the 300 drones and missiles launched by iran. unfortunately, the second thing we saw was a commander in chief sticking to the same playbook,

second-guessing the will of the israeli people and trying to tie the hands of an ally under attack. president biden insisted ahead of iran's attack that america's commitment to israel was ironclad. but after three years of appeasement and weakness and six months of quibbling over israel's right to self-defense, i'm not really sure who he expects to believe that assertion. just saying so, saying our commitment is ironclad, doesn't make it so. words don't paper over the glaring riffs between the biden administration and the national unit government in jerusalem. the public criticism of iran --

of israel by senior administration officials undoubtedly influences the decisions of israel's adversaries. if the president's commitment to a vital allay -- ally were, quote, ironclad, end quote, his response to this weekend's attack would not be to lecture our leaders against responding in self-defense -- her leaders against responding in self-defense. would an american commander in chief fail to respond if an adversary launched 300 missiles at american soil? the fact that our collective defenses worked in this case doesn't obviate the threat. it doesn't make the need to compel iran to change its behavior any less urgent. make absolutely no mistake, iran

is not deterred. it is actually emboldened. the regime that tacked israel -- that attacked israel this weekend is the same one that greenlit the violent high being jacking of a commercial -- high-jacking of a commercial shipping vessel the same day. it is the same iran that trains, equips, sustained and extends terrorist proxies from lebanon to gaza to iraq and syria to yemen. it's the same regime that continues to grow an arsenal of long-range ballistic missiles and advance closer and closer to nuclear weapons capability. and, of course, it's the same murderous regime that continues to equip russia's brutal

violence in ukraine. it is no more -- no mere coincidence that the mixed barrage of uav's, cruise missiles and ballistic missiles designed to complicate israel's air defenses is the same mix russia uses to launch deaf state offing and frequent long-range attacks against ukrainian cities. our adversaries are working together to make america and our friends less safe and less secure. it's time for the commander in chief to lead allies and partners in an international effort to impose meaningful costs on iran. threatening things its leaders hold dear and changing this regime's violent behavior. we can't afford weakness.

we can't afford to be deterred by iran. the easiest way to hasten escalation and widen war is to show you're unwilling or unable to meet aggression with strength. the only way to stop a bully. so it's time the commander in chief -- so it's time for the commander in chief to stand by our allies and stand up to our adversaries. he can actually begin that today. it's also time for congress to deliver the urgent investments that our industrial base, our forces, and our partners will need to meet and outcompete the growing threats that we face. the senate passed an urgent senate security supplemental two months ago, two months ago. it would help meet the urgent

needs of ukraine's resistance, equip indo-pacific allies to deter prc aggression, replenish israel's stocks of critical capabilities, and expand our own capacity to refill and deploy the arsenal of democracy. anyone taking the challenges we face seriously knows that these unmet needs are absolutely urgent. so i'll once again urge our house colleagues to take up this legislation without delay. on a related matter, in december the director of the fbi told our colleagues on the judiciary committee that when he surveys threats to the homeland, he saw, quote, blinking lights everywhere. iran's efforts to kill americans, compromise our

communications and data, and collect intelligence an u.s. soil are already well-known. at this point so are the hundreds of known or suspecteded terrorists encounters along our borders in just the current fiscal year. at the end of the week, an essential authority america's law enforcement and intelligence professionals rely on to monitor an mitigate -- and mitigate serious threats is actually set to expire. the crucial window into the activities of those who wish america harm is set to go dark. of course, a few days ago the house passed legislation that reauthorizes section 702 of the foreign intelligence surveillance act before it lapses. this authority should not be

controversial, and it should not be conflated with well-known fbi abuses of fisa's title i. section 702 provides the authority to collect the communications of foreign nationals located overseas when they are reasonably likely to yield intelligence value. 234 practice, this means -- in practice this means suspected foreign terrorists or foreign intelligence operatives. again, all of them located overseas. section 702 both gives us this critical information and places guardrails on how this collection is conducted. importantly, it does not authorize the surveillance of americans for which a warrant is already required. had there been problems in the fisa process for malfeasance and

incompetence? yes, there have. those why the bill includes the most significant accountability reforms to the fbi in generations. the bill includes the most significant reforms to fisa, both section 702 and title i, in a generation. the bill the senate will receive this week already places firm parameters on the fbi's ability to query the database of lawfully collected foreign intelligence or communications that might involve u.s. persons, either as a target or an asset of a foreign terrorist or intelligence operative t operative. it creates further reports requirements and increased accountability for abuse and misconduct in the foreign intelligence court system including direct reporting to congress on an adverse personnel

actions and noncompliance. and it imposes new, serious criminal consequences for unlawful disclosures of court proceedings. i say all of this as context for any demands that the senate place further limits on the use of critical fisa authorities. let me be clear. the data collected under section 702 is collected lawfully. it is entirely reasonable under the constitution. any incidental collection of communications by or about u.s. persons is also reasonable. every court that has looked at that question has said so, and they're right. misguided efforts to require a criminal law warrant to sort and organize those data on u.s.

persons would end -- end the ability of the fbi to keep americans safe. frankly, they would forget the lessons of 9/11. so i'll oppose any such efforts and urge my colleagues to do the same. we have until friday to avoid a dangerous lapse in a critical tool for identifying and stopping espionage and terrorism against the united states. if any of our colleagues believes that now is an appropriate moment to make this mission even more difficult, i'd be very interested to hear that rationale. america is facing the most dangerous combination of national security challenges since the end of the cold war. i'll not be a party to any effort to make it harder to meet these challenges, and the senate

will not allow vital security authorities to go dark. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: the clerk: ms. baldwin.

some measures to move toward congress in different legislative ways of protection. talk to us about what you strategy is.

>> first of all, good afternoon, everyone and thank you all for waiting. we had chaos on the floor but it's congress. i remember december 2022. inking about what happens next -- the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: now, madam president, saturday evening iran launched over 300 missile and drone strikes against israel, the first direct attack against israel from iranian soil in history. for five harrowing hours the sounds of explosions and sirens reverberated throughout the night in jerusalem, tel aviv,

and across the country. tens of thousands of israeli citizens barricaded themselves and braced for the worst. on that long night all of us were on tenterhooks as the missiles from iran came down. i strongly condemn the attacks by the iranian government and urge them to refrain from escalating hostilities. what iran did was dangerous, unjufl, and threatens to plunge the mideast into a widespread war. so i strongly urge the iranian regime to cease their reckless behavior from both its forces and those of its proxies. now when the attack came, thank god israel was ready. israel was ready because of the u.s.'s ironclad commitment to its security. the night of the attack i was in touch with senior administration officials who told me that with help from the united states, england, france, and some arab nations the overwhelming majority of all iranian missiles

and drone strikes were successfully intercepted. the damage to israel, thank god, was minimal. only one serious casualty was reported. we pray for her recovery. today above all, i breathe a sigh of relief for israel, relief that injuries were minimal, relief that the damage was not worse. but of course it was no accident that israel ensured iran's attack largely, that israel ensured that iran's attack would be largely unscathed. on the contrary, israel endured because america's support for israel's security is ironclad. the success of israeli missile defense developed in cooperation with the united states and with u.s. funding is a testament to the united states's long-standing security cooperation with israel. it's why so few of iran's missiles and drones ultimately hit their targets. so i commend israel defense forces. i commend president biden and our military leadership and our brave armed forces, and i

commend our partners who worked together with israel to avert calamity. israel's reprehensible attack, iran's reprehensible attack against israel has made a few things very clear. first, israel is surrounded by adversaries who seek its destruction. we saw that on october 7. we saw it again this weekend. we dare not waiver in our commitment to help israel defend itself from those threats. second, the fact that so many nations came to israel's aid, including some arab nations, show iran is becoming more and more isolated. iran's attack should be swiftly and universally condemned. their attack risks provoking wider conflict in the middle east, and we cannot have that. so i'm pleased that many nations banded together and held a line against the iran regime. third, israel's attack underscores the best way to help israel is for the house to l swiftly pass the senate's

bipartisan national security supplemental. the house must rush to israel's aid as quickly as humanly possible, and the only way to do that is passing the senate's supplemental asap. in fact, there is no reason for the house not to move on the senate supplemental as soon as today. yesterday i got on the phone with the president, with speaker johnson, leader mcconnell, and leader jeffries, and made it clear that the uncertainty and delay over the supplemental has to end. we all had consensus that we need to aid both israel and ukraine. if house republicans put the senate's supplemental on the floor, i believe it would pass today, reach the president's desk tonight, and israel would get the aid it needs by tomorrow. let me say that again. if house republicans put the senate supplemental on the floor, i would believe it would pass today, reach the president's desk tonight, and israel would get the aid it needs by tomorrow. if the house could finish the job by the end of the day, why

wait? now the senate supplemental not only gives israel the tool it needs to repel future attacks, but it also provides ukraine the aid it needs against putin. i spoke with the u.s. ambassador to ukraine yesterday who told me the situation in ukraine is beyond desperate. with few air defenses, there is little stopping russian drones from targeting ukranian power plants and leaving more and more residents without electricity. and the danger here is that these power outages will become a long-term problem. she told me the equipment that was destroyed are so large, the kinds of transformers and other machinery, that it takes a long time to rebuild them and replace them. the u.s. ambassador reiterated president zelenskyy's point that ukraine will lose this war until it gets the, unless it gets the defense materials, the ammunition, and the anti-aircraft resources it needs immediately. those power plants are taken out because ukraine is running out of the ability to defend itself

from these vicious attacks. at this moment for global skrurt it would be a mistake to think the conflict in the middle east is unconnected to europe. the best way though help is to pass the senate supplemental this week. i called on speaker johnson to do that. enough with the delay, enough with the uncertainty, enough with promises to take action. i urge the house to get going today on the senate supplemental. it's vital for the future of israel, for the future of ukraine, and for the future of the west and democracy. now on the senate agenda. the senate has a very busy few days in store this week. before april 19, the senate must finish approving legislation to extend fisa 702 authorities. the house is expected to send us an extension sometime this evening after they address a few minor procedural delays. once the house sends us the fisa

reauthorization, i plan as early as tonight to take the first procedural step for the senate to begin consideration. with less than a week to go before fisa authorities expire, time is a luxury the senate doesn't have. republicans need to work with us in a bipartisan way to ensure this program with important implications for our national security does not lapse. now as the senate works on fisa authorities, we'll also have to deal with the house vote to impeach homeland security security alejandro mayorkas. for now we still expect the articles of impeachment to arrive in the senate some time tomorrow afternoon. should that mayorkas. happen, senate will swear in members as jurors the day after the articles are presented. as i said repeatedly, people should never be used to settle a policy disagreement. that would set a horrible precedent for the congress. nevertheless, the senate's plan has not changed since last week.

we are ready to go whenever the house sends us the articles, we want to address this issue as expeditiously as possible. today is tax day and thanks to reforms democrats passed in the inflation reduction act, tax filing season has become smoother than ever for more and more taxpayers. for the first time an unprecedented number of americans, including thousands of new yorkers, were able to file for -- for free, directly with the irs using the direct file pilot program and next year we want to expand the program even more. but sadly, republican obstruction on the tax bill meant that this year millions of families and small businesses continue to face higher tax bills. if republicans drop their obstruction and work with us, we could expand the child tax credit for 16 million families, enable the construction of 200,000 affordable homes, deliver tax relief to

communities, and restore incentives for innovation and capital investment. the house overwhelmingly passed the bill with bipartisan support at the end of january. it should be no different for the senate. this tax day i urge my republican colleagues to join senate democrats in supporting this bill so we can deliver relief to american taxpayers. i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: m the clerk: ms. baldwin.

