With. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell congress is returning to washington for a work period that will be filled with important todo items, but we already know what will top the agenda over in the house of representatives. House democrats are finally indulging in their impeachment obsession. Full steam ahead. Many of us remember the Washington Post headline that was literally published on our ogren nation day. The campaign to impeach President Trump, has begun. And sure enough, House Democrats have been at it ever since. One prominent house called this presidency illegitimate before it even began. Well the political share was leading and promised years ago, that if she would find a way, to impeach the president. So madam president , for starters later this afternoon will, secretary of the air force. And speaking of our horses congressmen waste no more time in getting our processes back on track. In delivering the finding that servicemembersrs need. Just two months ago, the president and speaker the house, produced the appropriations process. And agreed to forgo, the bills. The last month and virtually our fmocratic were back on the deal, routine funding negotiations were again subje subject. Urgent resources for the operations of the pentagon, for the fink of politics. We need to put these political games aside. Families for our troops, and the funding are commanders need. We need toor get a funding procs back on track for the entire federal g government. The House Democrats need to stop sorting off the landmark trademark, the agreement that csends hundred 76000 new americans jobs. Mexico is ready and the majority here in the senate is ready. The entire continent is displayed or waiting on Speaker Pelosi to stop blocking this win for the United States and stop blocking these new jobs. I dont care how much my democratic colleagues in the housemate despite the president , they shouldnt throw hundred and jobs on the scrap pile. E on all these fronts, i hope sincerely that her democratic colleagues will be able to separate this vital business. Join republicans in moving forward with the work of the American People. No one final, i know i speak for monday of my colleagues on both sides of the islands. Syria in recent days, they are net our nato ally. They host million syrian refugees. They have legitimate security concerns about the situation in syria. But the escalation of hostilities with turkey and, they have violence leads to an end. Syrian forces have stood proudly. Along u. S. Forces in the fight against isis. Over years of joint effort, their shared sacrifices that plagued us ices on the field and rendered its physical, essentially not a im going one. Leaving the filled out would be leaving the door wide open for this dangerous force and a new iteration, of the islamic state. The power vacuum open for russia. Leaving syria wideng open for in to extend his rageea unimpeded, all the way from iraq to the airstrip and israel. In destroying the leverage we currently have, to stop the slaughter of the syrian people, and negotiate an end to this terrible conflict and humanitarian catastrophe. Savannah president i will make something clear, the United States has highs in afghanistan, thats where our enemies are. Thats why we arere there. Advancing u. S. Infantry around the world. Make is an evil empire or the world his policeman. He makes us a prudent and responsible for power. It stands up our own security and freedom of others. Alongside the aiding Coalition Partners that u. S. Forces that led to the counter ices coalition, that is what we must continue to do. We must continue to provide support to the local horses that hecarried the large share of the responsibility to defend their homelands. In this effort, must continue to include our allies, and our partners. Even the imperfect ones who sometimes behave rationally and dangerously. Is most saudi arabia and turkey have recently. But it looks like President Trump would withdraw from syria at the beginning of the year, 70 senators jointed warning of the risk of participants withdrawing from syria or afghanistan. The vetoproof the majority wrote s1 to strengthening the security act. Demonstrated bipartisan appreciation for enduring security interest. In the region. The senate spoke clearly and said that we must ensure that we have conditions for the terrace before any withdrawal. Blregrettably, monday of the democratic senators, running for president , parted with this bipartisan consensus and voted against this amendment. So i hope those aspiring for matters in c chief explain how they reconcile their criticism with red menstruation today with their votes just a few months ago. Maybe billy would be asked, on the debate stage this very evening. I am heartened to hear the Vice President of finance will soon lkad a delegation to begin immediate talks of turkey. To end this bounds. I expect the turkey allies to be listening to this is we repair are important relationship. Our common fight against an emboldened traditional adversary like iran, and russia. This would be bad for u. S. Interests that it would be terrible for turkey. I look forward to discussing with members on both sides and with the administration on how to heal this and stand with our partners and provide strong principles and consistent global leadership. We take you live now to a News Conference with nancy pelosi on the impeachment inquiry of President Trump. [background sounds] [background sounds] [background sounds] [background sounds] [background sounds] [background sounds] [background sounds] [background sounds] while we wait for this News Conference we will show you senator schumer his remarks from the senate floor earlier today on the impeachment inquiry in