Gracious god, we evoke your name in this place. We thank you for life and for giving it to us more abundantly. We thank you for the power and privilege of prayer, and we humbly approach your throne of grace to thank you and share our petitions. We offer thanks to those who surrender their lives in service to this great nation by willing sing to represent us. We thank you for their families and friends who loan them to us. May there be no lack in their lives because of their service. We pray that at this moment, you would pour out your spirit of wisdom and compassion on these senators as they chart the course of this nation. Embolden them with the burden that they are someones last and the hope that they can make a difference in someones life. Bless this assembly as they wrestle with how to express your nl love for all of us and for this moment. Then, o god, bless all the people of all the states in this land that we love to emulate and require of all our leaders what you require from the words of thcah to act justly, and to love mercy, and to walk humbly with our god. In your name, we pray, 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 ll read a communication to the senate. The clerk washington, d. C march 21, 2024. To the senate under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3, of the standing rules of the senate, i hereby appoint the honorable raphael g. Warnock, a senator from the state of georgia to perform the duties of the chair. Signed patty murray president pro tempore. Mr. Schumer mr. President , ill makebit later, but i want to acknowledge and thank my good friend the reverend Adolphus Lacey of the famous Bethany Baptist church not too far from where i live in brooklyn for leading us in this mornings prayer. Its great to see you here. You are a leader in bringing of the lord down here to all of us but also of doing many good works here on earth. You do both as the prophet micah woted you to do. And i have a great relationship with Bethany Baptist church. Bill jones, when i ran for congress there was sort of p me. And the reverend bill jones, who was a disciple of dr. King me and help me win. So the relationship with Bethany Baptist goes way back but it has even blossomed further under the great leadership of pastor lacey. Im so proud hes here so all of the nation can why we in brooklyn love pastor Adolphus Lacey. I yield the floor. Mrs. Gillibrand mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from new york. Mrs. Gillibrand i also want to recognize reverend Adolphus Lacey for not only offering that beautiful prayer but for his extraordinary leadership and advocacy in Brooklyn New York and beyond. He is the Senior Pastor at Bethany Baptist church in brooklyn. He is a pastor activist who has served as a spiritual advisor to the New York Justice league. Hes also of the East Brooklyn congregations and the National Action network, also a member of the kappa alpha si. He has dedicated himself to lifting up other communities, to lifting up his mmunity, up those who need a voice. Im so grateful for his shining presence for the light he is bringing to this community as he brings to all of new york. I yield the floor. The presiding officer under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. Morning business is closed. Under the previous order, the senate will proceed to executive session to consider the following nomination which the clerk nomination department of labor, Jose Javier Rodriguez of florida assistant secretary. Yn 4f joining us from capitol hill iman republican South Carolina. Theres a deal on the table to avoid a Government Shutdown. The socalled minibus. Tell our viewers what it is and how will you vote . Credit, what we have that we received was 1008 document. We. We will have 24 hours to decipher it. And been scheduled to vote on at either ten or 11 tomorrow. Scenario would anyone sign off on 1000 page document to let safe purchase a carou much less one as his bill does put this 1. 8 trillion more in debt . What would you sign off on . Insanity. It should be brought to the fore. We ought to do a continuing resolution through at least may. Its not a good day for america. Is it a good day for Speaker Mike Johnson if you echelon democratic votes to get this through the house . Thats what hes going to do. We met with mike earlier this week and we have a 72 hour rule that is a rule that can be waived but to go to something this important. Baratta, the overriding issue is is nothing to be signed off on until we close the border. Its just not happening. We relate our concerns in a Freedom Caucus and its going to be ignored and is a good day for mike johnson . In my opinion no, particularly not for consultants. Is his job i jeopardy . You have to ask him of that. He knows the downsid what hes doing. I like mike. I voted for him. I supported the ouster Speaker Mccarthy but i am very, very disappointed in this action. This is for the survival of this country and financially we are going over thes a minibus going over the cliff. I would hope it would be turned, with the voted down. Otes threefourths of suspension your to get. I hope it is the have a block that will vote a solid no. Host is there anyone in that block of those Freedom Caucus members who are discussing bringing a motion to vacate to the floor . Guest i have not heard that. Obviously its always on the table but i havent heard that. Host why not support this legislation and do away with another continuing resolution as you are advocating for there is apparently bipartisan agreement . Guest no deal is better than a bad deal. But look earmarks. The last, the six prior appropriation bills were right at 12 billion in earmarks. To special projects. This one is no different. This one is worse h lets say, take that stance i think we want to support it, lease have 72 hours to go over. Thats just not happening. You have to read and decipher anything before you sign it, whether its a Small Business deal or a big business deal. This one how much more can this country day . 