mr. durbin: madam president. the presiding officer: the senior senator from illinois. we are in a quorum call. mr. durbin: i ask that the quorum call be suspended. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: thank you. madam president, some years ago i had the privilege of visiting our american servicemembers stationed in the fifth fleet in bahrain. despite a pro-western

population, iran's hard-line leadership regularly threatened the united states interest and its allies. iran has long found money in weapons to some of the worst proxies, hamas, hezbollah, and the houthis. some of whom attacked u.s. personnel in iraq and syria. that's why i supported the iran nuclear agreement under president obama. not because it would stop iran's belligerence in the region, but would prevent it from doing to with a nuclear bomb. we saw the iranian threat this weekend and a massive attempted attack on israel. one that the united states and other allies was largely able to thwart. i hope cooler heads will prevail and keep this from escalating in an unstable region of the world. makes no mistake because former

president trump withdrew the united states from the iran nuclear agreement, an agreement working to contain that dangerous program, iran is inching ever closer to a nuclear weapon. iran has also cozied up to vladimir putin. surprise. who is spes pratt for weapons from any rogue regime to fuel his disastrous war in ukraine. it is overdue for house republicans to stop doing republicans' bidding. madam president, i'd like to speak on an unrelated topic now about the partisan charade house republicans have made of the people process. the two people articles filed against secretary mayorkas are nothing more than an attempt to politicize this solemn constitutional tool to distract from the are very real fact that the house republicans are

struggling to govern. the senate only has the power to convict, remove, and disqualify officers whose conduct meets the constitutional standard of people. listen to this standard closely as spelled out in the constitution, treason, bribery, or other high crimes or merch mist /* mist meanors, none of this contains any evidence that secretary mayorkas has been guilty of those specific elements in the constitution or that he failed in the exercise of his duties. instead the articles of impeachment lay out policy disputes on immigration. it is simply not a constitutional crime worthy of people for the current president and secretary of homeland

security to implement immigration policies that are entirely within the limits of the law and the discretion of the executive branch. the article sent to us by the house republicans claim that the secretary has willfully and systematically refused to comply with the law because he failed to detain every individual who crossed the border. remember that standard. he failed to detain every individual who crossed the border. a simple fact of the matter is, all presidents, republican and democrat, would be found guilty under those elements. existing law does not require the dhs secretary to detain every person who crosses the border. congress left it to the discretion of each administration to decide how best to use their limited resources to implement immigration policy. the articles also attack the secretary's use of discretion to decide who to arrest and remove from the united states even though the supreme court has

routinely upheld these discretionary decisions. i think it is outrageus to allege that secretary mayorkas' decision to reverse trump policy quote, breached the public trust, close quote, a decision to change a previous administration's decision is fundamentally a policy decision. if congressional republicans were genuinely interested in improving the situation on the border, why don't we put together a bipartisan group of senators? why don't we let the republicans choose their participant in that and why don't they consider someone like james lankford, the senator from oklahoma, conservative, highly respected, why don't they have james lankford meet with at least one other senator, a democrat, maybe chris murphy, of connecticut, and perhaps kyrsten sinema, why

not get them together to make significant policy changes to the border to give the president more authority to stop the crisis that we face? why don't we call that for consideration on the floor of the senate? and why don't republicans back t that? that is exactly what happened. we've been through this exercise, james lankford, and i respect him very much, did what he was asked to do, represent the republican side of the aisle, move forward with a proposal that was bipartisan. we have to be bipartisan in the senate. you need 60 votes for anything serious and we have a 51-49 majority. bipartisanship was built into the package. what happened? why didn't that become the law of the land? why didn't that become the change in the border policy we're all looking for? the reason is one man, his name is donald trump. he said i'm instructing my followers to fill this bipartisan effort from senator lankford on the republican side.

then former president trump said and you'll hear from people who say go ahead and blame me. i am blaming him. now we have this exercise against mayorkas instead of a constructive bipartisan exercise that senator lankford, a respected conservative republican, senator murphy, a democrat, senator sinema, an independent put together and brought to the floor of the senate. that's how you change the policy, not with some sham pro process, consideration of an impeachment that is not warranted. unfortunately, the vast majority of republicans recently blocked a bipartisan border bill that i just described. despite repeatedly referring to the border as a crisis, congressional republicans' opposition was based purely on donald trump's insistence that congress not pass immigration legislation. he wants to use it as a campaign issue in november.

he doesn't want a solution, a bipartisan solution that perhaps joe biden would be given some credit for. so he stopped the whole process and stopped the bipartisanship. this partisan hackry is not lost on me or the american people. instead of doing their job and working to find legislative solutions to complex challenging problems, too many republicans have decided that impeachment of a cabinet official for actually doing his job is a better exercise of time. the framers anticipated that partisan politics would result in meritless impeachment efforts like this one and designed the constitution to withstand the basis efforts. during the constitutional convention, the framers explicitly, explicitly rejected a proposal to include m maladministration -- they used that word -- assen impeachable offense despite its use in many state constitutions at the time. the division of impeachment power between the house of

representatives and the senate was met as a safeguard. it gives -- against the danger of impeachment and inevident blif becoming publicized. alexander hamilton wrote the division of impeachment power between the house and senate, quote, guards against the dangers of% cueings from the everybody presence -- prevalency of a factious spirit. to translate that into 21st century terms, what he's saying we want to stop them from using impeachment for politics. in order for the senate to uphold the constitution and fulfill its impeachment obligations, must dispose of these baseless impeachment articles that we received from the house. the constitution provides -- and i quote -- the senate shall have the sole power to try all impeachments and placed very limited requirements on how we're to exercise that authority. chief justice rhenquist noted during the impeachment of then-president clinton, quote, the senate is not simply a jury.

it's a course in this case of impeachment. both 9 house and senate have a history of quickly disposing of impeachment investigations and impeachment articles that do not meet the high standard of high crime and misdemeanor. this doesn't. in the 72nd congress, two impeachment resolutions were offered against president herbert hoover. the house successfully moved by an overwhelming vote to table the impeachment articles. since 1986, the senate has considered motions to dismiss brought by either the impeached officer or a senator in tics impeachments and has twice dismissed impeachment articles in the past. to say this has never been done is just not true. we should follow ha example -- that example. i urge my colleagues to uphold the constitution and the intentions of the framers and quickly dispose of these unjustifiable articles of impeachment. madam president, i yield the floor. i subject the -- i suggest the

absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the. the clerk: will call the roll. -- the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: the clerk: ms. baldwin.

out of our rage. we can feel the pressure to comport ourselves in a way that does not fully surrender to that , but know that our righteous rage and indignation in the face of injustice is rooted in radical love. it is rooted and radical love and hope. a movement that is fueled by hope. so, what i would say to your students is hope is a discipline , i am an aquarius so i love a good affirmation and i love poetry and one of my closest siblings in the movement during the pandemic gave me an

affirmation which is i choose the discipline of hope over the ease of cynicism. i choose the discipline of hope over the ease of cynicism. and i choose fortitude over fatalism. i choose fortitude over fatalism i say that every day. hope is a discipline and know that each and every one of you and certainly our dedicated team members, i just want to give it up to team at presley and team bush. we cannot do anything without their brilliance personal sacrifice without their support. they make it easier for us to practice the discipline of hope. i own a lift up something i've been saying everywhere ago and i hope it's okay if i'm partisan for a moment. you know, we are winning. like the goal of white supremacy

and the patriarchy is to lead you to believe that we are losing and that you are alone. this movement is growing. look at things like, if you take my federal bill with cory booker on baby bonds, we have not passed it federally, but that is a national movement. we have not passed it federally as of yet, but there is a nationwide movement. look at things like universal basic income. look at things like student debt cancellation where they tried to fringe and marginalize and here we stand today with already, you know, 4 million borrowers that have benefited to the tune of over $140,000,000,000.30 more million borrowers are about to benefit. that was a policy that people said would be regressive in impact. they said the president did not have authority to do anything. this is an issue that the democrats are running on. they used to laugh at

progressives about. you know, abortion access. do you know how many democrats used to be afraid to say the word abortion. they would say maybe if you were lucky, reproductive justice. that was not an issue that democrats ran on. so, i just want to say that the progressive movement which is fueled by young people, we are winning. look at unionization happening across the country. so they would lead you to believe that we are losing. the congressional progressive caucus in the house of representatives right now is the largest ideological caucus in congress. when i came in the 116th congress, we were about 70 members. now we are over 100. so, the country, you may be shocked by that. they keep electing progressives. now, i want to be transparent about this. my very first campaign, i made

up billy's that said vote for the only progressive in the race i said you cannot use that piece because i thought that that was not a term that belonged to black candidates. i was like i don't hug trees, that is not for me. i did not even know i was an environmentalist. now i hug trees. the fight for tree canopies equity. but, you know, how i ultimately was able to take on that character is the progressive movement is just the civil rights movement. what were those freedom riders and fighters doing? the progressive movement is the civil rights movement. we are still in it. please continue to practice the discipline of hope. >> while. thank you so much for that. we only have about one more

minute. final remarks. >> first of all, let me say thank you for hosting this forum we are really, really trying to help folks see why they should be important to all of us because it will take us galvanizing all across the country to really, really get those that have the power to make the era, actually, the 28th amendment in the constitution a reality. policy leaders and others don't have to move without pressure.

seeing how you should do that work. not only here but in your local communities where you are from, how you can connect with groups like generation ratify and others because this is what we need. it makes our jobs in congress so much easier. everything is hard. to be able to say, the people want this, everybody wants this. the people want this. let us show you by us showing all of the events and all of the work, the activism and all of that happening. that is how we will do it. understand that states have been pushing forward. showing why and era as needed. states that i said we will go

ahead and do it ourselves even though they should not be on the states. it should be a vehicle also. this is how we are able to protect abortion access because there was a state era. we want to keep that in mind. it absolutely is a tool. i will lastly say that the caucus that my sister and i started, we may not be the largest in congress but i think we may be the fastest growing. we are 50 something, what are we , kate? we are over 50 members of u.s. house members that are part of this caucus and we are only one year old. a lot of that is because of the work that people are doing in the community. thank you all for pushing for the era.

we needed to have an era caucus. it is never hard to say yes to you. whatever table you said at changes on the way. this caucus is so important for momentum. and also for educational awareness. we are shocked by the number of people enshrined in our constitution. they just assume it. i will give some calls to action for those of you that are 50 or older, you got paper? [laughter] i love paper still. i am sorry. please, no more paper. ask your member of congress, if they have not already, to join

the era caucus. secondly, ask them if they are on any legislation that serves to advance the equal rights amendment. we have been exhaustive as legislatures. so, whether it is legislation for the archivist to make this real or legislation to do away with the arbitrary deadline or whether it is signing the discharge position that is at the desk that we are, you know, almost at that magic number in the 1970s that is how it was brought, by a discharge petition although it has taken us 101 years too long, we do have more momentum right now than we have had and probably 40 years. we did get a hearing in the senate under dick durbin. we do have mail allies.

we are grateful to senator durbin, senator corbin, you know , all of our senate allies in this movement. that is my call to action. call to question. you know, for those that are not supportive of this is because they think it already happened. or they think that they are already busy. make sure that they know that matters to you. asked them to be supportive of our legislative and mobilization efforts. thank you. >> making sure they get the information. we will do that part. we will make it easy for them. >> thank you for the leadership.

what they need to get the bodies on the line. thank you for being partnership. we will go back to the other things we were doing before you came over here. [applause]

we are waiting for senator to come to the floor to speak. president biden's district court nominees. also pending house approval the senate is expected to take up legislation reauthorizing section 72. this warrantless surveillance

authority is to expire this coming friday. planning to walk over to the senate to present the two articles of impeachment against homeland security secretary. the trial is expected to begin on wednesday. you are watching live coverage of the u.s. senate here on c-span2

the first is an important advocate for the 28th amendment. it is particularly a pleasure because i just found out that someone i taught legislative procedure to is now the chief counsel for senator cardin. when i was visiting at the university of maryland. i want to introduce you to an extraordinary advocate for the amendment and equal rights. an extraordinary leader in the fight for human rights around the globe and a great senator for the great state of maryland. then cardin. [applause] >> don't leave so quickly.

where are you? i want to thank you. i want to thank you. you did a great job on bill vanhorn. a really good chief counsel to thank you for imparting to him what is necessary. we have a lot of procedural problems in the united states senate. we thank you very much. helen rogers my cf is also here. the staff do incredible work for us. i just always want to acknowledge them. thank you for being here. thank you for what you do. i want to thank the sponsors and i want to thank you for this. the house from the representatives will be here a little later. they have some voting that they are doing at this particular moment. it is a challenge because of the leadership in the house of representatives for them to get anything done. hopefully, they will be able to loosen legislation.

i just really want to start by saying 100 years is too long to wait on this thing. we have to get the acknowledgment of the amendment as part of the constitution. that is the bottom line. i strongly support the efforts that senator gillibrand is doing in regards to this now and the legislature in the maryland legislature has passed a resolution to acknowledge the equal rights amendment as part of our constitution. we need the white house to be more friendly towards this. there is nothing in the constitution of the united states article five that talks about a time limit. there is no time limit on equality. as we know, the amendment before the equal rights amendment was ratified was the one dealing with congressional pay and that

took about 200 some years for that to become ratified. there is no time limit on the constitutional process. at the 38th state ratified in 2000 with virginia. that is what is required in the constitution. the era should be acknowledged as part of the constitution of the united states. we will continue to work for that. in the meantime, we have other strategies that we are working with. the american people are on our side. you know that. every poll shows that the overwhelming majority of americans will leave it's part of the constitution of the united states and supported as being part of the constitution of the united states. we have the american people on our side. it is urgent that we get this done. it has been over 100 years that we have been, not me personally,

but we been fighting to get this as part of the constitution with ratification of the women's rights to vote. 104 years ago we've been working on this issue ever since. we have to complete the job. it is urgent today. because we have runaway courts. we have runaway courts that are coming up with absurd interpretations of our constitution. we need a stricter interpretation as it relates to the rights, the equal rights amendment. yes, the dobbs decision puts a big spotlight on this. but we are seeing other decisions that are eroding the right spirit i never thought that i would see this. the dobbs decision he raised rights that were embedded for 48 years. giving women the right to control their own destiny. their own health care decisions. but we have equal concern about what these rights will be for

pregnant women. what their rights will be for violence against women. what their rights will be in regard to workplace and workplace safety issues. the list goes on and on and on that we need to have the protection of the strict interpretations as provided by the equal rights amendment being part of our constitution. we really need to have that extra protection in the constitution. so, where are we? the legislation that i introduced over a decade ago to remove the time limit, which has been done in the past, this is not something that has not been done before. congress put a time limit on it before. there is a certain argument that we feel very passionately about that that does not deny the ratification, even if that time limit still remains in law. we want to take that time limit out of law to make it clear as possible and move this issue

