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 S35-S36]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
BORDER SECURITY
Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, in spite of all of that, some Democrats
have now threatened to block us from even taking this legislation up
later today. We would have to ask why. It is because we are 18 days
into the partial government shutdown caused by Democrats' total
unwillingness to negotiate with the White House over border security.
Democrat intransigence has made sure that a quarter of the Federal
Government has been shut down for more
[[Page S36]]
than 2 weeks--2 weeks. Now they are threatening to shut the Senate down
too. They have shut down the government for 2 weeks, and now they want
to shut the Senate down. They are threatening to shut down efforts to
protect our allies and strengthen our relationship with Israel--
something they all recently claim to support.
Let's remember what we are talking about. In light of the urgent
humanitarian and security crisis on our border, the President is
requesting $5.7 billion for physical barriers and border security. For
some context, that is just about one-tenth of 1 percent of Federal
spending--one-tenth of 1 percent--for physical barriers like fences and
barriers that already exist, which Democrats have previously voted for
with enthusiasm.
Back in 2006, then-Senators Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, Joe Biden,
and our colleague, the current Democratic leader, all voted for more
than $1 billion to construct about 700 miles of physical barriers.
Then-Senator Obama called it ``badly needed funding for better fences
and better security . . . that should help stem some of the tide of
illegal immigration.'' That is what Senator Barack Obama said.
Senator Schumer later described his vote proudly as ``miles of border
fence that create a significant barrier to illegal immigration.''
As recently as 2015, Secretary Clinton boasted: ``I voted numerous
times . . . to spend money to build a barrier to try to prevent illegal
immigrants from coming in.'' That is what Hillary Clinton said.
Obviously, that was then, and today the new Speaker of the House is
trying to argue that a physical barrier is ``immoral''--``immoral.''
Today, my friend the Democratic leader is proposing to add a Senate
shutdown to the partial Federal Government shutdown and block even more
of the people's business, all--all--to avoid more of what he already
voted for. Maybe the Democratic Party was for secure borders before
they were against it, maybe they are just making it up as they go
along, or maybe they are dead set on opposing this particular President
on any issue, for any reason, just for the sake of opposing him.
Walls and barriers are not immoral--how silly. Enforcing our laws
wasn't immoral back in 2006 when then-Senator Clinton, then-Senator
Obama, and our friend the Democratic leader were proud--proud--to vote
for physical barriers. The only things that have changed between then
and now are the political whims and, of course, the occupant of the
White House.
This is no newfound, principled objection. It is just political
spite--a partisan tantrum being prioritized over the public interest.
For more than 2 weeks, they have indulged in that partisan tantrum
rather than negotiate in good faith over border security funding--
hardly something that should be a partisan subject in the first place.
They have put that partisan tantrum ahead of keeping a quarter of the
government open. Now they are saying their partisan tantrum is more
urgent than pressing legislation that concerns our alliance with Israel
and the Syrian civil war.
I hope that isn't the case. I hope our Democratic colleagues don't
pile on even more pointless obstruction. I hope they don't block the
Senate from turning to this important legislation--legislation, by the
way, they support. We will find out later today.
We all know what is necessary to move past the funding impasse: a
negotiated solution that can pass the House, earn 60 votes in the
Senate, and get the President's signature. That is what it takes to
make a law.
As I have stated clearly, the Senate will not waste floor time on
show votes, messaging votes, or any other proposals that fail to check
those boxes regarding the funding bills.
The Democratic leader actually shared that opinion earlier. Here is a
fairly recent quote from the Democratic leader. He said: ``The
President must publicly support and say he will sign an agreement
before it gets a vote in either Chamber.'' That is a fairly recent
quote.
I am glad we seem to agree on that--no wasted floor time on
appropriations bills that fail to clear the President's reasonable
threshold.
For the sake of the humanitarian crisis on our border--as the
President will describe in his address to the Nation this evening--for
the sake of our national security, and for the sake of all the
Americans who need all of their Federal Government reopened, I would
urge our Democratic colleagues to get past these harmful political
games and get serious about negotiating with the President.
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. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order for
the quorum call be rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
____________________