vote:

the presiding officer: the yeas are 65, the nays are 33. the motion to concur with an amendment is agreed to. a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from montana's recognized. mr. tester: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that amendment number 5134 to the title be considered and agreed to. the presiding officer: is there objection? hearing none, so ordered.

mr. tester: mr. president, one week ago this body passed the sergeant first class heath robinson -- the presiding officer: the senate will be in order. the gentleman from montana. mr. tester: one week this body passed the sergeant first class heath robinson honoring our pact act, there were 84 votes in favor of it, something that rarely happens around here. this bill was supported by the president, the v.a. secretary, and it was the number one priority for nearly every major veteran's advocacy group in the nation. i cannot think of one that this wasn't the number one priority for. upon passage, it was transmitted to the house and they indicated they would move it within days to the president's desk. unfortunately after senate passage, the bill ran into a procedural hurdle, as bills

often do around here. but tonight we have a chance to get it back on track. we have a chance to get it to the house without further delay. and i might add what this bill does is takes care of a decadeslong issue with toxic exposure. the ranking member, senator moran, talked about this bill a week or two ago at length. this bill will help save veterans' lives that have been exposed to toxins and help support their families after they passed. i would hope my colleagues keep in mind that as they decide whether this is an appropriate time to play political games to delay this bill's ability to become law and obstruct for the sake of obstruction. everyone in this body knows that

our veterans deserve more than that. they have waited long enough for the care and the benefits that are provided by this bill and they shouldn't have to wait any longer. because it did receive 84 votes in this body a week or so ago. so with that, mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the secretary of the senate be authorized to request the house of representatives to return the papers on h.r. 6967, the senate then proceed to the immediate consideration of the tester resolution that is at the desk to remove the blue strip provision in the pact act, that the resolution be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be considered and laid upon the table without intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: is there objection? the gentleman from pennsylvania

is recognized. mr. toomey: reserving the right to object. the nature of my objection is not about the fact that this legislation authorizes about $280 billion, i think, for health care for veterans that resulted from toxic exposure and it creates new categories of eligibility and it contemplates this and authorizes this $280 billion of additional spending over ten years. what everybody should be aware of is that absent this legislation, existing statute already obligates the federal government, through the v.a., to spend about $400 billion over the next ten years on veterans' health care that results from veterans being exposed to toxic circumstances during their

service. so there's $400 billion that preexisted this bill and there's $280 billion of new spending. now, the $400 billion that we were already going to spend, and we will spend, was put under the discretionary spending caps in that category of discretionary spending because, as you know, mr. president, discretionary spending is limited. there's a cap every year on how much can be spent in this discretionary spending category. there's one other category of spending around here, and that's mandatory spending. that's not subject to caps, that's unlimited whatever -- whatever's required. now, the legislation puts the $280 billion in new spending in the mandatory spending category,

and we can argue about whether that's a good idea or not. i don't think it's a great idea, but that's not what's really outrageous about what's going on here. what's really outrageous is that in this legislation they take the $400 billion that was going to be spent any way, it's already preexisting under existing statute, they take it out of discretionary spending and move it to mandatory spending. why would that be necessary to move $400 billion that's already authorized to be spent under current law, move it out of discretionary and into the mandatory spending? the reason is that way you create a big, gaping hole in the discretionary spending category which can be filled with another $400 billion of unrelated spending, who knows on what. that's why it had to be moved out of discretionary and into mandatory spending. mr. president, my objection isn't about the substance of

this bill. it's about this budgetary gimmick that's designed to allow hundreds of billions of dollars of additional spending on totally unrelated, who knows what categories. we've got inflation at a 40-year high and a government spending trillions of dollars, too much money printing the money to spend and everybody sees it at the pump, at the grocery store, everywhere and what this gimmick does is make it possible to spend yet another $400 billion. this is terrible policy. so i'm going to suggest the modification to the unanimous consent request from my friend, and he is my friend from montana. and i would be -- it's very simple. it says nothing about the $280 billion in new spending that's permitted under this legislation. it simply would keep the $400 billion that we were going to spend anyway, keep it right in the category that it's always been in.

keep it in the discretionary spending category so that it doesn't create this hole that gets filled with another $400 billion on who knows what. so that's what my amendment does. my amendment wouldn't reduce spending on veterans health care by a penny. it wouldn't in any way impede the ability of veterans to get the health care that they need as a result of toxic supposures. -- exposures. it has nothing to do with that. it is only about preventing huge excessive spending in other categories, who knows what, that would be permitted under this bill. so, mr. president, therefore i ask unanimous consent that the senator modify his request to my amendment to the tester resolution, that it be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table without intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: is there an objection to the

modification? the senator from montana is recognized. mr. tester: reserving the right to object. i don't know where to start. first of all, this does nothing to fix the blue slip issue that was a de minimis amount of money anyway. nonetheless it is a blue slip issue and we have to fix it. i would wholeheartedly disagree with my friend, the senator from pennsylvania, in saying that what you're actually doing is stopping benefits to veterans by this amendment. we are a body here in the united states senate. if you want to talk about the appropriations process, we can talk about the appropriations process, but in the process of those debates, you shouldn't be denying health care to veterans, which is exactly what the good senator from pennsylvania is doing today. and for that reason, i object. the presiding officer: the objection is heard. is there objection to the original tester request? mr. toomey: i object. the presiding officer: the objection is heard.