along. we have seen that legislation passed the house of representatives and previous congress is, we want to get it passed again in the house of representatives and there is a discharge petition in order to make that a reality. in the united states senate, we have 53 cosponsors of legislation. the last time i checked, the majority of the senate is 51 so we have a majority of the senate , every single democrat, we have senator murkowski and senator mcallen's as bipartisan. we have that support. we want to get that past. i want to thank senator durbin. senator durbin held the first hearing last year and it gave us the opportunity to establish the record, the clear record about why the bill resolution that i have introduced should be passed

we then had a bow, thank you, senator schumer, for scheduling a boat on the floor the united states senate. the majority of the senators voted in favor of moving forward to pass that legislation. senator schumer took steps that we can reconsider at an egg time so we can reconsider that. we can have more votes this year on this issue. but, because of the use of the filibuster in the senate, and i know that there are some areas that you may think it is important to slow down legislation, ideal, but for 100 years this has gone on for too long. there is fundamental legislation that the senate rules should allow us to vote on and that has been denied in regards to legislation to clarify the enactment of the equal rights amendment. so, we think that that is an exception, should bers made an exception and we should be able to get it passed in the senate. we have to get it passed in the

house and senate and passed and signed by the president. we want to get it done this year we know that we need help. that is why was so pleased migr more than 1.8 million got-aways, people evading law enforcement and melting into the great american heartland, untold amounts of fentanyl and other deadly drugs pouring into our country that killed 108,000 people last year alone. 400,000 children placed with sponsors in the interior of the united states that have since been abandoned literally by the biden administration. they say it's not their problem, they don't need to know whether they're going to school, getting the health care they need or whether they're being trafficked for sex or involuntary servitude. secretary mayorkas, as the agent of the biden administration responsible for this, has

willfully and systematically refused to enforce our immigration laws. he has taken a bad situation and actually accomplished an amazing feat. he's actually made it worse, not better. not only that, he's violated the public trust by repeatedly lying under oath to congress and the american people. if these aren't impeachable offenses, i don't know what would qualify. secretary mayorkas must be held responsible for his actions, and i'm glad our colleagues in the house took the first step toward public accountability. the ball will soon land in the senate's court, and it's alarming that we're hearing from the senate majority leader and our democratic colleagues that they are preparing not to hold a trial, which is what the constitution and senate rules require, but rather to sweep it

under the rug without ever even holding a trial. that would mark the first time in american history that's happened and establish a dangerous new precedent. it's not too late, though, for our democratic colleagues to abandon this misguided plan. but if they move forward, they should know that republicans will use every tool available to us to try to force a full trial. republican senators are preparing points of order to prevent democrats from violating the constitution and senate rules, but of course we are realists. we understand that if all 51 democrats stand together, they could run roughshod over the constitution and those same senate rules. i plan to raise a point of order on the increased number of encounters with illegal immigrants that happen to be on

the terror watch list. these sorts of encounters used to be extremely uncommon. during the trump administration, border didn't encounter more than six suspected terrorists in a given year. when president biden and secretary mayorkas took over, that changed dramatically. last year alone border patrol encountered 172 suspected terrorists, more than 98% of them from across the southern border. we don't even know out of the 1.8 million whether, how many more people who are on the terrorist watch list simply evaded law enforcement. so there could be, probably are many, many more. making matters worse, at least some of these individuals have actually been released by the biden administration into the interior of the united states.

last week, for example, nbc news reported that an afghan migrant on the terror watch list who was arrested by border patrol is now roaming freely in the united states. he was first apprehended last march for illegally crossing the border. agents suspected that something was up, and then they -- but they lacked information enough to reach a conclusion about whether he actually was or was not on that list. but rather than detain him while they attempted to verify his identity, customs and border protection released him. making matters worse, they didn't even notify immigration and customs enforcement about his potential terrorist ties. border patrol, of course, works at the border. immigration and customs enforcement is the one who enforces immigration law in the interior of the country,

including repatriating or returning people who have made their way illegally or who otherwise are a threat to public safety. well, i.c.e. immigration and customs enforcement simply waived him into the -- waved him into the interior of the united states under the biden administration's misguided policy called alternatives to detention program. in other words rather than detain people at the border, the biden administration policy is simply to release them. this same program actually allows these same individuals to apply for asylum to receive a work authorization, and to fly within the interior of the united states. in other words, it does not restrict their activities one bit. it wasn't until february of this year, nearly one year after he was first arrested, that i.c.e. was alerted about this

individual's potential terrorist ties. i.c.e. agents released the man in san antonio in late february, and he appeared before an immigration judge in texas last month. but for some inexplicable reason, i.c.e. withheld from the judge information about the individual's potential terrorist ties. so without that information, the judge released the man on bond to wait his date in court, in a year. today this man who is believed to be linked to an afghan terror group is roaming freely in the united states. he could be anywhere. but this is just one example among hundreds of more, perhaps even thousands of more of the many dangers secretary mayorkas has created and facilitated for the american people. so when the house votes on

articles of impeachment, the senate has a duty not only to be sworn as jurors, as we have done two times fairly recently, but also to call witnesses and hear arguments to understand how the secretary's actions have impacted our country. and i would hope that secretary mayorkas, if he thinks he has nothing to hide, nothing to be ashamed of, that he would welcome the opportunity to defend and explain his actions. if he and our democratic colleagues believe he's done nothing wrong, they have nothing to be afraid of. but, of course, we all know and the country knows better. madam president, on another matter, as we all know, over the weekend iran dramatically escalated its twilight war against israel and the west. tehran fired more than 300

drones and ballistic missiles at the jewish state. these were launched from iranian soil as well as by proxy groups in iraq, syria, and yemen. for years iranian proxies have launched attacks on israel, and a number of terrorist groups, including hamas, hezbollah, and houthis, have the means by which, are the means by which iran has prosecuted this war against israel and the west. this weekend's attacks were a stunning escalation because this is the first time that these attacks have been directly from iranian soil against israel. but despite the impressive firepower, the impact of the barrage proved to be minimal. an israeli military base sustained minor damage and several people were injured, but

so far no fatalities have been reported. amazing given the firepower directed at israel. iran's failure to devastate israel was not just a stroke of good luck, it was the direct result of israel's strong defense. the vast majority of threats were intercepted outside of israeli airspace demonstrating the effectiveness of israel's air defense systems. and a number of israel's partners and allies, including the united states, united kingdom, france, and several gulf countries, aided israel's defense against the direct fire coming from iran. on saturday president biden quickly condemned iran's attack, and he spoke with prime minister

netanyahu to reaffirm america's ironclad commitment to the security of israel. so far so good. but despite that encouraging and entirely appropriate statement, media reports indicate that president biden's support may not be as resolute as those words indicate. axios reported that president biden told president netanyahu that the united states will not, will not support israel's counter strikes against iran. in other words, any attempt to impose consequences on iran for raining down 300 drones and ballistic missiles on israel will go unanswered. that is hardly an example of an ironclad support. by attaching conditions to america's commitment, president biden has undermined deterrents.

he has shown that his administration is more concerned about placating the supreme leader than in protecting israel. and when it comes to iran, there's simply no benefit to applying anything less than maximum pressure, because it's the only thing that the supreme leader understands. iran, after all, is the number-one state sponsor of terrorism and one of our country's most brazen and dangerous adversaries, working deliberately and continuously toward meriweather. -- tehran is testing the capability to see how far they can push. given the president's tepid response, congress needs to take action soon to provide israel with the military aid it needs

to defend its sovereignty. after all, more than six months have passed since hamas terrorists attacked israeli civilians and the united states has failed to act on their request for assistance. it was last november, less than a month after the october 7 attack that the house actually passed a $14 billion aid bill for israel. that was last november. but regrettably, the majority leader refused to even put that bill on the senate floor. we could have provided aid to israel five months ago but the majority leader wouldn't allow senators to proceed to debate, amend, or even vote on that legislation. it's true that the senate did pass a security supplemental in february that includes support for israel as well as ukraine and partners in the indo-pacific, but so far that

bill has not gone anywhere in the house. i hope that will change soon. but given iran's escalation this weekend, we need to find a path forward to deliver that necessary aid to israel and our other allies who have been invaded by authoritarian governments. tensions in the middle east continue to escalate, and a regional war between iran and israel is no longer unthinkable. we need to take action as soon as possible to provide israel with the material support it needs to defend its democracy, and not place handcuffs on their ability to establish deterrence against the iranian regime.

mr. wyden: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from oregon. mr. wyden: madam president, it is tax day in america, and millions of parents and thousands of small innovative business owners are now wondering why senate republicans are sitting on bipartisan legislation that would help them get ahead. here's what americans at home and small business owners trying to make payroll need to know. the bill i'll offer in the senate is the tax relief for

american families and workers act. i proposed it with chairman jason smith in the house ways committee in january. it is, madam president, a combination of ideas from both sides of the aisle. it expands the child tax credit, focusing on kids from low-income families. it ends the long-running discrimination against low-income families with more than one kid, few of whom can claim the credit for each of their kids. madam president, you can't have three or four kids dividing up one pair of sneakers, but that's kind of the way it works today. our proposal beefs up the incentive for research and development and investment in things like new equipment and software. just today the senate finance committee released new data that we have received from the

treasury department on the calamity facing small businesses if the senate doesn't pass this bipartisan bill. according to the treasury department, 3.8 million small businesses claim bonus depreciation of the research and development production in 2021. they will be left hurt if the senate doesn't pass the bill. the situation is especially dire for the small businesses that are hyper focused on innovation through research and development. every member of this body talks about making sure those businesses can compete with ch china, and a lot of the small businesses that are going to get hurt if this doesn't pass or the start-ups that have the potential to grow into major businesses, our economy competes directly with china and other countries around the world. this isn't just a handful of

businesses scattered here and there. the treasury department identified 10,000 of the small businesses from all over the country. their operating costs are dominated by research and development, but the biggest tax incentive for research and development is now one-fifth as valuable to them as it used to be. that's because of changes that were made by republicans during the trump administration. right now a rot of -- a lot of these research and development small businesses are telling every senator who will listen that they may not survaif if the senate fails to act. -- survive if the senate fails to act. in addition to small businesses, the bill will boost low-income housing, adding more than 200,000 new units across the country and incredibly, madam president, it's paid for by shutting down a pandemic-era tax

fraud that is just riddled with problems. the congress has some difficult tax debates. there's a big one coming up in 2025. this bill, madam president, according to three 357 members of the other body -- this bill is the easy stuff. the list of groups supporting this bill is so broad, it almost takes your breadth away. progressive economic growth, incentive economic groups -- conservative economic groups, is small business advocates, manufacturers, madam president, i could just go on and on into the night describing all of the members of this coalition that spans the political spectrum that just want to stand up for kids and small businesses and people who want a roof over their head. they want to see this bill

become law and they want to see it become law now. in january the bill failed through the ways and means committee, no strong opposition and it sailed through the house, as i said with 357 votes in favor. these days you can't get 357 members of the house of representatives to vote in favor of apple pie and sunshine. the bill came over to the senate and it's now been sitting for ten weeks. madam president, i have talked to a number of senate republicans who like this bill very much. some senate republicans objected to a provision in the bill that deals with what is called a lock back. -- a look back. that deals with flexibility for families to claim the child tax credit using their income from the previous few months. senate republicans claim it would disincentivize work. the people we hire to do

analysis on these matters, the joint committee on taxation disagree. conservative members, the american enterprise institute disagree, they said the bill wouldn't have an impact on work. regardless, i told my republican colleague on the finance committee, senator crapo, i would be willing to drop the look-back policy. we said we'll take an alternative approach that ensures that we get the same cut in child poverty and nobody would say it affected work. i also offered to add additional policies that the senate republicans had talked about and advocated for before. that offer that i made, based on my conversations with colleagues on the other side of the aisle, was unacceptable. the changes that our colleague from idaho, senator crapo, asked

for would have destroyed any chance of passing the bill and left way too many kids living in poverty. madam president, the offer that i received from the other side of the aisle would not have gotten a single democratic vote here in the senate. so you put that in context. what i offered was the number one thing i heard senate republicans talking about and figured out a way to get it done without it hurting kids, and what we were offered in return was something that would have killed the bill. i will say to the senate here today on tax day, my offer of compromise as i proposed it to senate republicans, my offer still stands. now, i'm going to close by saying that some senate republicans prefer to wait. the idea is they can write their own bill in 2025 if they win the

senate in november. madam president, i'm here to say that kids and small businesses and those desperate for a roof over their head cannot afford to wait. this bill would help 16 million kids from low-income families. they can't afford to wait. fixing the discrimination against families with two, three, four kids is something that cannot wait, madam president. those families need help buying food and diapers and new shoes. today those kids are stuck splitting a single tax credit. as i've said, you can't split a single pair of sneakers. those kids should not have to wait. this bill would lift half a million kids from poverty. it would be unconscionable to leave those kids in poverty for

political gain. they should not have to wait. the bill would boost the incentive for research and development and throw a lifeline to smaup owners -- small business owners who are worried about keeping their doors open right now. those small business owners should not have to wait. and, colleagues, it's just, to me, mind-boggling that the senate would forego this opportunity to tackle fraud and the employ retention credit which is the pandemic bill that would be shut down. as chairman of the senate finance committee and heard the irs commissioner tell us that as much as 95% of these claims coming in were fraudulent or illegitimate. the irs commissioner agreed when i asked him about this that that was the number during a meeting earlier this year. this is the only bill on offer

to shut down this fire hose of fraud. it is unthinkable that the senate would allow all this fraud to continue. i've been doing a lot of town meetings at home. the reaction is always the same. people are just kind of slack jawed at the idea that congress is actually on the verge of passing a bipartisan bill that would help a whole lot of families and businesses that every day walk an economic tightrope, at the same time they just scratch their head when i tell them that the senate republicans have been holding it up. it's time to get this done. if the senate doesn't pass the bill, madam president, the sanest it will revisit these issues in all likelihood is late 2025. so i would say, madam president, we have a bill that's going to

help millions of americans now. the alternative is to wait around for 18 months or longer. at that point, the senate's going to have to deal with trillions of dollars in tax policies up in the air. it's not as simple as setting these issues aside for just a few months and then making some modest changes on the margins. to today and now is the senate's opportunity, 16 million kids and thousands of small businesses should not have to wait. it is time to get this bipartisan bill passed in the united states senate. madam president, i yield the floor.