37 trillion in debt, when you put the Social Security, Medicare Medicaid on the like 60 trillion which is unsustainable. The interest alone will surpass 850 billion we have for our military. Its unacceptable. Host were talking with ralph norman who is time to take a few of your phone calls so you can join us and start dialing in. Lets also talked about eight to ukraine. Would you support a standalone asure to provide more money for ukraine in its fight against russia . Guest one of the things i very little confidence in the Biden Administration is allocating the money the way should be going. I would look at it, its got to be standalone if that had offsets. The only thing this administration has done well is give us things that we can take out come like the fbi agents, like though, many other things, Green New Deal, just giveaways. If it had offsets we would consider it. I would love to ukraine to be successful but you know the milk has run dry for this cow called the United States of america. Host would you srt a loan to ukraine as it has been floated and a possible language that would make them forgivable . Guest two things. One, somebody would have to explain to me how that phone is going to be repaid. You have a wartorn country and second how anyone to collect it . Amended our funds leave the treasury interest arts occurring. We dont have a pile of money or a can draw from. Everything is borrowed. It makes no sense now. Its got to be, the loan is just anotr wor giveaway and i wouldnt support unless someone could prove me wrong and explain what it make sense. Host heres a headline from the New York Times. Eu says it has new source of aid for ukraine both in russian assets. Would you be on board without . Guest we would consider it. It. Its an option. Rush is not exactly our friend. In fact, we had a report today that russian is now declaring that we with this country which has always been but is taken a new avenue level from what i understand carolina democratic democratic caller. You are on the air. Caller yes. What a want to say is, first of all donald trump to mclean rich. And he talks about inflation. He didnt same thing then. They gave him everything he wanted and now all of us are immigrants. All of us come from somewhere. People coming over the just want to work. You understand . Host congressman . Guest what i think your call legally. You have to have a Legal Process consider opening the gates to everybody from every country. We have over 160 countries that a people, many of which are they are emptying the prisons. You cant blame donald trump. Down. He built the wall. This administration is wrecking this country with an open immigration, a policy that will cause damage untold. I dont how many more fentanyl deaths will connect put up with before we say enough is enough. Im how many more deaths we have to have say no. America is a country without borders. This administration is doing this for power. One word, power. They want to let the illegals count in to vote and its unamerican. Its against the constitution. Host a lot of coverage of you ahead of the softer line a primary because you were the lone member of that state to get behind nikki haley did for the white house in her challenge nsmer president after she has dropped out have you spoken to President Trump . Guest the minute, haley exited the race, i left, i called President Trump left it on his voicemail that i i support him 100 . Willie america you have a choice the four years under his administration compared to the 40s under there is no choice. Its donald trump now. I hope and pray americans get on board with this. Host you left him a voicemail. Has he called you back . Guest he has not. , what he thinks he is . Guest donald trump is busy. I didnt expect a call back. I said dont come back. T to know i will be a member of congress that will support them in any way to get them elected to the presidency. Host james in Wisconsin Democratic caller. Er hello . Host please go ahead. Caller i called in on a democratic line but im very disappointed with both parties. You have a very good policy i think in the that you wont vote on anything unless you have 72 hours to read read the bill. That makes sense. But you shouldve dones work back in september or Something Like that rather than the day before the government shuts down lets take that. Congressman . Guest i agree 100 with him. And get this, the white house failed it until last, while a day ago. They did not act mike johnson repaired for this. This isnt Mike Johnsons fault. Now it is his fault for letting just for Government Shutdown pass a piece of legislation that we dont know whats in it. From what i seee in debt. Its not an option. You pass a continuing resolution which you do put on the floor we tell speaker johnson this, the floor lets put it for an up or down vote but evidently he is not taking our advice. Host if this Freedom Caucus all boats no, does it still papends on how many others decide that this is the right course of action. This will send the strongest message. And again i highlight nothing out to be signed until this administration