mr. schumer: mr. president. the presiding officer: the majority leader is recognized. mr. schumer: i move to proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 999. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion to proceed. all in favor say aye. opposed, nay. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report. the clerk: nomination, department of defense, to be deputy secretary. mr. schumer: i send a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the motion to invoke cloture.

the clerk: cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate, do hereby bring to a close debate on of executive calendar number 599, of maryland to be secretary of defense. mr. schumer: i ask consent the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection, it is so ordered. mr. schumer: i move to proceed to legislative session. the question is on the motion. all those in favor say aye. nay. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes have it. the motion is agreed to. mr. schumer: i move to proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 1037. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. opposed, nay. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report. the clerk: department of justice, steven m. dettelbach to be director of tobacco, firearms, and explosive. the presiding officer: the clerk

will report the motion to invoke cloture. the clerk: cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate, do hereby bring to a close debate on the executive calendar number 1037, steven m. dettelbach, of ohio, to be director of bureau of alcohol, firearms and explosives. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent that the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: i move to proceed to legislative session. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. opposed, nay. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes have it. the motion is agreed to. mr. schumer: i move to proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 975. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. all opposed, nay. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk: nomination, federal reserve system, michael s. barr, of michigan, to be a member of the board of governors.

mr. schumer: i send a cloture motion for michael s. barr to address. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate, do hereby bring to a close debate on the debate on the nomination of executive calendar number 975, michael s. barr to be a member of the board of governors of the federal reserve system. mr. schumer: i ask that the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection, it is so ordered. mr. schumer: i move to proceed to executive session. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. the ayes appear to have it. the motion is agreed to. mr. schumer: i move to proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 976. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. opposed, nay. the ayes appear to have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report.

the clerk: nomination, federal reserve system, michael s. barr, of michigan, to be vice chairman of the board of supervision of the board of governors. mr. schumer: i send a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate, do hereby bring to a close debate on the nomination of executive calendar number 976, michael s. barr, of michigan, to be vice chairman for supervision of the board of goarchtion of the federal re -- governors of the federal reserve system. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent that the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: i move to proceed to legislative session. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all those in favor say aye. all opposed, nay. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes have it. the motion is agreed to. mr. schumer: finally, i ask unanimous consent the -- the mandatory quorum calls for the cloture motions be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: i yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk

will call the roll. quorum call: quorum call:

a high school dropout with a history of violence and host struggles and air 15 within days of turning 18. andy passed a background check. he killed 19 students and two teachers. the american people were shocked, outraged and devastated by this attack and collectively asked how can we prevent this from happening again. but the discussion surrounding this topic causes emotions to run high and i understand why, free to log some politicians have tried to put the rights against the constitutional right to keep and bear arms. they make it seemed like a country can only have one or the

other, either the second amendment or safe schools and churches in grocery stores and of course this is a false choice. law-abiding gun owners are not the problem men in women who buy guns to protect themselves and their family, to hunt or engage in sports they are not a public safety problem. following the shooting i promise to do everything in my power to try to answer that call to do something. what we saw in you all the taxes and far too many communities, doing nothing is an abdication of our responsibility. as representatives of the american people here in the united states senate. at the same time i reiterated my

bottom line which i would not support any invasions that infringed on the law-abiding gun owners. again they are not the problem. but i knew that this effort was about the art of the possible. looking at areas where we could agree in setting aside those areas where we could not. i was fortunate to find partners who were thoughtful and realistic about how we could pass this bill. i want to thank senators murphy, senator cinema, senator tillis as well as a larger group of senators without whom this legislation would not be on the cusp of passage. thank you. thank you for not listening to the naysayers in the critics and those who would spew disinformation outright lies

about what we're doing here. busted up to the responsibility that we all have as united states senators to do our very best to make progress to try to answer the call in the face of the tragedies and trying and the end to save lives which is what this is all about. not less than one month after the shooting in you all the taxes the senate will vote on the bipartisan safer communities act. this legislation will protect our schools, protect our communities and safeguard the second amendment's right of law-abiding citizens. i've said it before and i'll say it again. no. should ever fear for the safety of their child at school. and no child dispensed with. the presiding officer: scored. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to executive session to consider the following nominations, calendars 998 through 1030 and