mr. wyden: madam president, i ask unanimous consent to waive the mandatory quorum call with respect to the ramona villagomez manglona nomination. the presiding officer: without objection. .

the first and history. five harrowing hours the sounds of explosions and sirens reverberated throughout the night in jerusalem, tel aviv and across the country. tens of thousands of israeli dozens barricaded themselves. on a long night, all of us ron hug as the missiles from iran came down. i strongly condemned the attacks by iranian government and urged them to refrain from hostilities. what i rented was dangerous, unjustifiable entrance to punch the middle east into widespread

work. i urge iranian regime to cease reckless behavior for both its courses and those audits proxies one the attack came, thank god israel was ready. ready because of the u.s. commitment and security. in touch with senior administration officials who told me with help from the united states, england, france and arab nations the overwhelming majority of missiles and drone strikes were successfully intercepted. damage was minimal thing called. today of all, i breathe a sigh of relief that injuries were minimal, believe the damage was not worse. it was no accident israel in short rent attack would be largely unscathed.

on the contrary, america support for israel security i'm glad and missile-defense develop during cooperation with the u.s. and responding is a testament to the united states long-standing security cooperation with israel by so few of the missiles and drones ultimately so i commend defense forces and president biden and military leadership and armed forces implement our partners who work together israel to avert calamity. reprehensible attack, orange reprehensible attack has made a few things very clear. first, israel is surrounded by adversaries. we saw about october 7. we thought again this weekend. we dare not waver in our commitment and israel defend itself from threats. second, the fact that so many

nations came to israel's aid including arab nations becoming more and more isolated. iran's attack should be universally condemned. wider conflict in the middle east and we cannot have that. i'm pleased many nations band together and how the line against iranian regime. visuals attack underscore the best way to help israel cause a swiftly of the bipartisan national security supplemental. rushing to israel's aid as quickly as possible the only way is passing the senate supplemental asap. there's no reason for the house not to move on the supplemental as soon as today. yesterday on the phone for the president was because johnson, leader mcdonnell and leader jeffries and medicare uncertainty and delay over the supplemental cost to end. we'll had consensus we need to

aid israel and ukraine. it house republicans for the senate government on the floor i believe it would cost today reach the president's desk tonight and israel could get the eight it means like tomorrow. limited again, house republicans the supplement on the floor, i believe it would cost today. israel would get that aided needs tomorrow. finished the job by the end of egg, why wait? it gives not only israel what it means but also provides ukraine eight it needs against putin. the situation in ukraine is beyond desperate. leaving more and more residents without electricity dangerous power outages will become a

long-term problem. the equipment so far, the transformers and machinery takes a long time to rebuild. reiterating zelenskyy's points, ukraine. who's this work until he gets -- unless he gets defense material and resources. power plants are taken out because ukraine is running out of the ability to defend itself. these treacherous moments and -- manglona nomination. my issue with the nominee at hand is not with the nominee at hand. in fact, she's quite well qualified. she passed out of the judiciary committee on which i serve with my support. by a vote in committee 21-0.

the senate should not be processing nominees right now. the senate should be laser focused instead on preparing for the trial for department of homeland security secretary alejandro mayorkas whom the house impeached in february instead of confirming yet another nominee we should be considering and organizing resolution to set up that trial which we're constitutionally compelled to conduct. unfortunately that's not what we're doing. instead senator schumer is preparing to enact a nuclear option by tabling the articles of impeachment for the first time in american history. senate democrats want to avoid even examining the evidence presented against mayorkas. we should not be going about business as usual. while senator schumer prepares to nuke the senate. if this motion to table is successful, then manglona -- with respect to manglona, we could move to legislative

business to consider and organizing resolution for the impeachment trial. i ask my colleagues for support. so to that end, madam president, i move to table the nomination of ramona villagomez manglona and ask for the yeas and nays. the presiding officer: is there a sufficient second? there appears to be. the clerk will call the roll. vote: the clerk: ms. baldwin. mr. barrasso. mr. bennet. mrs. blackburn. mr. blumenthal. mr. booker. mr. boozman. mr. braun. mrs. britt. mr. brown. mr. budd. ms. butler.

the clerk: ms. cantwell. mrs. capito. mr. cardin. mr. carper. mr. casey. mr. cassidy. ms. collins. mr. coons.

the clerk: mr. coons. mr. cornyn. ms. cortez masto. mr. cotton. mr. cramer. mr. crapo. mr. cruz.

mr. daines. ms. duckworth. mr. durbin. ms. ernst. mr. fetterman. mrs. fischer. mrs. gillibrand. mr. graham. mr. grassley. mr. hagerty. ms. hassan. mr. hawley. mr. heinrich.

mr. hickenlooper. ms. hirono. mr. hoeven. mrs. hyde-smith. mr. johnson. mr. kaine. mr. kelly. mr. kennedy. mr. king. ms. klobuchar.

mr. lankford. mr. lee. mr. lujan. the clerk: mr. hyde-smith, mr. johnson, mr. lankford, mr. lee, mr. lujan, ms. plumb miss. mr. manchin,. mr. markey. mr. marshall. mr. mcconnell. mr. menendez. mr. merkley. mr. moran. mr. mullin. ms. murkowski. mr. murphy. mrs. murray.

mr. ossoff. mr. padilla. mr. paul. mr. peters. mr. reed. mr. ricketts. mr. risch. mr. romney. ms. rosen. mr. rounds. mr. rubio. mr. sanders. mr. schatz. mr. schmitt. mr. schumer. mr. scott of florida. mr. scott of south carolina. mrs. shaheen. ms. sinema. ms. smith. ms. stabenow. mr. sullivan. mr. tester. mr. thune. mr. tillis. mr. tuberville. mr. van hollen. mr. vance. mr. warner. mr. warnock. ms. warren. mr. welch. mr. whitehouse. mr. wicker. mr. wyden. mr. young.

the clerk: senators voting in the affirmative -- boozman, capito, cassidy, lee, paul, ricketts, rubio. senators voting in the negative -- butler, cantwell, duckworth, durbin, gillibrand, kaine, manchin, markey, menendez, murray, sanders, schatz, smith, warner, wyden. the clerk: ms. cortez masto, no.

mr. kennedy, aye. the clerk: mr. coons, no.

vote: the clerk: ms. baldwin, no. the clerk: ms. stabenow, no.

mr. tester, no.

the clerk: ms. warren, no.

the clerk: mr. brown, no.

the clerk: ms. klobuchar, no.

the clerk: mrs. fischer, aye. ms. collins, no.

the clerk: mr. grassley, aye. the clerk: mr. daines, aye. mr. thune, aye. mr. barrasso, aye. mr. casey, no. mr. tillis, aye.

mrs. britt, aye. ms. ernst, aye. mr. welch, no. the clerk: ms. murkowski, no.

the clerk: ms. hyde-smith, aye.

the clerk: mr. reed, no. mr. lankford, aye. the clerk: mr. sullivan, aye.

the clerk: mr. cornyn, aye.

mr. vance, aye. the clerk: mr. scott of florida, aye. mr. budd, aye. mr. wicker, aye.

mr. johnson, aye.

the clerk: mrs. blackburn, aye. mr. scott of south carolina, aye.

mr. marshall, aye. mr. rounds, aye. the clerk: mr. carper, no. mr. hickenlooper, no. mr. merkley, no.

vote: the clerk: mr. hagerty, aye.

the clerk: ms. hirono, no. mr. murphy, no.

mr. cardin, no. the clerk: mr. moran, aye.

the clerk: mr. king, no.

the clerk: mr. warnock, no.

the clerk: mr. whitehouse, no.

the clerk: mr. kelly, no. mr. tuberville, aye.

the clerk: ms. lummis, aye. ms. hassan, no.

the clerk: mr. crapo, aye.

the clerk: mr. bennet, no o -- no.

the clerk: mr. ossoff, no. mr. lujan, no.

vote: the clerk: mr. romney, aye.

the clerk: mr. blumenthal, no.

the clerk: ms. rosen, no.

the clerk: mr. peters, no.

the clerk: mr. mullin, aye. the clerk: mr. van hollen, no.

the clerk: mr. schumer, no.

the clerk: mr. hawley, aye.

the clerk: mr. heinrich, no. the clerk: mr. cruz, aye.

vote:

what i rented was dangerous,unjo plunge the mideast into widespread war. i strongly urge the iranian regime to cease their reckless behavior from both its forces and proxies. now, when the attack came, thank god israel was ready. israel is ready because of u.s. ironclad commitment to its security. the night of the attack i was in touch with senior administration officials. who told me with help from the united states, england, france and some arab nations the

overwhelming majority of all iranian missiles and drone strikes were successfully intercepted. the damage to israel, thank god was minimal. only one serious casualty was reported. we pray for her recovery. today, above all a breve a sigh of relief for israel. that injuries were minimal. relief the damage was not worse. of course it was no accident israel insured around the attack largely that israel insured around attack would be largely unscathed. on the contrary israel endured because america support for israel's security is ironclad. the success of israeli missile defense developed in cooperation with the united states and u.s. funding is a testament to the united states long-standing security cooperation with israel. it is why so few of iran's missiles and drones ultimately hit their targets.

so, i commend israel defense forces be recommended present biter military leadership been andraped armed forces i commendr partners to work together with israel to avert calamity. israel's reprehensible attack, around reprehensible attack against israel has made a few things very clear. first come israel is surrounded by adversaries who seek its destruction. we saw that on october 7. we saw it again this weekend. we dare not waver in our commitment to help israel defend itself from those threats. second, the fact so many nations came to israel's aid including some arab nations show iran is more and more isolated. iran's attack should be swiftly universally condemned. there attack risk provoking a wider conflict in the middle east and we cannot have that. so i am pleased many nations banded together and held the line against iranian regime. third, israel's attack

underscores the best way to help israel is for the house to swiftly pass the senate the bipartisan national security supplemental. the house must rush to israel's aid as quickly as humanly possible. the only way to do that is passing the supplemental asap. there is no reason the house not to move on the senate supplemental as soon today. yesterday i got on the phone with the president, speaker johnson, leader mcconnell and leader jeffries and made it clear at the uncertainty and delay over the supplemental has to end. we had consensus we need to aid both israel and ukraine. house republicans put the senate supplemental on the floor, i believe it would pass today. reach the president's desk tonight and israel will get the eight it needs by tomorrow. let me say that again. if house republicans but the senate supplemental on the floor i would believe it would pass today. it would reach the president's desk tonight israel will get the

eight it needs by tomorrow. at the house could finish the job by the end of the day, why wait? the supplemental not only gives israel the tool it needs to repel future attacks but it also provides ukraine the eight it needs against putin. i spoke with the u.s. ambassador to ukraine yesterday told me the situation in ukraine is beyond desperate. with few air defenses as littlee stopping russian drones from targeting ukrainian power plants and leaving more and more residents without electricity. the danger here is the power outages will become a long-term problem. she told me the equipment that dtred are so large the kinds of transformers and other machinery that it takes a long time to rebuild them and replace them. the u.s. ambassador reiterated president zelenskyy's point that ukraine will lose this war until it gets -- unless he gets defensive materials, the ammunition and the antiaircraft resources it needs immediately.