seals the border. Nothing. We that h. R. Two that yes the bill the out of the senate makes no sense but02 hopefully it will be voted down but well find out tomorrow. Host appleton, Wisconsin Republican talking with ralph norman. Caller [inaudible] dasher all these people in this country when [inaudible] everybodys jobs host you are breaking up. Im going up to go to edward in fort mill, South Carolina, republican. Caller yes. How can we keep supporting all these other countries that cannot secur o own borders . Guest we cannot. Theres no way we can do that. Nor can we afford to continually borrow money nor can we afford to a few marks nor can we afford to build walls in other countries. Its insanity. The taxpayers deserve better than this. I just hope that while we have time we can say no to this, drawing board and who, who in their right mind would sign a document, particularly 1 could be a speed reader and still cant get through the details and the footnotes that this this document has. This is a clearcut reason to vote this down, in my opinion. Host congressman ralph norman republican of South Carolina we always appreciate your time with us and your willingness to talk to our viewers. Thank you. Guest thank you. Appreciate mr. Schumer mr. President. The presiding officer the majority leader. Mr. Schumer now, earlier this morning, the are we in a quorum . No . Earlier this morning, the legislative text for the final six Appropriations Bills was released im happy to say, clearing hurdle towards our ultimate goal of funding the federal government. I thank the appropriators, their staffs and everyone involved for working themselves to the bone to release these bills. I imagine some folks here in the capitol are past the point of exhaust exhaust exhauston. This Funding Agreement between the white house and congressional leaders is good news that comes in the nick of time. When passed it will extinguish any more shutdown threats for the rest of the fiscal year. It will avoid the budget sequestration and keep the budget open without cuts or riders. Its now the job of the House Republican leadership to move this package asap. Just like passed two weeks ago, this package avoids draconian republican cuts on major democratic wins that help American Families american Americas National defense. We have secured an increase in child care services. We boosted Disease Research and prevention. We funded School MentalHealth Programs and Suicide Prevention so needed there this modern world. Were strengthing with the strengthening the border investing elections. The hard right pushed for cuts that impacted k12 education, services for lowincome families. Democrat stopped it. Wanted to add terrible poison pill riders to attack freedom of choice. Democrats stopped that too. Now Congress Must race to pass this package before government funding runs out this friday. Once the house acts the senate will need bipartisan cooperation to pass it before fridays deadline and avoid a shutdown. I want to thank President Biden, speaker johnson, leader jeffries leader mcconnell for their leadership. I also thank chairwoman murray and vice chair collins and their staffs as well as my own staff for their tireless appropriations tireless leadership of the Appropriations Committee through the entire process. I dont think they got any sleep saturday to today, and i really thank particularly megan tyra and ray omara from my such a strong job. Now, on judge shopping last week i was very pleased that the judicial conference announced commonsense policy rearview mirrors limiting the policy reform limiting judge shopping. Unfortately, pleased. Namely those on the right who have made judge shopping their specialty. So today im sending a followup letter to the judicial conference encouraging them to defend their policy as it is implemented across the country. Im also writing of the Northern District of texas, where judge shopping has been ramp apt, urging him to apply the the judicial conference as quickly as possible. When i wrote the chief judge roughly a year ago about judge shopping he said fixing the problem through assignments presented logistical conference. Challenges. So i will ask the judge t cases does his jurisdiction handle . How does the district create rules for case assignment . How will they judicial conferences rules to ensure public trust . The answer to these questions would greatly inform us in the senate as we think about the ways to strengthen our judiciary. I must say, mr. President , over the past week ive really been troubled to hear some o other side attack the judicial conference simply for doing its job which congress authorized to do over a century ago. My republican colleagues forget or ignore that even their side acknowledged in the past that not o judge shopping a problem, but that judicial conference itself has a role to play to address it. But now s republicans are howling at the moon over this announcement. My friend the republican leader for one, led his colleagues in writi justices urging them to basically ignore the judicial conference. Let me say this judge shopping as in texas, digs torts the entire distorts the entire judicial system. There is only one judge sitting in one district. Hardright plaintiffs from across the country know they can bring their cases and get it before a judgeont has views that are way over. It jaundices the fairness of the legal system. When you know theres one judge sittin she has a particular philosophy and you have to get that judge when you file a case, again, it attracts hardright plaintiffs