a situation considering. Now madam president over the past month, evidence has emerged that the president of the United States pressured a foreign leader to investigate one of his leading political rivals. Whistleblower inside of the Intelligence Community first raise alarms that the president applied pressure on ukrainian president zielinski, to presume investigation that would benefit the president. He then released a memorandum which demonstrably evaluated the mint whistleblower concerns. Lisa followed, the houses received testimony for a number of state Department Officials who had filled in additional pieces, to this very troubling puzzle. Pretty giuliani his efforts to dig up dirt on the president his political rivals, were well known within the state department and the National Security council. Investors to the eu gordon was heavily involved with mr. Giuliani and we continue to receive Additional Information about mr. Simons participation. His schedule testimony and the coming days will undoubtedly be rebel relevant and important. I miss all of this, the white house is engaged in stonewalling an outright defiance of congressional prerogatives. The state department, instructed his officials not to comply with congressional subpoenas. The white house is refused to cooperate with the house impeachment inquiry. And the president is publicly and repeatedly start to bully and intimidate the whistleblower. Is additional facts were unearthed, is additional facts are an earth, we have a responsibility to consider them to the best of our country and mind. The whistleblower was doing courageous and patriotic act and must be protected. The Constitution Congress the branch of government, that role must be respected. The matter at the heart of the inquiry consider the very integrity of her democratic collections. And must be investigated thoroughly and completely and in a nonpartisan matter. Our Founding Fathers interference in our elections and consider it one of the greatest threats facing our republic. Once again, the wisdom of the Founding Fathers shines through. If a foreign country and metal, inner affect the outcome of our elections, americans will quickly lose faith in a democracy if russia controls her lunch actions or china or iran. What the heck do we vote for. So the alleged offense by the president is clearly serious enough to warrant an investigation by congress. And that is exactly with the house of representatives is doing and is impeachment inquiry. You must continue unimpeded. We can do that went out two things. And must do them. We can protect the constitution and take action to help average working families at the same time we are in the senate, who can do both. Protect the constitution and help average working families. Its not one or the other. From the very beginning, democrats have been committed to doing the people his business. While the democratic majority in the house of representatives has passed hundreds of bills deals with healthcare and infrastructure and violence Climate Change during this work, mcconnell, has turned our chamber into a legislature graveyard. No one of these bills has received a vote in the senate. No vote save protections with people with preexisting conditions though they market your pleading with us to do it. No one on bipartisan background check so that more people die. From gun violence, emitted by people who should have guns. No vote on bipartisan election russian threatens us. No vote of the violence against women act. When abuse of women continues. President trump over the course of his presidency is also failed to offer proposals to address any of these missing issues. In monday cases, his policies and his executive actions have made things worse. So is Congress Comes back into session, monday democrats will force the republican colicky to vote during this work very on three measures are important millions of americans. These votes will occur on the procedures of the congressional review act. The congressional review act, and of the public not familiar with the arcane parts of this. It is one of the rare instances where the minority can force a vote. We wanted to make these other issues, gun violence, we want to debate healthcare and debate infrastructure and debate preexisting conditions, crossing our republican friends are going to think exactly is we do. Lets have a debate and vote. Met leader mcconnell, much to the discredit of this chamber, as well is his own, and said no. But here the congressional review act, that at least allows us to review some of the overreaching actions of the executive branch and going to vote on it. Each of these cra review act, boats will present our republican colleagues with a choice. Its both of protect americans with preexisting conditions are not to protect them. Both of to fight chronic Climate Change or to do nothing. Or also demand that our republican colleagues take up legislations. To protect hard earned pensions for millions of american workers. Several of my colleagues will come to the floor this evening to do just that. Senators mentioned in brown, Abdo Peters Smith and chester, they have been real leaders on these issues. Workers who hold for decades to put money into the pensions and thought when they retired, at least they would have something to live decently. They lose all of that. It must be act. We help our republican colleagues will lets look at that debate and help us move to deal with the millions of workers struggling to preserve their pensions. Is we continue to fulfill our solemn constitutional duty told the president accountable, impress will not stop putting pressure on leader mcconnell and friends in the majority. To get the senate back to work to the American People. Democrats will