People, to their healthcare, to working peoples rights, to womens rights, preserving the right to choose, to making sure we have a good clean planets, the lb gtq for the dead and eloquent job or help america was listening because this nomination matters. It matters to the average daily lives of average americans. And last night, by holding the floor until late hours the democrats made really strong arguments. I thank my colleagues for doing that. Now for the third day in the row, leader mcconnell has come to the floor and completely ignored the principal, quote unquote that he established in 2016 when mayor hours after Justice Scalia passed away leader mcconnell said that the American People should have a voice in the selection of their next Supreme Court justice, histh word the American People should have a voice and the selection of their next Supreme Court justice. Referring to the upcoming election. With that election was more than eight months away. We are now only 42 days away. The socalled mcconnell rule, that suppose it principle that the American People deserve a voice in the selection of the Supreme Court justice has not come up. The republican leader cannot mention, no wonder he never mentions it. Any six to just diversionary irrelevant remarks in his speeches on the floor. Instead of addressing the main issue why he said one thing into thousand 16, and a different thing now. Instead, the senate is forced to suffer these tortured explanations and misleading precedents for it at a press conference yesterday, heres how the republican leader had the role in the Supreme Court justices but he actually said, quote, we have it obligation under the constitution to consider a Supreme Court justice. Should we choose to take advantage of it. Did you catch that . Did you catch that man president . It is an obligation but only if the republican leader chooses to take advantage of it. So i see, when theres a democratic president is one of those obligations you dont have to take advantage of. But when there is a republican president , it is a solemn constitutional duty. Are we really supposed to swallow the argument that when the senate and the president are of the office a party, one rule applies . But when they are of the same party one rule applies . I did not hear that right after skill leah die with leader mcconnell explained what he was holding it up. So this idea that when it is it one party, one rule applies. And another party another rule applies. We have a term for that it is called a double standard. And if the leader really wants to discuss precedents, real president not fiction, we can dispatch with that conversation in about 30 seconds. So madame president , i have a parliamentary inquiry for the chair. Is there air Senate President for confirming a Supreme Court nominee between july and election day in a president ial year . Materials in the offices of the sec. The senate did not show such a precedent. Thank you madam president. July is long gone, august is over, we are now at the end of september. As you just h heard, not from the democratic leader, but from the records in the senate as spoken by the chair, there is no, no, no precedent for confirming a Supreme Court justice between july and election day. The republican leader can come up with arguments that twist things, that jump through hoops, and it does not gain. No precedent for any Supreme Court nominee. Being confirm between july and election day. So as you know, july is gone, august is over, they are now the end of september, six weeks before an election in which some people of art he begun to vote. Simply my republican friends have no grounds on which to stand. Anone. No logic to excuse completely flipping their decision for years apart under the same circumstances. No justification for the senators who said on the record, they would quote say the same thing if a republican president were in office. Say that same thing if a republican president were in office. They said then, but does not apply now that we have a republican president inor office. No defense for the senator who said precedent set, president set, im sure come 202020 will remind me of that unquote. No place to hide for the senator who said quote you can say that i said it, but the next president t decide. I want you to use my words against me. Unquote. Why are Senate Republicans going to such extreme lengths to ramp through a justice here weeks before an election . Taking a complete mockery of their previous principal . Why are they committing a power grab so and regis that it risks shedding the last vestiges of trust that remain between our two parties for what . Because this is the only way for republicans to achieve their radical right wing agenda. An agenda so far away from average americans think, even average republicans that they would not dare to bring such things on the floor of the senate. Unable to thrust comically unpopular positions on the American People through congress, they have to try to the courts. A cynical strategy that dates back to the 1950s. Republicans are sick and tired for instance of this annoying law, the Affordable Care act. And that it keeps providing health to millions of americans. They tried to repeal in the house just about a million times and they tried hereto in the senate. But failed by one vote. So now they have taken it. President trump and republicans attorney general, republican attorneys general are suinggh right now to eliminate the entire law including protections for up to one or 30 million americans with preexisting conditions. In fact, President Trump is meeting with those republican attorneys general at the white house today, this afternoon, less than a week after Justice Ginsburg passing, the president is meeting with the leaders of the republican lawsuit against our healthcare law. Extensively its about how social