those in power plants are taken out because ukraine is running out of the ability to defend itself from these vicious attacks. at this treacherous moment for global security would be a grave mistake to think the conflict in the middle east is unconnected to the conflict in europe. that is why the best way to help israel and help ukraine is to pass the senate supplemental this week. i've called on speaker johnson to do that. enough with the delay. enough with the uncertainty. enough with the promises to take action. i urge the house to get going today on the senate supplemental. it is vital for the future of israel, for the future of ukraine, and for the future of the west and democracy. now, on the senate agenda for the senate has a very busy few days and store this week. before april 19 the senate less approving legislation to extend buys a 702 authorities. the houses expected to send us

an extension sometime this evening after they address a few minor procedural delays. once the house sends us the bison reauthorization i plan as early as tonight that first procedural step to begin consideration. with a less than a week to go before authorities expired time is a luxury the senate does not have. republicans seem to work with us in a bipartisan way to ensure this program with important implications for national security does not lapse. now, as the senate works on trend two authorities we will also have to deal with the house about to impeach ellman security secretary mayorkas. for now we still expect the articles of impeachment should arrive in the senate sometime tomorrow afternoon. should that happen, senators will swear in members as jurors the day after the articles are presented. as i said repeatedly impeachment should never be used to settle a policy disagreements. it would set a horrible

precedent for the congress. nevertheless the senate plan is not changed in the last week. we are ready to go whenever the house sends us the articles. we want to address this as expeditiously as possible. now on tax day, today is tax day thanks to reforms democrats a pass in the inflation reduction acts tax filing season has become smoother than ever for more and more taxpayers. for the first time in unprecedented number of americans enclosing thousands of new yorkers were able to file for free. directly with the irs using direct pilot program. next year we went to expand the program even more. but sadly, republican obstruction on the tax bill it meant this year millions of families and small businesses continue to pay higher tax bills. if republicans drop their obstruction and work with us, we could expand the child tax credit for 16 million families. enable construction of 200,000

affordable homes deliver tax relief to disaster stricken communities like east of palestine, while also restoring incentives for innovation and capitol investment. the house overwhelmingly passed the tax bill with bipartisan support at the end of january. it should be no different in the senate. this tax day i urge my republican colleagues to join senate democrats in supporting this bill so we can deliver this relief to american taxpayers. i note the absence of a corvette box meta- president some years by the privilege of visiting our american service members stationed u.s. navy for elite in bahrain. an impressive group keeping a close eye on iran. despite the population of iran's hardline leadership has threatened unites its interest in its allies. iran has long found money and weapons to sell in the region's worchester proxy, hamas,

hezbollah, and the trend eight. some of whom have attacked u.s. personnel and had a hand in syria. that's why i supported the iran nuclear agreement under president obama. not because it would stop iran's and belligerence in the region but because it would prevent from doing so armed with a nuclear bomb. well, this week without the iranian threat and a massive attack on israel. israel with the help of the united states and their other allies were largely able to thwart. i hope cooler heads will prevail keep this conflict from escalating. it's already an unstable region of the world. but make no mistake, because former president trump petulantly with through the united states from the iran nuclear agreement and agreement that was working to contain the dangerous program. iran is inching ever closer to a nuclear weapon.

iran is also cozied up to vladimir putin, surprised. who's in desperate for weapons from any rogue regime to fuel his disastrous war in ukraine. so, it seems to me it's long overdue for house republicans this week to stop doing russia's bidding by blocking the senate passed national security supplement. madam president like to speak on another unrelated topic now. about the partisan charade house republicans have made of the impeachment process. the two impeachment articles felt it secretary mayorkas are nothing more than an attempt to politicize the solid constitutional tool to distract from the very real fact the thathouse republicans are strugg to govern. the senate has the power to convict, remove and disqualify our officers whose conduct use constitutional standard for impeachment. listen to the standard very

closely. spelled out in the constitution. treason, bribery, or other high crimes and misdemeanors." neither article contains an receipt of from the house of representatives contains any evidence in secretary mayorkas has been guilty of any of those specific elements in the constitution. or that he is felt in the exercise of his duties. instead the articles of impeachment sent by the house of representatives play out policy disputes three regurgitation of republican talking points on immigration. it is simply not a constitutional crime worthy of impeachment to implement policies that are entire within the limits of the law and discretion of the executive branch. the article sent to us by the house republicans claim the secretary has willfully

systematically refused to comply with the law because he failed to detain every individual across the border. remember that standard pretty failed to detain every individual across the border. the simple fact of the matter is, all presidents republican and democrat would be found guilty under those elements. existing law does not require dhs secretary to detain every person across the border. congress left it to the discretion of each administration to decide how to best use their limited resources to implement immigration policy. the articles also attacked the use of discretion to decide who to arrest and remove from the united states. even though the supreme court has upheld these discretionary decisions. secretary mayorkas decision to reverse trump policy breach the public trust as a decision to

change position is a fundamental policy decision not a matter of trust. if congressional republicans were genuinely interested in improving the situation on the border, i have got a suggestion. why don't we put together a bipartisan group of senators. by don't let the republicans choose their participation in that. and why don't they considered someone like james a lankford the senator highly respected for it why don't they have james a lankford meet with at least one other senator democrat may be chris murphy of connecticut and perhaps kyrsten sinema and independent. why don't the three of them put together a proposal to make changes, significant policy changes in the border to give the president more authority to stop the crisis that we face. why don't we call for consideration on the floor of the senate. why don't the republicans back

that? that is exactly what happened we've been through this exercise james lankford and i respect him very much, did what he was asked to do, represent the republican side of the aisle. move forward with the proposal that is bipartisan. we have to be bipartisan in the senate needed 60 points for anything serious we have 51 -- 49 democrat majority. bipartisanship is built into this package of compromise. what happened? why didn't that become the law of the land? the change in the border policy we are all working for. the reason is, one man his name is donald trump. he came out publicly and said i am instructing my followers to kill this a bipartisan effort from senator lankford on the republican side. you're going to hear from people that want to blame it, go ahead and blame me for stopping this effort at board at reform. i am blaming you. i now have the exercise up

against mayorkas instead of a constructive bipartisan exercise that senator lankford eight respected conservative republican, et cetera. democrat, and sinema and independent brought together to the floor. that was a sham process for consideration of an impeachment is not warranted. unfortunately the vast majority of republicans recently blocked a bipartisan order bill i just described. despite repeatedly referring to the border as a crisis congressional republicans was based purely on donald trump's assistance congress not pass immigration legislation. he wants use it as a campaign issue in november. he does not want a solution, a bipartisan solution for perhaps joe biden will give some credit for so we stopped the whole process and stopped the bipartisanship.

this partisan hacker is not lost on me or the american people. instead of doing their job and working to find legislative solutions to complex challenging problems to many republicans have decided the impeachment of a cabinet official for doing his job as a better exercise of time. the firm is anticipated the partisan politics would result in meritless impeachment efforts like this one and design the dee constitution to withstand the baseless efforts. during the constitutional convention the framers explicitly, explicitly rejected the proposal to include maladministration for the use that word as an impeachable offense despite its use in many state constitutions at the time. second the division of the house of representatives for the senate was meant as a safeguard against the danger of impeachment becoming politicized. in 66 alexander hamilton wrote the division of impeachment power between the house and the

senate quote guards against the dangers of persecution for the prevalence he of eight -- a spirit in either of those branches. to translate that into 21st century terms, what he is saying you want to stop them from using impeachment for politics. in order to uphold the constitution and for impeachment obligations must dispose of these baseless impeachment articles that we receive from the house. the constitution provides that i quote the senate shall the sole power to try all impeachments and places very limited requirements on how we are to exercise that authority. chief justice noticed during the impeachment of then president clinton, the senate is not simply a jury. it is a court in this case of impeachment. both the house and senate have a history of quickly disposing of impeachment investigations and the impeachment articles that do not meet the standard of high crime or misdemeanor. this one doesn't.

in the 72nd congress, two impeachment resolutions were offered against president herbert hoover. after reading the resolution was completed the house fix it successfully moved bite overwhelming vote to table the impeachment articles. since 1986 senators considered motions to dismiss brought by either the impeached officer or senator with six impeachment has twice dismissed impeachment articles in the past. to saying this is never been done, it's just not true. we should follow that example. i urge my colleagues to uphold the constitution and the intentions of the framers and quickly dispose of the unjustifiable articles of impeachment. madam president, yield the floor. clicks in response to iran's massive attack against israel over the weekend, we saw two things. first we saw a sovereign nation that takes its security

seriously. mount a successful defense, israel's air defense with the help of a regional and coalition partners. an individual support of brief u.s. service members in the region. intercepted a neutral loose the bulk of the 300 drones and missiles launched by iran. unfortunately, the second thing we saw was the commander-in-chief sticking to the same playbook second guessing the will of the israeli people and trying to tie the hands of an ally under attack. president biden insisted ahead of iran's attack that america's commitment to israel was

ironclad. but, after three years of appeasement and weakness and six months of quibbling over israel's right to self-defense i am not really sure who he expects to believe that assertion just saying so, sink our commitment is ironclad does not make it so. words don't paper over the glaring rifts between the biden administration and the national unity government in jerusalem. the public criticism of iran by senior administration officials undoubtedly influences the decision of israel's adversaries. the president's commitment to vital ally were quote ironclad,"

his response to this weakens attack would not be to lecture her leaders against responding in self-defense. would an american commander-in-chief failed to respond with an adversary launch missiles at american soil? the fact our collective defenses worked in this case does not stop the threat. to compel around to change its behavior any less urgent. make absolutely no mistake iran is not deterred. it is actually emboldened. the regime that attacked israel this weekend is the same one that green lit the violent violethijacking of a commercial shipping vessel earlier the same

day. it is the same iran that trains, equips, sustains, and expends terrorist proxies from lebanon, to gaza, to iraq, and syria, to yemen. is the same regime that continues to grow and arsenal of long-range ballistic missiles. an advance closer and closer to nuclear weapons capability. and of course it is the same murderous regime that continues to equip russia's brutal violence in ukraine.

>> russia uses to launch devastating and frequent long-range attacks against ukrainian cities. our adversaries are working together. to make america and friends, the safe. and less secure in his time the commander in chief to lead the allies and partners, can international effort to impose meaningful cause on iran threatening the leaders as they hold dear, and changing the regimes violence of behavior. we can afford weakness. we cannot afford to be detoured by that ran. the easiest way to hasten the escalation us to show your unwillingness rent you are unable to meet aggression with strength and nelly latest. nvoke.

the clerk: cloture motion, we, ance with the provisions in of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the nomination of executive calendar number 478, ramona villagomez manglona, of the northern mariana islands, to be judge for the district court for the northern mariana islands, signed by 17 senators. the presiding officer: by unanimous consent, the mandatory quorum call has been waived. the question is, is it the sense of the senate that debate on the nomination of ramona villagomez man manglona, of the northern mariana islands to be judge for the district court for the northern mariana islands shall be brought to a close. the yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule. the clerk will call the roll. the clerk: ms. baldwin. mr. barrasso. mr. bennet. mrs. blackburn. mr. blumenthal. mr. booker. mr. boozman. mr. braun.

mrs. britt. mr. brown.

mr. budd. ms. butler.

ms. cantwell. mrs. capito. mr. cardin. mr. carper. mr. casey. mr. cassidy. ms. collins. mr. coons. mr. cornyn. ms. cortez masto. mr. cotton. mr. cramer. mr. crapo. mr. cruz. mr. daines. ms. duckworth. mr. durbin. ms. ernst. mr. fetterman. mrs. fischer. mrs. gillibrand. mr. graham. mr. grassley. mr. hagerty. ms. hassan. mr. hawley. mr. heinrich. mr. hickenlooper. ms. hirono. mr. hoeven. mrs. hyde-smith. mr. johnson. mr. kaine.

mr. kelly. mr. kennedy. mr. king. ms. klobuchar. mr. lankford. mr. lee. mr. lujan. ms. lummis. mr. manchin. mr. markey. mr. marshall. mr. mcconnell. mr. menendez. mr. merkley. mr. moran. mr. mullin. ms. murkowski. mr. murphy. mrs. murray. mr. ossoff. mr. padilla. mr. paul. mr. peters. mr. reed. mr. ricketts. mr. risch. mr. romney. ms. rosen. mr. rounds. mr. rubio. mr. sanders. mr. schatz. mr. schmitt.

mr. schumer. mr. scott of florida. mr. scott of south carolina. mrs. shaheen. ms. sinema. ms. smith. ms. stabenow. mr. sullivan. mr. tester. mr. thune. mr. tillis. mr. tuberville. mr. van hollen. mr. vance. mr. warner. mr. warnock. ms. warren. mr. welch. mr. whitehouse. mr. wicker. mr. wyden. mr. young.

the clerk: senators voting in the affirmative -- barrasso, blumenthal, boozman, britt, budd, cantwell, capito, cardin, cassidy, collins, cornyn, cortez-masto, crapo, daines, duckworth, fischer, gillibrand, grassley, hagerty, hawley, heinrich, hirono, johnson, kennedy, lankford, lee, lujan, markey, mcconnell, moran,

padilla, reed, romney, rosen, rounds, rubio, sanders, schumer, scott of florida, smith, stabenow, tester, thune, tillis, and tuberville. no senator voted in the negative. mr. warnock, aye. mr. casey, aye.

mr. scott of south carolina, aye. mr. menendez, aye.

the clerk: mrs. murray, aye. mr. ricketts, aye. mr. wyden, aye.

the clerk: ms. murkowski, aye.

vote:

the clerk: mr. sullivan, no. ms. blackburn, aye.

the clerk: mr. marshall, no.

the clerk: mr. hickenlooper, aye. the clerk: ms. lummis, aye. mr. durbin, aye. mr. carper, aye.

the clerk: mr. cruz, aye.

the clerk: mr. coons, aye.

the clerk: mr. brown, aye. mr. welch, aye.

the clerk: mr. whitehouse, aye. mr. murphy, aye.

the clerk: mr. wicker, aye.

the clerk: ms. warren, aye.

mr. bennet, aye. mrs. hyde-smith, aye.

the clerk: mr. kelly, aye.

vote: the clerk: ms. butler, aye.

the clerk: mr. booker, aye. ms. baldwin, aye.

the clerk: ms. hassan, aye. the clerk: mr. schatz, aye. mr. king, aye.

the clerk: mr. schumer, aye.

the clerk: mr. merkley, aye.

the clerk: mr. ossoff, aye. mr. kaine, aye.

the clerk: ms. klobuchar, aye.

vote:

something quick at the top.

