as we get closer to september 30 time making hard to ensure we have the cr and supplemental funding package so wele can avod damage in an unnecessary shutdown and project the devastating cuts from house republicans that would affect everything from heating assistance to funding to social security administration and so much more. and it would provide critical resources for things like wild land firefighters and their allies in ukraine. i came to congress to help people and to solve problems. that's what gets me up every day in the morning. every meeting i have every pillm i write andte everybody take end involving this vote few minutes ago to send a message about the state of things it will not be the last one because i won't let it be. and many of my colleagues will not either. one thing i've seen over and over again in my time here is

you don't leave the table. if you want to stay at the table we to get a bipartisan cr supplemental package done and that is a priority. madam president i hope and i believe to the work we do that we will show s the american peoe they are still senators on both sides of this file determined to get our work done. thank you madam president and i yield the floor. senate mr. president most americans agree the cost of prescription drugs is too high. most americans agree president biden has done the right thing by reducing the monthly cost of insulin to $35 of millions of people facing diabetes can afford their medications. most americans agree it is almost impossible to explain why american drug companies sell the same drugs in canada for a

fraction of the cost they charge american consumers. most americans agree the pharmaceutical companies should be able to take advantage of basic research by agencies such as the national institutes of health but when it comes to profit-making they have it be reasonable to the american taxpayers who sell a successful product. most americans also agree the number one driver in the cost ot health insurance premiums is the cost of prescription drugs. blue cross-blue shield of chicago has told me as much and it stands to reason. that's why it's difficult to understand the statement just made by the republican leader in the senate. by suggesting the idea of negotiating with the pharmaceutical companies so that medicare for example doesn't pay the highest price for drugs is a reasonable thing. what i heard from republicanad

leader was this was prescription drug socialism, socialism. and we be good of the private-sector and save lifesaving drug should be affordable and entitled to a profit but you are not entitled to rip off taxpayers across america. that seems like a reasonable approach. in fact it seems a reasonable sum and suggested we do that for our veterans years ago. the veterans administration has been negotiating prescription drug pricing for years. the senator from kentucky refers to his unelected bureaucrats are the officials of the veterans administration who veterans administration who want to have that the veterans and their families sit down at the table and negotiate a reasonable cost so veterans will always have those drugs available to them and the government will pay not the highest price for a reasonable price for the product.

that's been going on for decades and i don't recall any republican or democrat for that matter who sits before the senator the house and says it's a bad idea. the veterans administration not to pay much higher prices for drugs and taxpayers ought to put the difference for the reason don't hear that is because it doesn't make sense. we should be able to negotiate regional pricing of pharmaceutical drugs and medicare as we do the veterans as a president biden suggested. just look at the top 10 drugs that the medicare system is buying across america. not surprisingly these drugs which have twister names are familiar to mostar americans. why? the pharmaceutical companies have put so many ads on television for the drug xarelto we cannot only pronounce that we can spell it. xarelto is a drug that appeals to me people. certainly to senior citizens.

for the record there only two nations in the world not television advertising pharmaceutical prices, the united states pharmaceutical drugs. united states and new zealand of all things awaited awarded the pharmaceutical companies more money on television as a marketing than they do on research to find new drugs and cures? they do that because they make money on it. trying to reach american consumers in this case senior citizens and convince them the next time they go to a doctor's appointment and ask for one of these drugs at doctor may decide to councilperson if they aren't appropriate for the challenges they faced they may offer a generic it's cheaper and they try to talk him out at that idea. after some time the doctors usually given to the patient.

they help to move on to another patient so that drug advertised on television is then sold to the senior citizen and as a result of taxpayers to medicare pay for a large portion of their high-priced drug. that's an unfortunate system but it's very profitable for the warmer companies. the call to socialism is to ignore the obvious. we want americans to have access to affordable effective drugs whether they are buying them as private citizens or through programs like medicare and medicaid. the president has said i should take my authority as president given to me by congress to dreceive only democratic cloths and negotiate drug prices to an affordable level for the government and for individuals. some may call that prescription drug socialism.