all nominations on the secretary's desk in the air force, army, foreign service, marine corps, navy, and space force, that the nominations be confirmed en bloc, the moags to consider be considered and made on -- laid on the table with no intervening action or debate, that no further motions be in order to any of the nominations, that the president be immediately notified of the senate's action, and the senate then resume legislative session. the presiding officer: without objection. so ordered. mr. schumer: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to executive session to consider the nomination -- the following nomination, calendar 1036, phyllis -- phillip a. talbert to be the united states attorney for the eastern district of california, that the senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table, that any statements related to the nomination be printed in the record, that the president be immediately notified of the senate's action, and the senate resume legislative session. the presiding officer: is there objection?

without objection, the clerk will report. the clerk: nomination, department of justice, phillip a. talbert of california to be united states attorney for the eastern district of california. the presiding officer: the question occurs on the nomination. all in favor say aye. those opposed nay. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. -- the nomination is agreed to -- is confirmed. mr. schumer: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding rule 22, if applicable at a time to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the republican leader, the senate proceed to consider executive -- to executive session to consider calendar 920 to be ambassador of the republic of chile, that there be ten minutes for debate equally divided in the usual form, that upon the use or yielding back of the time, the senate proceed to vote without intervening action or debate on the nomination, that if the nomination is confirmed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening

action or debate, that no further motions be in order to the nomination, that the president be immediately notified of the senate's action, and the senate then resume legislative session. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the upcoming adjournment of the senate, the president of the senate, the president pro tempore, and the majority and minority leaders be authorized to make appointments to commissions, committees, boards, conferences or interparliamentary conferences authorized by law or by the order of the senate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the help committee be discharged from further consideration of s. 3157, the senate proceed to its immediate consideration. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. 3157, a bill to require the secretary of labor to conduct a study of the factors affecting employment opportunities for immigrants and refugees with professional credentials obtained in foreign

countries. the presiding officer: without objection, the committee is discharged. the senate will proceed. mr. schumer: i ask that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar 369, s. 3846. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 369, s. 3846, a bill to reauthorize the justice and mental health collaboration program and for other purposes. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the judiciary committee be

discharged from further consideration and the senate now proceed to senate res. 668. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. res. 668 designating june 12, 2022, as women veterans appreciation day. the presiding officer: without objection, the committee is discharged. the senate will proceed. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent that the help committee be discharged from further consideration, the senate now proceed to senate res. 676. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. res. 676 expressing support for the designation of june 23, 2022, as national pell grant day. the presiding officer: without objection, the committee is discharged. the senate will proceed. mr. schumer: i know of no further debate on the resolution. the presiding officer: is

there further debate? hearing no debate, if not all those in favor say aye. opposed nay. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the resolution is agreed to. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to consideration of senate res. 699 submitted earlier today. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. res. 699 congratulating the terrapinsmen's lacrosse team of the university of maryland, college park, for winning the 2022 national collegiate athletic association division one men's lacrosse national championship. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: mr.

president, i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of s. res. 700 submitted earlier today. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. res. 700 congratulating the university of oklahoma sooners softball team for winning the 2022 national collegiate athletic association women's college world series. the presiding officer: without objection. the senate will proceed. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be considered the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table no no intervention veeng action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: finally, mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today, it adjourn to then convene for pro forma sessions only with no business conducted on the following dates and times, that following each pro forma session the senate adjourn until the next session. friday, june 24, 1030 am, tuesday june 28, 3:30:00 p.m., friday, june 1, 8:30 a.m., tuesday july 5, 6:25 a.m.,

thursday july 7, 10:00 a.m. i further ask when the senate adjourns thursday, july 7, it next convene at 3:00 p.m. monday, july 11, that following the prayer and pledge the morning hour be deemed expired, the journal of proceedings approved to date, the time for the two leaders reserved for use later in the day, and morning business closed. upon conclusion of morning business, the senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the vazirani nomination. further, the cloture motions ripen at 5:30:00 p.m. on monday, july 11. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. schumer: if there is no further business to come before the senate, i ask that it stands adjourned until the -- under the previous order. previous order. >> the senate approved a bipartisan bill aimed at reducing gun violence. the legislation expands background checks for gun buyers

21 or younger provides grants to states for a red flag law that enable firearms to be confiscated for people deemed dangerous. in money for mental health and school safety. the bill heads to the house which is expected to take it up tomorrow. as always live coverage of the senate on c-span2. here is some of the senate debate before the vote. >> mr. president. tomorrow will won mark one month since the tragic shooting in uvalde, texas. a high school dropout with a history of violence and mental health struggles purchased two ar-15's within days of turning 18 and he passed a background check. he then shot his ownte grandmotr because she wanted him to go back in the classroom rather