[laughter] let's get going. with all seriousness it's a very busy weekend at the white house. the president spent hours in the situation room closely monitoring the latest of omens and middle east with his national security team. he was engaged in extensive diplomacy, speaking with israeli prime minister on saturday nights and convening a call with g7 leaders on sunday morning. a joint statement with the g7 strongly condemned iran's brazen and unprecedented attack. today the present received an updated briefing from his national security team and as you all know what met with the leaders of iraq will meet with the leaders of the czech republic later this afternoon. with that whip nsc colleague admiral jon kirby who is here to do a much deeper dive and take your questions from the middle east.

good afternoon. you all know and restated iran and its proxies operating in yemen, syria and iraq also. conducted unprecedented attack with over 300 a weapons including more than 100 ballistic missiles as well as slanted tech cruise missiles on manned aerial vehicles or drones are present invited defeat that attack, and we did. this part of our partners deny states enabled israel despite launching more than the standarr weapons from iran and the region of partners clears virtually no infrastructure damage their attack so the president can mean

the g7 yesterday that forcefully condemned that attack urge for common de-escalation. i like to take a few minutes to correct the record on a few points that have come out in the last several hours. i have seen reporting the iranians meant to fail. this spectacular and embarrassing failure was all by design. i have also seen the provided early warning to help israel prepare its defenses and limit any potential damage. all of this is categorically false to coin the frames from the president it is a malarkey. this attack failed it was defeated by israel, by the united states, and by coalition of other partners committed to israel's defense. so let's beat straight pregiven scale of this attack iran's attack was clearly to cause significant destruction and casualties. iranian leaders watch so many

missiles and other munitions because they knew many were going to be defeated. the aim was to get as many of them through israel's defenses as possible. we have also seen a speculation about messages we did receive messages from my round they received messages from us too. didn't sign to us or anyone else on the timeframe, the targets or the type of response. in fact before yesterday it was presumed 100 ballistic missiles might overwhelm even the best defensive systems. that was iran's intent as we also for your self it did not work. this attack was defeated thanks to our preparations to a coalition partners and israel's remarkable defensive systems. i would to focus on the last point for just a moment. israel today sent a far stronger strategic position that it was only a few days ago.

the missile program something in is used to threaten israel and the region proved to be far less effective. israel's defenses on the other hand proved even better than many had a long assumed for israel's defense was strengthened by coalition of countries led by the united states and working together. the united states as never before so extensively and so directly defendant israel from attack. to ensure that continues to be the case the house of representatives must urgently pass the national security supplemental which is already passed the iron dome and david sling systems. systems that saved countless lives this weekend and saved many lives from hamas and hezbollah rockets over the past six months. passing that bill is the fastest and surest way to get israel the eight it needs. i must add urgently to root clannish air defenses as congress must replenish ukraine's air defenses.

which also attacked every single day with the same iranian made drones. now finally much of the world today standing with israel by this president spoke to the g7 leaders tested their unifying to the condemnation of iran their e determination older unaccountable in the presence direction our teams are following up with g7 capitol fund multilateral sanctions to target iran's missile and other nefarious programs. g7 countries have yet to designate the irgc a terrorist organization are now considering doing so. going forward we will be working to further isolate iran internationally and increase economic us the upshot here. a more unified alliance of partners. that's not iran's intent when it launches attack on saturday night. and again they failed. they fought honorably. and prime minister of the czech

republic to the white house. president and prime minister from iraq will discuss the u.s. and erects a shared vision for a broad multifaceted relationship. these leaders will reaffirm their commitment to advancing regional stability to expanding opportunities for iraq's people and reinforcing iraq's sovereignty, security and stability. the iraqi prime minister will we here for almost a week. and in that time he'll meet a range of administration officials for secretary blinken

brown brown madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from ohio. mr. brown:i rise today to honor ann miller, a champion of labor, as she retired, this month happens to be her birthday. ann spent her career fighting for the dignity of work. she started in this body working for senator kennedy, senator edward kennedy, a champion of workers, a friend and mentor of mine. i know senator murray served, in front of me here, served on his committee for many, many years. as he did, she later chaired it. it's clear ann cares too. from the beginning of her career, ann saw how important it is for representatives to understand labor and do stand up for workers. about her time -- after her time in the senate, ann moved to the department of labor. during a very intense time there, while family and medical leave was being implemented, and

increased minimum wage was secured, ann was instrumental in that. after four year, ann moved to the afl-cio then the alliance for retired americans. in every job, he had focus was always fighting for workers. she returned to the afl-cio in 2003 for the next ten years. she pushed people running for office around the country to put workers at the center. she knew that was morally right, but also good politics to put workers at the center of what we do, and how we campaign and how we carry out our jobs. from a pro-labor platform to smaller suggestions, like hosting events at union hotels. i know the presiding officer from minnesota does things like that. after election day, ann held candidates to their promises, and kept them accountable to workers. her colleagues call her the sole of the labor program. it's clearest ann still understood the importance of having pro-labor and pro-worker

representation. she saw it in the senate, carried it through her career. it led ann to the afl-cio then the ibew, the electrical workers, where she's been an integral part of that for the past ten years. she worked with an experienced staff of grassroots organizer, analysts and advocates, fighting for ibew's 820,000 members and retirees across industries and fields. ann had always been impressed by the ibe cmembers she met -- ibew members she met. it's fitting that the final challenge of her -- chapter of her work life was spent fighting for them. we heard from those who worked alongside ann. a highlight of her career was becoming a member of the local 121. with her union card, ann joined hundreds of thousands workers across our country who she spent her

. today it's in part because of ann and her work. those who know ann recognize her fearlessness and tenacity. it's because of ann, for instance, and i know senator smith and senator murray joined us in this, we were able with the chips act to get a progress labor agreement which means at least 7,000 union workers building that plant, electricians, carpenters, and brick layers and laborers and operating engineers and even roofers and carpenters and many others. she's instilled that strength. when ann fights even harder for workers, she's instilled that same strength and determination in her staff. she emif a sides the important of -- emphasized the importance of building genuine relationships. she cares for the people she worked alongside, never really looking for praise or accolades, just wanting to help. she's been a mentor to many women in labor, particularly the

building trades. ann has been at the forefront and able to mentor so many of those women. she fought to make it easier for women in the labor movement to rise through the ranks, easier than it was for her to do that. we wish ann well in this next chapter filled with more time with her family, with andy and all. we thank her for an impressive career spent standing up for the integrity of work. hard work pays off for everyone. you love this country, you fight for the people who make it work. she understands that. madam president, i ask to put the following remarks at a different place in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. brown: i rise to honor bill samuel and congratulate him on a career fighting for workers. he dedicated his life to the labor movement. early in his career bill served as a legislative representative for the national treasury employees union and then for the american federation of government employees. in both roles bill fought for

federal workers across different agencies and departments. bill went to oberlin college in my state, not far from where i work, and the values that they, that school, the values that school holds up and shines a light upon has also affected bill's work. went to work for the umw, instrumental in the fight for miners, upheld the legacy of fighting for better working conditions, especially better health care. he and i talked about the pin i wear on my lapel given to me at a memorial day rally, depiction of a canary in a bird cage. in those days 120 years ago mine workers had no union strong enough to protect them and no government that cared enough to protect them, and bill seized politics and seized labor, the labor movement through the eyes of what that's all about. bill made a huge difference in their fight working with senator

rockefeller and form umwa president rich trumka. many miners didn't have access to the health care they needed. it's something we know all too well in southeast ohio and have fought to change. bill led the successful campaign to pass federal legislation guaranteeing lifetime health care to more than 200,000 retired miners and their families. he fought to secure what miners earned and deserved. his advocacy made a difference for so many miners and so many families. whether in the labor movement or in government, that fight for workers was always his north star. he worked at the department of labor where he could carry out and implement a lot of things he fought for. then he worked for vice president gore. for nearly a quarter century bill has been a leader at the afl-cio where he served as director of government affairs. he has been a constant there in periods of transition.

afl presidents have all come to rely upon his insight and upon his wisdom. he leads the afl-cio's legislative committee. he advocates for the federation's ten million union members. bill makes that balancing act look easy. he builds consensus across affiliates, coordinates with every union, engages with workers and members and representatives. he's at the center of every operation, every initiative, every campaign. we rely on him. we get good information and rely on his wise counsel. he's the first person my team calls when issue after issue, they know what i know that bill understand the issues, understands how to build consensus. he understands how to get things done. he understands how to mobilize the union movement and he's always fighting for others. i've had the privilege of working alongside bill on issues that matter so much to my state. we worked to pass the butch lewis act named after an ohioan. with it we saved pensions of

100,000 ohio union members. most people in washington ignored the charges facing union retirees. they didn't take the problem seriously or treat this as the emergency it was. most people in washington don't understand collective bargaining process. they don't understand that workers sit down at the table, working representatives sit down at the table, negotiate and are willing to give up benefits today, even some health care benefits today perhaps to have a pension in the future. that's why butch lewis was so important. that's why bill never gave up. and along with ohio leaders like mike walton and rita lewis, mobilized workers and we got it done. when politicians proposed antilabor, antiworker legislation, bill stood up, stood up for workers. his entire career he fought for the people who make our country work. and today at a time when there is unprecedented momentum behind

union, there is stronger support among this generation of young people for unions than there's been in my entire lifetime. that's partly because of the work that bill did in organizing and in showing people how important it is and the unwavering dedication to workers. thousands of workers across our nation don't know bill personally, but they benefit from his efforts and his advocacy. we congratulate bill on his career and wish him a happy retirement. he'll be able to spend more time with tracy and his children. i look forward to working with bill's successor to continue fighting for workers. madam president, i yield the floor.

the presiding officer: the senator from tennessee. mrs. blackburn: thank you, madam president. we have all watched what has happened with the iran strike this weekend, and my colleagues across the aisle like to say that they support israel. but in this moment of peril for

the world's only jewish state, i fear that what they're doing is deciding to play politics. and in the months after the october 7 attack, they insisted on tying aid for israel to supplemental packages that do not have the votes to pass through both chambers. now republicans have been very clear. any supplemental bill that fails to address the security crisis at our southern border is a nonstarter. we already have a solution to president biden's border crisis. it is h.r. 2, the secure the border act. but for almost a year -- and bear in mind that border security bill landed over here may of last year. so it's been almost a year. and our colleagues, the democrats, who were in charge, have refused to bring that up

for a vote. now democrats voted to table different measures that came along. my colleague from kansas is going to have one in a few minutes, and they're going to vote to table that also. and they're going to object. and they are doing this at a time when legislation we bring forward would provide billions in aid for israel as it fights to destroy hamas, and bring some innocent hostages, including americans, home. now the reason the bill -- and this is their reason -- they say the bill would pay for itself. my colleague's bill that he's going to bring forward, because it would use the army. it would use the funding for biden's arm of 87,000 irs agents. they say they don't like that.

and democrats would rather hound small businesses on main street, which we know most of those would be, if targeted toward, than deliver aid that is necessary for our closest ally in the middle east. think about what they're saying when they say this. they would rather keep that, those irs agents than to give this aid. they would rather tie aid to ukraine. they would rather tie it to taiwan. they don't want it to stand alone. and so for months they have delayed. and now, after these months of delay, iran for the first time ever directly attacked israel from iranian territory. it launched 170 drones, 30

cruise missiles, and 120 ballistic missiles toward the jewish state. this was the largest aerial attack ever carried out in the middle east. so if democrats are objecting to everything that would in any way tie up aid to israel, then let's look at it another way, because this issue is too important for any more delays. that's why i'm calling for unanimous consent for s. 3168, the israel supplemental appropriations act. this bill is nearly identical to legislation that passed the house and would provide $17.6 billion in aid to our cherished ally, including $4 billion to

replenish the iron dome, $1.3 billion to help israel counter mortar attacks, $3.3 billion to support u.s. military operations in the region. but my bill does not make any cuts at all to joe biden's army of irs agents. it doesn't make any cuts to the budget. it doesn't have any offsets. my legislation very simply says they need this aid. let's send this aid. let's make certain israel has what they need to protect themselves. the world's only jewish state is in a fight for its survival. time and time again iran and its proxies have vowed they would

annihilate israel. we have heard them say death to iran, death to israel, death to the u.s. iran funds these proxies. so let's give israel what they need to defend themselves. let's do it unencumbered, no offsets. let's all stand together, and i would ask my democratic colleagues how much longer do you think israel can wait? let's push this forward and let's allow israel to have the funding they need to protect themselves without ties to anything else. the presiding officer: the senator from kansas. mr. marshall: thank you, madam president.

i want to thank my senior senator from the state of tennessee for leading the charge on this important issue. time and time again my colleagues across the aisle blocked passage for fully funded stand alone aid package for israel. we've heard them claim they won't support our bill because cutting the irs would allow millionaires to get away with tax evasion. so senator blackburn and i are rising once again to make things easy for our colleagues who want a bloated irs. but i have to tell you not once in my lifetime have i heard any kansan come to me and express interest in inflating the irs, of all agencies. but we'll press on calling this bluff and putting forth the exact same bill without the irs pay-for. for several months i've said if you don't like our pay-for, show me another. but at the end of the day budget. what is important is getting aid to israel. unfortunately it won't be paid

for. we'll do away with the cuts if it manes that democrats -- if it means democrats will stop holding aid to israel. the people of israel need us to make the deal. we will see the democrats block this bill. that's because it's not about the cuts to the irs. it's time stop politicking. senate democrats' opposition against this live unanimous consent proves to the american people and israel that this was never about the irs cuts being used as a pay for. it was never about tax cheats or milli millionaires, it is about using israel as a pawn to send another blank check to ukraine and it's about a handful and it's for pro-palestinian votes in swing states. i call on my democratic colleagues to do the right thing and drop the political posturing and help israel in their time of need. i yield back.