Media Companies are biased against conservatives. But he wants to bet that the healthcare lawsuit does not come up . I would like for someone to answer that. If you cared about healthcare the American People, President Trump himself would sdh used to withdraw their lawsuit. I am calling on him to do it, right now. I doubt he will. Given his record, given his lack of concern for American Peoples health care. But he should. But unfortunately, lets remember, President Trump already told the American People his goal. He said quote my judicial appointments will do the right thing. Unlike disappointment john roberts on obamacare and he is about to make a Supreme Court pick while there is an ongoing lawsuit that seeks to eliminate the Affordable Care act. Here that america . The healthcare law you want, the healthcare law you need, the healthcare law that protects you against overreaching insurance companies, who wont give you insurance when you have a preexisting condition, President Trump has said he will appoint a nominee who will do it. And we know he said it because of what he said about Justice Roberts when Justice Roberts opposed his view on healthcare. Guess when the cases being heard in the Supreme Court, america . November 10. A week after the election. Is that why Senate Republicans are in such a rush to get a new right wing justice confirmed before the election . So that Supreme Court can do what they failed to do here in the senate, repeal its healthcare law which protects so Many Americans . Leader mcconnell slams on the brakes while tens of thousands of americans died from covid. And now he is slamming his foot on the gas to approve a Supreme Court justice who could rip away americas healthcare in the middle of a pandemic. Shame, shame. For four months the republican majority delayed a covid relief package while the nation suffered. But one hour, one hour after the news of Justice Ginsburgs passing broke, leader mcconnell said, back down the hatches, we are full steam ahead on confirming another right wing justice. A justice who could undo Ruth Bader Ginsburg legacy. Who could rip away healthcare from millions of american families. Or who could decide theres no more right to choose from millions of american women. Roe v wade hangs in the balance here. Who would cross unions for millions of american workers. He would made it harder for millions to vote, for millions of africanamericans. Whom could end Marriage Equality for millions of lb gtq e americans like my daughter and her wife who looked at each other this weekend and wondered if their marriage was on the line. Average americans are thinking, what are they going to lose . With this new hard right special interest dominated Supreme Court, if, if our republican friends have their wish. Which we are going to fight every step of the way. The stakes of this election, the stakes of this vacancy concern no less in the future fundamental rights of the American People. My friends on the other side will tell you, they are being t hysterical. It they actually support protection for americans with preexisting conditions. That is hysterical. Ask the mother whose son or daughter has cancer and cant get insurance and watching their child suffer. That is not being hysterical, that is doing what we are supposed to do, now the folks on the other side are doing. Rushing through a justice in a very strong likelihood that if that justice gets approved, it will rip healthcare away from the American People. America you have to ask yourself, if republicans will completely reverse themselves major principal and ever it suits them, what can you trust them on . How can you take their word seriously . Republicans that praise the legacy of Justice Ginsburg with flowery words about her impact, but in the resolution i offered yesterday they even did not want to acknowledge her s dying wish that she not to be replaced the next president is installed. And President Trump has the gall to suggest that her dying words were not issued by her. How low can a president go . And now, Senate Republicans are working with every fiber of their being to confirm a justice despite her last wish. In contradiction to her dying most fervor wish which will reverse her legacy. This is not speculation. This is not hyperbole. President trump has said again and again and again that he wants the Supreme Court to terminate the healthcare law. He made it clear any Trump Nominee must want to strike dont roe v wade. Republicans showed for once be straight with the American People. They are fighting to reverse judge ginsburgs legacy, not onerous. All of the speeches of praise are totally hollow. And are belied by their actions. America, you cannot trust them at their word. And you definitely trust this republican majority to protect you. On the other matter, the johnson report was c left of the country is busy fighting covid, Senate Republicans have been abusing the power of the senate to conduct Opposition Research for President Trumps campaign. This morning, the chairman of the Homeland Security committee released his report which reads as if pollutant wrote it, not United States senators. Peddled by Russian Disinformation Campaign would dispute by every witness who testified, Senate Republicans found no evidence, no evidence to support thehe Conspiracy Theory senators grassley and johnson should reimburse taxpayers for the money they wasted. This entire disgraceful affair , the johnson report should be relegated to history. I yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum. I dont think anyone is surprised that democrats have not reacted well to the idea that President Trump will nominate a third Supreme Court justice. After all, overreacting to republican nominees is pretty much the doesnt know who the nominee is to hear the democrats tell, any republican is likely to bring about