Growing up on long island they said get the federal job to do work for thel post office. Why . Because they take care of their own. I have family who owned business. Business. Equity to work for the government and this whole thing is out of control. Half the people unit in . They can complete a full sentence we are breaking away to keep our over 40 year commitment to live coverage of congress. Today the senate is scheduled to hold a procedural vote to start work on a shortterm spending bill that would avert a Government Shutdown this coming saturday at midnight. The focus boat is set forn time. Now live to the floor of the senate here on cspan2. The chaplain let us pray. Lord and king, you are forever. Send your light and truth to guide our senators. As they move into crisis mode in an attempt to avoid a Government Shutdown, give them insights that will help them solve the riddles of these times. Empower them to possess discernment in order to know what is right. Imbue them with a passion for truth that will compel them to do your will. Strengthen them also with a humility that seeks to listen and learn. May they find joy in their work as they seek to please you. Remove from them discouragement and despair. As you make them partners with you in building a nation where truth and justice will prevail. We pray in your powerful name. Amen. The presiding officer please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to our 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, september 26, 2023. To the senate under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3, of the standing rules of the senate, i hereby appoint the honorable peter welch, a senator from the sent is from the state of vermont to perform the duties of the chair. Signed patty murray, president pro tempore. The presiding officer under the previous order, leadership time is reserved. Morning business is closed. Under the previous order, the senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to h. R. 3935, which the clerk will report. The clerk motion to proceed to calendar number 211, h. R. 3935, an act to amend title 49, United States code and so forth and for other purposes. Thank you for joining us today. Finally the Southern District of they understand concerning this can be. The allegations against me are just that. Allegations. Or anyone who has known me throughout my years of service, my advocacy is always use especially my mom, my hero. Everything ive accomplished everyone has underestimated me. I recognize this will be the biggest fight yet but i have dated throughout this whole process, i thoroughly believe the facts are presented, not only will i be exonerated but i will be the future news senior center. I want to address more things. First, a cornerstone of foundation of american democracy and our Justice System is the principal that all people to be presumed innocent until proven guilty. All people. I ask for nothing more nothing less. Public opinion is no substitute for our Justice System. We cannot assign the presumption of innocence for political when the arm is irrevocable. Those who rush to judgment you have done so on a limited set of frame the installations as possible. Remember, prosecutors get it wrong. Sadly, i know that. A set of waiting for colfax to be presented, others have rushed to judgment because they see political opportunities for themselves or those around them. All i ask for my colleagues in congress elected leaders and advocates of new jersey i have worked with for years as well as each person in the home allows second, my long record, once that is indisputable throughout my time in congress i have remained steadfast on the side of Civil Society and human rights defenders in egypt and everywhere else in the world. If you look at my actions related to egypt during the periods described in the indictment and throughout my career, my record is clear and consistent in holding each accountable for unjust attention of american citizens and others, human rights abuses and deepening relationship with russia and efforts that eroded the independence of the nations judiciary among a myriad of concerns. In 2017, i led a bipartisan letter to thenPresident Trump expressing great concern with the worsening situation in egypt. The same here i sent a letter to the appropriation subcommittee supporting the citizens as long as each adhered to the accords and urged Appropriations Committee to include requirements for assistance reform strategies outlined in the egypt format of 2013. In 2018 i urged secretary to focus more on human rights issues in egypt and raise concerns electoral environment ahead of the elections of the time are free, fair and credible. In 2019, i met with the president at the security conference and emphasize a level of repression inside egypt eroding security and cooperation in raising concerns to purchase a russian missile. In 2020 i spoke on the senate floor for International Womens day and decided the case is a human rights lawyer and as her, human rights activist and reporter unjustly in egypt for the human rights democracy in the free press. I have placed close on and dozens of other United States, i have challenged the president directly on human rights abuses and personal freedoms and the list goes on. Throughout my 30 years in the house and senate, ive always worked to hold accountable those countries including egypt and human rights abuses and repression of citizenry and civil sale and. Those who are attending to my mind that my actions as it relates to egypt simply dont know the facts. Third, for 30 years, i have withdrawn thousands in