mrs. blackburn: i ask for the immediate consideration of s s. 3168, the israel supplemental appropriations act. the presiding officer: is there objection? mrs. murray: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from washington. mrs. murray: is it my understanding that the senator is asking unanimous consent to proceed to consideration of the bill. the presiding officer: that's the chair's understanding. mrs. murray: well, madam president, let me say reserving the right to object. iran's attacks over the weekend underscore the precarious moments that we find ourselves in and the urgent need for congress to act decisively to confront the many challenges we and our allies face. of course the surest and fastest way to do that is to pass the

carefully negotiated comprehensive national security supplemental that the senate actually cleared in an overwhelming bipartisan vote two months ago. there's emergency for all of our allies facing grave threats, we cannot afford half measures like this one. for months now ukraine has been desperately waiting for more aid and counting how many bullets they have left, how many missiles and how many iranian-made drones they can still intercept and how much longer they can hold out if we don't keep our word. at a time like this, we cannot settle for a bill that helps one ally and ignores all the rest. ukraine has not just been calling for aid for months. many house republicans, including the speaker, has been saying for months we will not abandon them. this bill would leave ukraine in

the dust. it would ignore the threat of the chinese government that poses in the indo-pacific, and it would fail to take action to address the dire humanitarian crisis we are seeing around the world which will lead to more instability. not on my watch. let me make this simple. if we want a safer world with strong american leadership, we cannot send the message that america only keeps some of its promises to some of its allies some of the time. otherwise, how are our partners supposed to trust us? why would our adversaries take us seriously? how do my colleagues offering this bill plan to answer all of the allies who come knocking after something like this asking, are we a priority like israel or a bargaining chip like ukraine? that's not a rhetorical question. how do you plan to answer them? we cannot tell the world that we forget some of our allies in

their time of need, that partnering with us might mean getting left behind. and that means we cannot ignore the reality that israel is not the only ally of ours in the middle of a brutal conflict facing grave threats. the people of ukraine are fighting and dying for their homeland as we speak. they are literally running out of bullets, fighting off putin's bloody invasion. are we going to pretend with the whole world watching that we do not hear their cries for help? that is not an acceptable outcome, especially when right now we already have a comprehensive bipartisan bill to support all of our allies and address the many threats we face across the globe. the speaker has said many times he wants us to get aid to ukraine. well, all he has to do is prove he is serious and put that bill up for a vote. that's it.

further delay, including by going back to the drawing board and sending something back to the senate will waste more time that we simply do not have. so the speaker needs to put the bipartisan national security supplemental up for a vote because unlike the bill before us right now, the bipartisan senate bill stands by all of our allies. it leaves no one behind. it includes support for israel and ukraine, and importantly, it includes badly needed humanitarian aid, and absolutely essential investments to support our allies in the indo-pacific and deter aggression by the chinese government. we have to do better than half steps. we just have to. we cannot settle for a bill like the one that's proposed here tonight that would shamefully tell the world we don't stand by all of our allies, a bill that would have everyone asking if we're going to treat them like a true ally or an afterthought?

madam president, i object. the presiding officer: objection is heard. mrs. blackburn: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from tennessee. mrs. blackburn: thank you, madam president. i appreciate that my colleague talked about half steps because the inconsistency of this administration to our allies is an issue. our allies don't know if they're our ally, they don't see us as being there for them and our enemies do not fear us. iran, for the first time ever, has attacked israel. i gave you those numbers just a few minutes ago. 170 drones, 30 cruise missiles, 120 ballistic missles. after hamas attacked israel on october 7, they told us they don't intend -- they don't intend to stop. they are continuing over, israel

has been very specific in telling us what they need. $4 billion to premrenish the iron -- replenish the iron dome, $1.2 billion to help israel counter mortar threats, $3.3 billion to support military operations in the region. they're very specific about that. now, when you look at the axis of evil, russia, china, iran, north korea, of course the threats are growing every day. why are they growing? because the biden administration is practicing appeasement -- appeasement. there is agreement in supporting israel. i continue to say, it is time for us to support israel, our greatest ally in the region, the only jewish state.

let's make certain that they have what they need to defend themselves. thank you, madam president. mr. marshall: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from kansas. mr. marshall: thank you, madam president. as israel is under attack from iran, we stand with israel and its people, and the united states will do everything we can to support israel's defense against iran. now, i've said similar things to that, but that's actually a quote from the democrat senate majority leader chuck schumer. as israel's under attack from iran, we will do everything we can to support israel's defense against iran. the majority leader said basically the same thing several months ago on the nation's mall when he said he wouldn't sleep until we help the people of

israel. it's been almost 200 days since iran withian- iranian-backed hamas leaders killed innocent people. i called for aid to our ally israel with no strings apatched four times -- attached four times. sadly democrats blocked our efforts. every time we come to the floor to have this debate, my colleagues on the other side of the aisle stood on this floor and lectured us on why the bipartisan house passed that maintenance tans the spendings levels -- spending requested by senator biden as unreasonable. what is unreasonable to me and most americans is this body's reluctance to help our ally israel in their time of need following not just one, but two unprecedented attacks on israel's sovereign soil. unreasonable is the biden

administration coming out and admitting they are yet again holding israel funds hostage. why? that is the question i get back. why? i'll tell you why. because they are using this crisis as a lever to secure more money for ukraine. and they object to protect their members who are pro-iran, who are pro-hamas from a tough vote as they call it. now, over the weekend everybody's now seen that israel was attacked this time by the head of the snake, iran, not its proxies, but the head of the snake, iran. iran, the nation that harbors terrorists and shouts out death to america. iran, who time and time again has shown they hate americans, they hate israel. iran, a terrorist evil regime that cannot be trusted launched more than 120 ballistic missles, 30 cruise missiles and 170

one-way suicide drones at israel on saturday night. through the strength and resolve of the israeli people and will military help from the united states, british forces, jordan, and many others who successfully neutralized these attacks, israel was hardly scathed let alone defeated. i want to take a moment and pause, though, and also say thanks to all those american soldiers who put their lives on the long to protects one of our most valued allies in the middle east, the people of israel and not just our soldiers, but the soldiers of many other allies. these attacks on israel cannots be iing -- cannot be ignored any longer. we must stand with our decades-long friend who we share

democratic values, security interests and cultural and religious values. we must help israel in its time of need. a friend in need is a friend indeed. so today we're offering an olive branch to pass the bipartisan house halved israel aid bill that -- house passed aid bill to israel. the president can sign it and get the aid to israel. it's time to show where america stands, is it with iran and hamas or israel? it has to be one or the other. it can't be both. as for me and my colleagues, we choose israel. time and again, we see others stand with israel. my message to my colleagues is that actions speak louder than words. we're tired of hearing the pro-israeli lip service while

blocking every effort to help israel in its time of need. history will not forget this. let's do the right thing. as if in legislative session and notwithstanding rule 22, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar 241, h.r. 6126, i ask that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: is there objection? mrs. murray: i object. the presiding officer: objection is heard.

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good afternoon everyone. i have something really quick at the top. the mics are funky, is it funky? okay. [laughter] let's get going. with all seriousness though obviously a very busy weekend at the white house. the president spent hours in the situation room closely monitoring the latest developments in the middle east with his national security team. he was engaged extensive diplomacy speaking with israeli prime minister on saturday night and convening a call with g7 leaders on sunday morning. the president also organizing joint statement with the g7 strongly condemned iran's brazen and unprecedented attack. today the present received an updated briefing from his national security team. as you all note met with the leaders of iraq of the leaders of the czech republic later this

afternoon. with that we have nsc colleague admiral jon kirby here to do a much deeper dive into take your questions in the middle east. good afternoon. you all know certainly spent restated iran and its proxies operating in yemen and iraq also an unprecedented attack on the state of israel over 300 weapons including more than 100 ballistic missiles as well as slanted tech cruise missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles or drones. president wright instructed the united states to defend israel to the maximum extent possible. to defeat that attack and we did. with the support of our partners deny states enabled israel to spectacular defeated. despite launching more than threaded weapons and the region coalition of partners were able to defeat 99% of the attacks.

no infrastructure damage to israel. an unequivocal condemnation for the international community. the president can mean the g7 yesterday at their forcefully condemned that attack and urge for common de-escalation. i like to take a few minutes to correct the record on a few points that have come out i've seen reporting the iranians meant to fail. that this spectacular and embarrassing failure was all but denying. as also seen iran say they provided early warning to help israel prepare its defenses and limit any potential damage. all of this is categorically false to coin the phrase or from the president it's malarkey the attack failed it was defeated by israel. by the united states and by coalition of other partners committed to israel's defense.

so let's be straight, give the given thescale of this attack is intent was clearly to cause significant destruction and casualties. iranian leaders launches so many missiles and other munitions because they knew many were going to be defeated. the aim was to get as many through israel's defenses as possible. now, i've also seen speculation about messages past and warnings we did receive messages from iran. and they received messages from us too. there's never any message to us or anyone else on the timeframe, the target or the type of response. in fact, before yesterday it was presumed one or ballistic missiles might overwhelm even the best defensive systems. that was iran's intent and you also for your self it did not work. this attack was defeated thanks to our preparations to a coalition of partners and israel's remarkable defense

systems. owing to focus on that last point for just a moment. israel today is a far stronger strategic position then it was only a few days ago but i iran's missile program something it's used to threaten israel proved to be far less effective for israel's defenses proved even better than many had long assumed israel's defense was strengthened by coalition of countries and working together. never extensively from attack. to ensure the house of representatives must urgently pass the security supplemental with overwhelming bipartisan support that supplemental includes funding the president requested for the iron dome and david sling system. systems that saved countless lives this weekend many lives from hamas and hezbollah rockets over the last six months but past that bill is the fastest

and surest way to get israel the eight it needs. you must act urgently for the air defenses just as congress must act urgently to replenish ukraine's air defenses. which also continued to be attacked every single day with same iranian made drones. finally much of the world is standing with israel by the president spoke to the g7 leaders yesterday they were unified in condemnation of around the determination older unaccountable the president's direction our teams are following up the g7 capitol side new multilateral sanctions and other nefarious programs for g7 countries have yet to designate i rgc are now considering doing so. going forward will be working to further isolate around internationally and increase economic and other forms of pressure. that is the upshot here but stronger israel, a more unified alliance of partners. that's not iran's intent when it launches attack on saturday

night, not even close. again they failed. present binds welcome both iraqi prime minister and the prime minister of the czech republic to the white house. from iraq will discuss the shared vision for a broad multifaceted relationship. during the meeting these leaders reaffirm their commitment to expanding opportunities for iraq's people reinforcing direct sovereignty, security and stability. we'll be here for almost a week. in that time you will meet a range of administration officials about secretary blinken at the state department secretary austin at the defense department for you opportunities to share priorities and vision for iraq with a variety here in washington and other parts of the united states. how to work with prime minister to diffuse regional tensions prevent from being drawn into

conflict. president firmly believes is central to the region stability. and later he will have a chance to meet with president i'm sorry prime minister to silver the 25th anniversary of the czech republic as a native ally. our alliance has grown stronger our relationship to the two countries have grown closer as we deepen defense corporate including for the czech republic purchase 24f37 fighters earlier this year. president will congratulate the prime minister on legislation recently passed 2% gdp which you know is the new goal. leaders will also discuss strong support for ukraine the press will think the prime minister for leading an effort to help secure nearly 1 million rounds of ammunition for ukraine. one would think if you will bear with me most of today marks the when you're conflict in sudan

i've been bared the brent thousands have been killed and wounded, women and girls have been kidnapped as a soft separate hubs of thousands of famines have been displaced for communities and livelihoods have been utterly destroyed. fiona started to take hold that's why the commit resources to create conditions for potential peach peace process hold accountable actors seeking to sew more violence and to assure humanitarian assistance reaches the civilians who urgently need it. we reiterate our calls for all parties in this conflict to lay down their weapons put an end to this intolerable violence for the future of cendant most of all for the future of the sudanese people. thank you appreciate your patience. >> there will be a response. at this next steps are for israel? works of these really speak to that. >> will not get into our diplomatic conversations or expectations.

