September 24, 2019 - Issue: Vol. 165, No. 154 — Daily Edition116th Congress (2019 - 2020) - 1st Session

[Page S5635]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                        THE UNITED STATES SENATE

  Mr. GRASSLEY. Madam President, we have been hearing from the other 
body a lot about how the Senate isn't taking up House bills. Now, that 
seems to be as though the Senate is supposed to somehow be a 
rubberstamp for the other body.
  Well, we just celebrated Constitution Day last week, and the 
Constitution doesn't provide for the Senate to automatically take up 
bills from the other body. Maybe it is time for a reminder about how 
the Founding Fathers intended the Senate to work, so I am going to give 
a short quote by James Madison in the Federalist Papers, No. 62, 
entitled ``The Senate'':

       The necessity of a senate is not less indicated by the 
     propensity of all single and numerous assemblies, to yield to 
     the impulse of sudden and violent passions, and to be seduced 
     by factious leaders into intemperate and pernicious 
     resolutions.

  I am not saying that the House of Representatives passes intemperate 
and pernicious resolutions, but at least the Founding Fathers thought 
that could happen, and they had the Senate to be a check on the House 
of Representatives, just as the House of Representatives can be a check 
on anything that we do.
  There are now over 80 bills that have passed both Houses, but there 
are some that can't pass the Senate, and there are probably some the 
Senate feels shouldn't even be brought up. The difference between the 
House and Senate--and some contemplation by the Senate to be very 
cautious--is how the Constitution meant the Senate was supposed to 
work. I hope leaders of the House of Representatives will be reminded 
of that from time to time. That is my purpose today.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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