use every till we have and there are not that monday, to stop leader mcconnell from making the Senate Legislative labor on the American People when they need help in action in so monday ways. Now, on turkey and syria. A major issue that deserves the senate his attention this week, and it shows we can again fulfill our constitutional obligations. As well is help the American People. One thing were going to be talking about this week, is President Trump his precipitous and dangerous decision to withdraw from Northern Syria. A few weeks ago the president abruptly announced that the United States which is long maintained a presence in Northern Syria, to root out isis terrace, with genocide is turkey watched into the region. For years a Global Coalition of the u. S. And our partners and allies particularly the stout curves in syria have worked tightly and sacrificed much tooth defeat isis and now, only in a matter of days, the president click unstudied and illadvised serious decision is jeopardized all of that progress. For years, american soldiers have fought hard and some of given their lives to vanquish isis. For years are great military and diplomatic leaders that strategize about how to get rid of vices that in one bill click on thoughtout soap, the president hasnt done that. In despicable and dangerous and consequences have already proven dire. The syrian dictator and war criminal and strengthen his position greatly cutting a deal with the kurds and moving his forces in the gap by our withdrawal. Glasses benefited from President Trump his ill thought out precipitous and long headed action was wrong. His greatest enemy, when our great enemies in monday ways is you know, no friend of the iranian government. Around benefited and who also is benefited. President clinton, Russian Troops have now swept into the region according to reports. Brushy indies the oil in Northern Syria that it might control. When the president does some kind of action that makes everyone scratch their heads the benefits put in, one doesnt know if he is doing it to actually help wooden or he just doesnt get it. I tend to think is often the former unfortunately. So now our kurdish partners, are paying the ultimate cost of their betrayal and tens of thousands of civilians have been displaced. Maybe most concerning of all, reports see the more than 10000 isis fighters currently held and guarded by the kurds could walk out of their cells. By pulling out of Northern Syria, President Trump has encouraged nothing short of an isis jailbreak. I see to my fellow americans, some may see we dont want any troops anywhere. Bring them all home. We dont care. Will i care, most people care. Something i would see i dont care what happens to the kurds. The one thing that everyone should care about, whatever the views, ideal politics in the middle east and in syria is our own security. We have spent a decade of treasure and often lives, rooting out isis and why did because isis presents a dangerous to our homeland. We in new york, we know more than anybody ago how a small group from far away and do huge damage. They can kill thousands of innocent americans here. And now President Trump who the thoughtless action is allowing isis to gain new strength. What is going on here. This is the threat to our own National Security here in our homeland and we must do everything to stop it. But is the most angry with the present from what i am told. Our own military. They have fought shoulder to shoulder alongside the kurds, watching kurds risk their lives and lose their lives to help protect americans. And they werent even consulted. The military wasnt even consulted. He heard what general mehta said, hes making the most respected military leader we have even noise in retirement. He said this makes it likely is more likely that isis gains strength it can hurt us. What the heck is going on here. This transcends any ideological differences we may have both of we agree with President Trump or disagree or both of we think is the im going present or think hes awful president. This goes beyond that. What is going on. In years, that our republican spent criticizing our former president , president obama, from sibley failing to recite the place radical islamic terror, and republican friendship the at the what the president has done, not simply refining his face. The president his actions, both of it is inadvertent or not. It has made radical islamic terror more real and more dangerous. In one fatal slope. President trump is deserted our partners adversaries, provided i find to isis fighters who have been taken off of the battlefield and put american troops in america in harms way. Truly this is one of the most thoughtless and dangerous policy changes that President Trump conveyed. It is made on a whim seemingly. That went out consulting our military commanders that went out notifying congress and most egregiously that went out thinking consequences through makes it even more alarming. We ventured a dangerous moment my friends and increasingly clear to everyone that the president his erratic decisionmaking is endangered our National Security and security of our partners and allies around the world. Strong sanctions while im going and justified will not be sufficient and undoing the damage. Where will they stop the consequences stemming from the isis jailbreak. So the first step is congress returns, is are democrats and republicans to join us in passing a resolution making clear to both parties demand the president his decision be reversed. And this is bipartisan but our republican colleagues have special place here for they will have far more success in getting the president to reverse course and changed his views. So there is a solemn obligation for all of these re