i call it common sense. we should protect american consumers from high-priced prescription drugs. why the republican leader takes theke opposition belief when mot believe it's an -- as are present on a separate issue i rise today to discuss the critical role that u.s. attorneys play keeping america and our communities safe. unfortunately this is not the first time i've come to thefl floor to request unanimous consent to confirm u.s. attorneys. men and women were chosen to head u.s. attorney offices through the department of justice. it's a major responsibility. i've seen many u.s. attorneys in my lifetime and my time in the senate and to be carefully screened before they reach this level they go through background checks on extensive background checks to make certain there no questions regarding their

background before they are put into the position. they go through the judiciary committee of the senate which i chair carefully screened by both democrats and republicans than they are voted on in the committee and sent to the floor for approval.o unfortunately we have run into an obstacle. last year we went through an exercise twice when a republican senate colleagues refused to allow the senate to confirm nearly 12 justice department nominees by b voice vote a typil approach used under the president of the opposite political party they think the way thethhe senator -- and liftd his objection in time for these 12 to be appointed to the u.s. attorneys across united states. we are about to get the u.s. attorneys and marshals confirmed and placed them to go work. unfortunately here we stand again today finding ourselves in a position where single senator.

jobs -- objects, confirmation of u.s. attorney nominees. short one senator is making it more difficult for us to put them in a position of u.s. attorney for the prosecution of violent criminals tracking down fugitives and protecting americans from gang violence cyber crime terrorism narcotics and fraud. it's an awesome job to be a u.s. attorney. remember when extreme forces for crying out to defund the police? we knew better as americans. surely reform is appropriate. we need a voice just as we need prosecutors criminal prosecutors and now we have one senator was decided to stop this effort of criminal prosecution by the u.s. attorneys. it's worth taking a moment to

think what the u.s. attorneys knew. it is nearly as old as the ednation that created as part of the judiciary act of 1789 which was passed by the first congress signed into law by president georgia washington. u.s. attorneys are hard to prosecute in all federal criminals and we forgiven since the founding of america they are -- by justice system for u.s. attorneys play a critical role in enforcing the law. promoting public safety protecting our communities. blocking the confirmations of u.s. attorneys and public safety puts many americans and their families including the most vulnerable among us atmo greater risk. why would they knowingly want to put our families that we represent states across america at greater risk by holding up the appointment of u.s. attorneys. we have heard lot of tough talk

from a lot of senators but when it comes to law and order we should let one senator to prevent us from confirming law enforcement in our nation today. the senator has vowed in a quote to the department of justice to a r hault. let me repeat that. the senator has vowed to the department of justice to a hault. although this because why? he's upset that special council jack smith has indicted the former president of united states on multiple felonies. this is a political protest or action taken by a special counsel but he's doing it at the expense of families from across america. let me repeat a member of this body is undermining our government efforts to prosecute violent crime terrorism and crimes against children as he does not like his political

allies being held accountable for his actions. he's doing so despite the fact that these are exceptional nominees for u.s. attorney and there's simply no principled basis to delay that confirmation. let me describe some of these u.s. attorneys were being held up because of this one republican senator. todd -- founded from the southern district of mississippi dedicated to the rule of law the longtime career in public service. the of pittsburgh mississippi he attended georgia washington university and tulane lawla school. he several years as assistant u.s. attorney right here in the district of columbia. he prosecuted homicides carjackings and gun violence. in one case he was the lead prosecutor securing conventions for several members in deadly street gangs have been indicted

for multiple murders. since 2018 he has served as mr. -- the chief at the department of justice. he is a dedicated public servant with significant experience as a prosecutor. he is the first -- don't take it from me, take it from both mississippi senators both republicans who approved his nomination and yet he's being held up. senator mcgrath from the southern districthe of californa devoted a legal career to keeping america safe. mr. degraff attended boston college in the diversity -- his deputy staff judge advocate with my state summary court. she was honorably discharged after six years of service and record begin serving as a federal press in the southern district of california. or her time with the u.s.