cash from my personal savings account which i have kept for emergencies and because of the history of my family facing confiscation in cuba. This may seem oldfashioned but these monies were drawn from a personal savings account based on the income i have derived over those years. I look forward to addressing other issues. I want to speak directly to the people of new jersey. As i started these remarks, youre the reason i have dedicated the entirety of my life to improving lives of new jersey and all americans. Some my resignation for political reasons say ive lost trust in the people of new jersey. That could not be more wrong. Today im surrounded by everyday people and constituents who know they are here because of important healthcare policies like the Affordable Care act, access to regret their healthcare and funding for Community Health centers and lowering the cost of drugs. They are here because i have fought for working people, those who will follow oclock to 9 00 to support those working life and i have always advocated to organize for better wages and working conditions of the support delivered Critical Services to better support in new jersey in the darkest days following sandy. And ever related thinking for new jerseyans were made whole and had resources to rebuild stronger and more resilient than before. They are here because during the worst pandemic and a sentry, i went to Small Business owners throughout the state to keep their doors open and employees on the payroll. They are here because one state and local governments were faced with excruciating decisions of having to lay off frontline responders and Police Officers and firefighters during the pandemic, i delivered aliens and federal funding and investment to keep our state in cities and towns and hospitals afloat. They are here because throughout my career and something not like the positions i take, i have stood against Authority Things and iran and achieve Nuclear Weapons dictated on authoritarianism and russia and whatever in the world where human growth and democracy have. They are here because i have made it protecting against immigrants who come to our shores a Better Future for our children and they are here is 30 years new jersey would receive Critical Infrastructure funding and fought against were dismantled the gateway project. They are here since my earliest days in congress i have repeatedly stood up with the gun lobby to stop illegal flags from claiming lives and destroying communities. When tragedy struck new jersey judges, i made a promise i was not stop until i passed a law to better protect and last year i delivered legislation signed into law by the president to better protect judges in the memo. They are here because they never gave up Living Justice for 9 11 families especially widows and children of those killed previously and unfairly excluded on the victims sponsored terrorism and in december working with others, i delivered billions long overdue federal relief to community and other u. S. Victims. They are here because when other members turn back on veterans and not pass back act and help veterans exposed to toxic burn pits, i was there and they are here because i successfully passed legislation to better serve world war ii vets as well as those suffering illness. For now, i remain focused on continuing the important work i do every day on the half of the people who call new jersey home including doing everything we can this week to avoid a Government Shutdown, deliver funding states intra people of ukraine have everything they need and return to washington this week mr. Schumer mr. Schumer mr. President. The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Schumer i ask unanimous consent no quorum, thank you. Mr. President , as ive said for months, the only solution for avoiding a harmful Government Shutdown is bipartisanship. We now have four days to go until funding expires on saturday at midnight. We are now right at the precipice. Yet, all last week Speaker Mccarthy, instead of focusing on bipartisanship, catered to the hard right and has nothing, nothing to show for it. Now the speaker will put on the floor hard right Appropriations Bills that have nothing to do with avoiding a shutdown. So this bike, the senate so this week, the senate will move forward first. Over the weekend, Senate Democrats and republicans, together, worked in good faith to reach an agreement on a continuing resolution that will keep the government open beyond september 30. We are very close to finishing our work, and hope to release text very soon. This bipartisan c. R. Is a temporary solution, a bridge towards cooperation, and away from extremism, and it will allow us to keep working to fully fund the federal government and spare American Families the pain of a shutdown. While for sure this bill does not have everything either side wants, it will continue to fund the government at present levels, while maintaining our commitment to ukraines security and humanitarian needs, while also ensuring those impacted by Natural Disasters across the countries begin to get the resources they need. In a few hours well hold the first procedural vote to move forward on the vehicle for this c. R. , and i thank my colleagues and staff from both sides of the aisle who spent all weekend negotiating in good faith to get us to this point. The senate c. R. Is a good, sensible, and bipartisan let me emphasize bipartisan bill. It will achieve the most important immediate goal, avoiding a shutdown, will protect American Families from needless pain, pay our troops, and make good on our promise to american