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[Pages S2581-S2582]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
Senate Legislative Agenda
Madam President, we have just concluded another legislative week in
the Senate, but it was a legislative week in
[[Page S2582]]
name only. There was no legislation. As you may have seen, we have done
little more than process nominations.
Later this afternoon, we will see what the majority leader plans for
next week, but I have a suspicion--just more nominations.
Meanwhile, there is no shortage of legislation we could work on. The
House of Representatives has passed no fewer than 100 pieces of
legislation. Guess how many of those 100 have received consideration on
the floor of the Senate. Zero. Zero of the House-passed bills on
legislation.
Commonsense background checks, voting rights, paycheck fairness,
defending protections for Americans with preexisting conditions--all
bipartisan, all supported by the overwhelming majority of the American
public, but in the Senate there is no action--nothing. We have become a
conveyor belt for nominations and a graveyard for legislation.
I have said again and again to Leader McConnell that if he doesn't
like every aspect of the House Democratic bills, that is fine. That is
democracy. Let's debate them. Let's have amendments.
If the leader truly wants to start from scratch, we would love to
hear his plan. If he doesn't think we should close loopholes in our
background check system, then, what is his plan to reduce gun violence
and mass shootings?
He doesn't like the Green New Deal--fine. What is his plan to deal
with climate change?
Before Leader McConnell became majority leader, he promised that if
he were in charge, he would do things differently in the Senate. He
would have open debates, an open amendment process. He would have us
vote on the issues of the day, no matter which party the ideas come
from.
Eventually, the American people are going to take a hard look at this
obstructionist Republican majority of the 116th Congress and wonder
what the heck we did with our time. When they realize that the
Republican Senate has spent nearly all of its time so far
rubberstamping nominees--so many of whom are unqualified and so many of
whose views, whether they be judicial or executive appointments, are so
far out of the American mainstream and ignoring real legislation that
could help middle class families--I wouldn't blame them for wanting to
change the leadership of the Senate.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Michigan.
S.J. Res. 7
Mr. PETERS. Madam President, in the United States, American foreign
policy is not determined by just one person. The Constitution makes
that clear. Article I grants Congress the power to declare war, not the
President.
Consistent with that responsibility, Democrats and Republicans in
this body worked together to pass a bipartisan resolution directing the
President to end U.S. support for Saudi-led hostilities in Yemen. I am
a proud cosponsor of that bill, which passed both Chambers of Congress
in recent months.
We made it unmistakably clear that our involvement in Yemen is not
authorized by Congress, but the President has chosen to sidestep the
bipartisan majority by not signing this bill into law.
In doing so, he is sustaining the crisis through the continuing
refueling of Saudi aircraft and other activities.
The American people are not asking the President for this. Taxpayers,
certainly, do not want to pay for it.
I serve on the Senate Armed Services Committee, and I can assure you
that supporting Saudi Arabia's operations in Yemen is nowhere--
nowhere--to be found in our national defense strategy.
I urge my colleagues to reject continued support for Saudi Arabia's
military actions in Yemen. Congress must do its job and vote to
override the President's veto.
We have an opportunity this week to help make the suffering in Yemen
come to an end. Let's not forget that 22 million people in Yemen still
need humanitarian assistance or protection. More than 8 million people
still go hungry every single day. Sixteen million Yemenis still don't
have clean water, resulting in pervasive disease outbreaks. Children
are still dying every single day. Every 10 minutes, a child under 5
dies in Yemen from a preventable cause, according to the United
Nations.
For many people, their survival is a daily challenge and struggle.
Their future hangs, literally, by a thread.
In addition to disease, starvation, and displacement, the people of
Yemen are subjected to indiscriminate bombings led by Saudi Arabia.
Let me be clear. Bombs will not resolve this conflict. All parties
must come together and work toward a peaceful solution that places the
dignity of all Yemeni people at the center of those negotiations, and
we can help facilitate that. That is what the American people want.
If you go to Michigan, you can meet with some of the Yemeni Americans
who just want the same thing that everybody else does--help for those
who are suffering and meaningful steps toward peace.
American diplomacy can help to resolve this tragedy, and we must make
every effort to do so.
I yield the floor.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The majority whip.
