Formatting necessary for an accurate reading of this text may be shown by tags (e.g., <DELETED> or <BOLD>) or may be missing from this TXT display. For complete and accurate display of this text, see the PDF.
[Pages S7-S8]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
THE NEW CONGRESS
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, as we begin this new Congress together,
one fact is abundantly clear--the American people need Democrats and
Republicans to work together.
Today illustrates that very point. Last November, voters expanded our
Republican majority in the Senate but ensured that 60 votes will only
be attainable by working across the aisle, and incoming Speaker Pelosi
will be leading a new Democratic majority over in the House.
This is the landscape in which we will be operating. Fortunately, the
record of the 115th Congress illustrates just how much is possible when
both sides make bipartisan collaboration a priority.
In the Senate, our good-faith efforts yielded a historic tally of
legislative
[[Page S8]]
accomplishments on behalf of the American people. We passed landmark
legislation to help heal the wounds of the opioid epidemic. We
delivered measures to help lower prescription drug prices and expand
access to safe treatments. We reached a major agreement to rebuild
America's military and designed VA reforms that will help our Nation
better keep its solemn promises to the brave men and women who have
served. We brought a bipartisan scalpel to financial regulations so
fewer of Main Street's local lenders will get trapped in the maze of
Wall Street's rule book. We reasserted a commitment to regular order
appropriations. We laid the groundwork for rebuilding American
infrastructure. We delivered certainty and predictability to farming
communities across our country.
So we know the Senate, with this Republican majority, is fertile soil
for big bipartisan accomplishments. The question is, Will the newly
Democratic House join in this good momentum or bring it to a
standstill? It is a clear choice, and it will be clear to the American
people watching all this at home: Good governance or political
performance art? The public interest or political spite? Policymaking
or Presidential harassment?
The first test is already upon us. Just yesterday, I was glad to join
House and Senate leaders of both parties in a meeting with President
Trump at the White House to discuss border security and outstanding
appropriations.
This meeting included a briefing on the urgent crisis at our southern
border. The facts on the ground are truly striking.
As the Border Patrol Chief testified before the Judiciary Committee a
few weeks ago, the Border Patrol apprehended more than 800--800--gang
members just last year, a 50-percent increase over the previous year.
Methamphetamine seizures are up 75 percent since fiscal year 2015.
Importantly, we also know that in each of our four CBP sectors where
physical barriers have been improved or expanded, illegal traffic has
dropped by at least--now listen to this--90 percent in these areas
where there are physical barriers, illegal traffic has dropped by 90
percent.
These are the facts on which the entire conversation must turn. Yet,
as yesterday marked the 12th day of this ongoing partial government
shutdown, our Democratic colleagues seemed less concerned with these
facts than with their unreasonable political standoff with President
Trump.
So for the benefit of all involved, let me restate the terms of
engagement; in other words, where we are. We need a bicameral,
bipartisan compromise solution. We need an arrangement that can check
these three boxes: pass the House, achieve the support of at least 60
Senators, and get a Presidential signature. This is not complicated.
That is how you make a law.
The legislation that House Democrats reportedly plan to vote on later
today is, in my view, not a serious attempt to check all three of those
boxes. In fact, it ignores the bipartisan conference negotiations and
progress made on these spending bills over the last month. So I would
call it political theater, not productive lawmaking.
I have made it clear on several occasions--and let me say it again--
the Senate will not take up any proposal that does not have a real
chance of passing this Chamber and getting a Presidential signature. So
let's not waste the time. Let's not get off on the wrong foot with
House Democrats using their platform to produce political statements
rather than serious solutions. Let's pick up where we left off and
dedicate this 116th Congress to the spirit of bipartisan collaboration
to create more victories for the American people.
I suggest the absence of a quorum.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Young). The clerk will call the roll.
The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order
for the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Hoeven). Without objection, it is so
ordered.
____________________