seniors. It will promote access to Affordable Health care, sustain investment in lifesaving research, and avoid costly disruptions to our supply chains. Now, of course, todays graeme wont have everything that both sides want todays agreement wont have everything that both sides want. Let me repeat, this c. R. Is a bridge, not a final destination. Will help us achieve our immediate and necessary goal of avoiding a Government Shutdown and move us away from the senseless and aimless extremism hadom natived the house, so has dominated the house to get to work on appropriations. We can and must do more to respond to disasters that rarvaged the country. We can and must do more to grow it the middle class. We must do more to stand with our friends in ukraine. And resist 23450u79s dangerous a niewptds dangerous 23450u79s dangerous attacks on freedom. We must do more to finish the bipartisan appropriations process in a way that makes strong investments in our country, in our families, and in our future. Well continue to work on these and many more. But right now, this c. R. Is a must a muchneeded bridge away from extremism and towards cooperation. Make no mistake, a shutdown would be a terrible outcome for the country, despite what some on the hard right would have us ludicrously believe. Its hard for me to believe that some in the extreme right, in the other chamber, say they actually want a shutdown. What insanity. This will avoid that, the terrible outcome, that terrible outcome, it will pay for our servicemembers, which could be halted if theres a shutdown. It would prevent millions of americans who count on Government Services from suffering. It would prevent food safety, Public Health protection, Small Business loans, Infrastructure Projects have being cut, and at least temporarily ended, because theyre all at risk right now, if theres a shutdown. If theres a shutdown, tsa could be thrown into chaos, meaning possible delays and disruptions for all flyers. Border enforcements would be undermien and even Femas Disaster Relief Fund could actually dry up. We dont need to go through any of this, mr. President. The senates bipartisan c. R. Will ensure that none of the bad things that i just enumerated happened. I urge, i urge strongly, reasonable members of both chambers to come together, to pass this bridge c. R. And move forward, freed from the hardright extremists who are hellbent on destroying trust in government and hurting millions and millions of middleclass families. Now, on the on labor and the uaw and the wga. Early this morning on my way before i came to washington, i went to Rockland County, new york and stood with uaw local 3039 on the picket line in solidarity with their fight for better wages, Better Benefits, safer working conditions. Rain or shine, and today it was mostly rain, uaw local 3039 is out there standing for a fair, equitable contract to share in the profits they helped create. We must not forget during the auto crisis of 2008, unions and workers gave back plenty. Its one of the reasons that the Auto Companies are making such large profits and the workers are entitled to have a fair share of those profits. So we need to make sure that this strike is fair to working people not this strike the settlement that the strike will produce is fair to working people. Its simple, mr. President. When unions win, workers win. The middle class wins. America wins. Just take the wga strike, the writers guild, for example. This past weekend after nearly five months on strike, the wga announced a tentative settlement with Hollywood Studios to get members back to work. The wga deal proves that progress is possible, that workers can gain, and i hope it encourages the big three Auto Companies to stay at the table and bargain in good faith. And today in a milestone for the uaw strike in the history of working people in this country, President Biden traveled to michigan today to stand with the uaw on the picket line. Its likely to be the first time in a hundred years a sitting president joined workers on the picket line. It shows how important strong labor unions are to this president and to democrats, and thats why i thought it was appropriate for me this morning to join some of our new york uaw mechanics on the picket lines in new york, as the president marched in michigan. President bidens visit underscores a historic moment for the American Labor movement. We may be on track to see the most labor activity in 40 years, and im provided that so many of my colleagues on the democratic side of the aisle have stood in line stood on the line with workers fighting for a better life. As President Biden said today, the middle class built this country and unions about the the middle class. Praise god we have a president as pro union and for worker as President Biden in office at a time like this. Of course we werent always so lucky. Former President Trump will also be in michigan this week where he will no doubt try to style himself as a champion of unions and working americans. Thats pretty rich coming from someone who led one of the most antiworker administrations in recent memory. One openly hostile to labor unions, disinterested in the wellbeing of working families, and appointing antilabor people to many of the agencies that regulate labor. No working american should believe donald trump when he claims to fight for them. Where was donald trump when uaw went on strike against g. M. In 2019 . All talk, no substance. Even now hes openly attacking the uaw that is trying to secure better contracts. The difference between the Biden Administrations record on labor and the