the israeli government will determine for themselves that there's going to be a response without responses went to look like. the specific roles other members of the coalition and saudi arabia. >> what other members the coalition speak for themselves. >> is was reportedly looking for options to send the message to iran but not caused casualties is that presenting alternatives? >> this is an israelite decision to make. whether and how they will respond to it i rounded on saturday are you making suggestions? >> we are not involved in their decision-making process about potential response any plans to speak to trade went again? works they do her thing on the counter to speak to her. spoken frequently of the last

six months he'll absolutely speak again at the appropriate time. >> one day before the attack of president biden issued a warning to iran, don't. and now the u.s. is not taking any part in israelite reprisal. does that signal to iran they can defy the u.s. that taking consequences? if i'm take a look at what just happened on saturday night, i don't think i'd be betting the united states is not willing to get engaged and help defend israel. you had american fighter pilots in the air, and combat operations shooting down drones and missiles heading towards israel knocking them down from there. the message should be very clear to any of it when the president says were going to take are committed to the regions there is a run to help israel defend itself would get skin in the game and we prove that. >> understand what you say about deterrence. >> i just said and karina lead

in the added conversation g7 leaders he will be engaging with other allies and partners we have seen the swift condemnation of what i rounded from the international community. will be working to work up options to hold a properly accountable. >> fleet logistics of this with roughly 300 drones and muscle shot down assess the debris field and the shrapnel how much the impacted people on the ground. >> were not going to any kind of assessment of the impact on the ground the israeli defense forces and officials have already been out and about look at the impact on the ground. they were very few missiles that cut through the only damage done was very minor damage to one airbase in israel. that did not even put that airbase out of commission. the israelis have spoken to this i believe they have released

imagery of some of things if out of the ground freight sadly a young girl and innocent civilian, less than 10 years old was severely wounded prey that was early casualty we of. >> thank you. >> a couple questions you just said from the timing of the attack in israel. cookson ever said we didn't have an idea. i never said we did not -- that we could act on and speak to israelite counterparts. what i said was iran never delivered a message of the time and targets. >> no timing. i want to be clear this whole narrative out there that iran passed us a message is ridiculous.

cooks i'm not going to get into target discussions from the podium. the iraq he government one of the areas. >> of an in-depth discussion of the prime minister and his team about the continued activities of militia groups in iraq. and we will reinforce our views house there so take the force protection of her troops in our facilities there. i fully expect will talk with the prime minister about counter isis mission in iraq and its potential future. >> you said in the partnership we disagree with the united states but you mentioned we make a new system for international law, international humanitarian law and. [inaudible]

damascus is understanding to respected international law is this a disagreement. the iraqi government? what shift effectively prime minister what he meant by those comments iraq is a key partner one we really value. we would not have this meeting today do not have if it was not an important relationship. iraq is critical to regional stability. >> you said just now spectacular and embarrassing failure. does the president believe israel should now take this as a win and show restraint? works through the context of the question is coming in during his conversation with the prime minister and saturday night, first while he congratulated the prime minister for the exceptional effort by the israeli defense forces and of course commanded as you expect the commander-in-chief to do. in the great work that is done.

i was looking at some of the video before i came out here and it's easy to look at that like it is a computer game. he looks so simple things get knocked out of the sky it is not simple it is hard. a lot of planning and preparation had to go into that a lot of coordination the president tucks the prime primeminister about that party o noted this was an extraordinary success a military success. that success alone, just for itself speaks volumes about israel standing in the region. they do not stand alone by the coalition came to help them defend themselves. it also says a lot about israel 's siority freight says just as much about iran's military inferiority when it comes to the set of attacks and the president urged the prime minister to think about what that success says all by itself to the rest of the region.

>> think about restraint. maybe this should not go further. >> all i will say is the beginning of this conflict has been steadfast and consistent we do not want to see a war with iran. we will do what we have to do to defend israel. is that your assessments? >> that's up to the prime minister and the war cabinet to speak too. i am not going to provide intelligence assessments from here so as far as i know they were cabinet is debating and talked about their next steps. i'm going to let them speak to have the next steps might be. assessment of the time line given the conversation question are quick to arrest me a question that really should be asked of the israeli defense forces in the prime minister. not to the united states.

ongoing conversations? >> of course we are talking to the israelis. obviously the last 48 hours particulate the conversation it's been about what i rounded. we continue to talk to them about what is going on and we expect, hope in coming days to be able to have yet another round of discussions of about what their intentions are. but the is what iran understood. >> the u.s. military given whatever the white house person by to know about what's going to happen next their any fresh u.s. military preparations? >> fresh military preparations for? >> whatever. [laughter] yes. [laughter] we are always looking at protection. were always a value in it based on the threats and challenges

but you can expect secretary office and the entire team at the department of defense is going to stay vigilant whatever threat might be. >> you said a moment ago the ridiculous u.s. ally turkey u.s. partner what is the discrepancy? >> i cannot possibly answer that question but all i am telling you think about this. a world in which iran would pick up and we are about too schwab israel willing to let you know it's coming. i'm sorry it did not just happen i cannot account for what sources might be telling about what they heard what i'm telling you what we heard. we did get a message from my ron and we passed messages to iran as well we will not get into the

details of. none of it with years of targets, he was a time for answers and missions are put on target for. >> you have said without preconditions you're going to sit down with north korea. the same applied to iran and reopening diplomatic sessions? >> you and elaborate? >> no. as far as sanctions in response to iranian oil production is now higher than it was two years ago. is there a reason you're not taking more steps. >> we do not preview it sanctions are not going to start doing that today except to note what i said in my opening suit part of the discussion with the g7 leaders was a possibility of additional sanctions on iran. hopefully it multilaterally we'll see where that goes for. >> anything where the oil prices

or exports are working her way through that. >> defense secretary lloyd austin asked the israeli counterparts in the response to the attack for is their confidence. >> i will tell you we are and will remain in very close contact with our israeli counterparts. >> will stay in close contact. >> only hostage talks, hamas rejected latest proposal is rejected the deal. allow to return home unrestricted and should the idf pullback to do that? works personally do not consider it a dead letter. as far as we are concerned there's a viable proposal on the table and hamas ought to take it. we are not letting up on the

idea we can get more aid in. at that active football in our heads. and as for movement numerous what we have talked to the israelis about is you have a million and a half people seeking refuge. it is by far the largest concentration in gaza. the need to be accounted for but whatever kind of military operation is thinking about doing to your point about moving north. they have to provide safe venues for them to do that for they have to provide medicine shelter all has to be baked into the future military operations that happen on the ground. >> it does sell accuracy israel should has been a sticking point. >> we want to see them account for the future safety and security of more than a million

refugees that are taking refuge in rafah baked into whatever plans they might have on the ground. >> on the cease-fire and negotiations at official said yesterday included almost everything hamas asked for. how is it and she was planning another counterproposal? >> i don't know if a new proposal there is a very proposal on the table bill burns helped negotiate in cairo a week or so ago. the israelis were able to get behind and now it's time for hamas to step up and take that deal. most at risk pool of them to get out it will allow for about six weeks of a cease-fire we can get calm we can increase humanitarian assistance for there is a deal on the table, that is what hamas needs to take a break.

>> did he receive any commitment from house speaker mike johnson cooks i will let the speaker speak to whatever his plans might be. certainly we heard from leader mcconnell and from leader jeffries about the importance of passing the supplemental and getting it on its way. as i said in my opening statement the fastest way. i mean you have got two good tod friends here israel and ukraine very different fights to be sure but active fights for their sovereignty and safety and security. time is not on anyone's side in either case. they need to move quickly on this for the best way to get that aid into the hands of the idf and the hands of the ukrainian soldiers is to pass the bipartisan bill the senate passed break. >> for. >> i understand that is your preference but so icehouse told

cooks their post to a standalone bill that would just work on israel's obscene proposed we would oppose a standalone bill yes. is it integral decision if israel retaliates against iran. >> to answer bluntly i'm not going to get into hypotheticals we do not want to see a war the agreement we do not want to see a wider conflict. as a presence as the prime minister on saturday night we will continue to do it we have to do to help israel defend itself. but you are asking me too get ahead of his far as i know a decision the war cabinet is not even made. >> if it were to happen for. >> is a terrific terrific hypothetical and just not going to entertain. correct thank you. >> is president biden considered may be beating up the posture to be more than just one word? >> you are referring to don't? >> and they did it anyway.

let's talk about don't let's talk about saturday night. heat made it clear he did not see escalation in the region. let me finish. he had military resources right after and then we had an inkling this kind of thing was coming he added even more military resources but more destroyers capable of shooting down ballistic missiles, fighter squadron was able to shoot down drones and that is what we did. you can talk about that don't word all you want but we can talk about what did happen and what did happen as iran utterly failed if i am sitting in tehran right now i am betting president biden takes it pretty seriously when he says don't escalate. he's going to make sure you can't. and they didn't. yes they fired an unprecedented munitions. how much success that they have? none, zero. very little infrastructure it

was it embarrassing. >> the irradiance do not listen to public biden's public warning is there any regret here about billions of dollars for iranian leaders during the president's administration? >> what are you talking about her. >> the unfrozen billions of dollars for. >> for iranian leaders? really? i don't think so. >> for humanitarian purposes. >> does not free of money for them to spend on other stuff question are going to get unprecedented numbers of munitions apart israel? >> first of all i am betting they're sitting in tehran they are taking it seriously would president biden says is going to defend israel. put skin in the game all heck of a lot of it and knocked almost every thing out of the sky. i am betting they are taking it pretty seriously. as for this unfreezing, none of those funds. try to set up an account by the previous administration goes

directly to the supreme leader of the irgc. can only be as for humanitarian purposes where watching that very, very closely to make sure that is what happens. >> you often defend all efforts to travel while i think the president is on patient he is working critically the present from it he wears a white at the? >> we got our indications shortly after arriving better, firmer intelligence and information about specific timing of what we expected this iranian attack the president did not bat an eye he was here all saturday night in the situation from mid afternoon until late at night getting real-time up dates from the general and his defense team all through the night including calling trade went from the room. on sunday he was right back at it again work in the g7.

week or so more than 2,000 have gotten in, and even throughout the course of the weekend as israel was mr. schumer: madam president. the presiding officer: the majority leader. sch mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent that all time on the manglona nomination be deemed expired and at 11:30

a.m. on tuesday, april 16, the senate vote on confirmation, and that if the nomination is confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the president be immediately notified of the senate's actions. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: i move to proceed to legislative session. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all those in favor say aye. all opposed say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report the pending business. the clerk: motion to proceed to calendar number 350, s. 4072, a bill to prohibit the use of funds to enforce certain rules of the environmental protection agency. mr. schumer: i understand that there is a bill at the desk and i ask for its fers reading. the presiding officer: the clerk will report.

can the clerk: h.r. 7888, an act to reenact the foreign intelligence surveillance act of 1978. the presiding officer: i now ask for a second reading in order to place the bill on the calendar upped the provisions of rule 14, i object to my own request. the presiding officer: objection is heard. the bill will be read for a second time in the next legislative day. mr. schumer: i move to adjourn until 9:04 p.m. today. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion to adjourn until 9:04 p.m. all those in favor say aye. those opposed, no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. the senate stands adjourned until 9:04 p.m. today.

the senate will come to order. the clerk: washington, d.c., april 15, to the send a, under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3, i appoint the honorable tina smith to perform the duties of the chair. signed patty murray, president pro tempore. the presiding officer: majority leader. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent that the morning hour be expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and the senate be in a period of morning business with senators permitted

to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. schumer: i move to proceed to calendar number 350, s.4072. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: motion to proceed to calendars 350. is 4072, a bill to prohibit the use of funds to implement, administer, or enforce certain rules of the environmental protection agency. mr. schumer: i understand that there is a bill at the desk that is due for a second reading. the presiding officer: the leader is correct. the clerk will read the title of the bill for a second time. the clerk: h.r. 7888 an act to reform the foreign intelligence surveillance act of 1978. mr. schumer: in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule 14, i would object to further proceeding. the presiding officer: objection having been heard, the bill will be placed on the calendar. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent that the

senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 344, s.3858. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 344, s.3858, a bill to establish within the office of land and emergency management of the environmental protection agency the office of mountains, deserts, and plains, and for other purposes. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. mr. schumer: i further ask that the committee-reported amendments be agreed to. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: i ask the bill be considered read a third time. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: i no of no further debate on the bill as amended. the presiding officer: is there further debate? if not, the question is on passage of the bill as amended. all those in favor say aye. all opposed say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the bill as amended is passed. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent that the motions to reconsider be

considered made and laid upon the table, with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of calendar number 92, s. res. 174. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 92, s. res. 174, condemning the human rights record of the government of the kingdom of eswatini and the brutal killing on january 21, 2023. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent that the coons amendment at the desk to the committee-reported substitute amendment be agreed to, the committee-reported substitute amendment to the resolution as amended be agreed to, the resolution as amended be agreed to, the committee-reported substitute amendment to the preamble be agreed to, the preamble as amended be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer:

without objection. mr. schumer: madam president, i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of s. res. 640, which is at the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. res. 640, commemorating and supporting the goals of world quantum day. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. schumer: 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. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: madam president, i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of s. res. 641, which is at the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. res. 641, designating the week of april 7 through april 13, 2024, as national water week. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure?

without objection. the senate will proceed to the measure. mr. schumer: 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. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: finally, i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today it stand adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on tuesday, april 16. 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 proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the manglona nomination, postcloture. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. schumer: for the information of the senate, senators should expect two roll call votes at approximately 11:30 a.m. if there is no further business to come before the senate, i move that it stand adjourned under the previous order. the presiding officer: the senate stands adjourned until

10:00 a.m. -- mr. schumer: the question is on the motion. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all those in favor say aye. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the senate stands adjourned the senate consider the nomination of ramona to be a u.s. district court judge for the northern mariana islands. later this week senators will work on legislation reauthorizing section 702 of the foreign intelligence 2026. the warrantless surveillance authority is currently set to expire this friday if congress doesn't take action and tomorrow the articles of impeachment against homeland security secretary are expected to be delivered to the senate to mark the start of an impeachment

trial. live coverage on c-span2.

homeland security secretary testified on the president's 2025 budget request before the house appropriations subcommittee. he took questions on the department's priorities and concerns