attorneys office she received awards for her work on crime preventionnd and re-entry and handled drug implications human trafficking cases in gang prosecutions. ms. mcgrath led the investigation of the large-scale racketeering and drug trafficking run by the mexican cartels in san diego county. there were 51 indictments. how many times mr. president have occurred members from the other side i'llde talk about discouraging fentanyl nine states because it's killing too many americans every single day? what's trying to stop that? lot of different things but one is the criminal prosecutor who knows how to hold them responsible for the deadly narcotics and dust across america. why in the world would we set up ms. mcgrath to become a u.s. attorney california where she is a proven record for doing just that by holding up her

nomination for no specific reason and jeopardizing the many people who innocently expect us to do our duty. these are individuals responsible for drive-by shootings child affection attempts and thanks to ms. mcgrath they are off the streets page recently returned to military roots serving as a lawyer for the record in japan since 2019. she has representative america admirably and she been outstanding u.s. attorney. the third u.s. attorney nominee is rebecca lasko. this one is interesting. she was nominated to the u.s. northern district of ohio her home state of the senator who upheld her nomination. >> she's a long-term prosecutor and attended georgetown university law before the sixth

circuit. after seven years in private practice mr. lasko joined the u.s. attorneys office handled cases involving prescription drug trafficking gun crimes and corruption. she eventually became the chief of the office of criminal division. for nearlyhi a decade she was te lead council in prosecuting on line pill mill organizations that distribute up well over 4 million pain pills to customers in all 50me states. she secured convictions on all 12 defendants in the case and the organization was forced to surrender $4 million to the u.s. government. she served her office with distinction and would be in -- april. nominate from the northern district of -- significant experience in the private-sector and as a federal prosecutor.

she attended northwestern university and law school and clerkedle on the 7th circuit cot of appeals. then she served as federal prosecutor in the northern district of illinois for over a decade where she -- gang public correction in fraud cases and specialized in child exploitation prosecutions and six years on projects they childhood coordinator. as an assistant u.s. attorney investigated a former police officer who was convicted of the person he is arrested and she secured the conviction of a former priest who is was accused of sexually abusing more than 20 children. she is has since served as chief ethics officer for cook county attorney's office currently working as senior council for investigations of fraud and abuse.

she is the qualification leadership to serve as u.s. attorney with distinction. the interesting thing about all of these nominees that are beinu held up by one senator on the other side of the aisle as extraordinary records they have already written in their lives as criminal prosecutors and that's why senators from both political parties in the united states senate have said they are entitled to promotion and entitled to an opportunity to lead the u.s. attorney attorney's office. by keeping these posts vacant by refusing to give a vote in the senate on their nominations they are jeopardizing the efforts of u.s.s. attorneys offices to control marcaw x. and crime. these men and women are on the frontlines of keeping us safe in their effort and to hold up their nominations without any specific plan by any one of these nominees is just unacceptable. we have a responsibility here to keep america safe.

we can't keep them safe by using a political reason to hold up the nominations for qualified people. if you are c-4 law enforcement and if you want the prosecutors across america to keep u us safe for goodness sake with the hold on these nominations. mr. present i'm prepared to make a unanimous consent request. isu name is consent the senate proceed to consider the following nominations of en bloc callenger number went 29, 266, 31410315. the nominations be confirmed and block in a motion to reconsider be made and laid upon the table without any action or debate and no further motions be in order to anymi denominations at preset be notified of the senate's action the senate resumed session. is there objection? >> mr. president.

>> the senator fromidin ohio. mr. president reserving the right to object the senator knows well that i cannot and will not give consent to confirmation of new officials for the department for the department justice. my objection is not specific to qualifications for the particular individuals have been nominated my objection instead is a fact we live in an era where the department of justice is for politics as much as justice and that's unacceptable. the doj has been defined by -- this she is justified by selective prosecution of the leader of the opposition a man running against joe biden for president denies this course i'm speaking of donald trump. this unprecedented double standard will likely be prosecuting donald trump leaving the president and his family completely and touched is a reason why the department of justice public confidence has completely collapsed in an recent mbc survey shows 35%

american people approve of the department justice which is a radical difference from where it was just if years ago. the constitutional duty of his body to provide the doj nominee. my real theory, i do want to be here not to one to be objecting to these nominees but what i'd like much less with the fact these nominees will be used by the attorney general for politics over justice. my colleagues might say this of senator tuberville holding department justice nominees that this is extraordinary and what we are doing as republicans is attempting to unanimous consent of these nominations is extraordinary and i agree it's extraordinary to what is more extraordinary is this morning, and the leader of the opposition is being prosecuted by the present of united states and the department of justice again and again is using its power to go after people pro-life activists to members of the community who exercising their right. mr. president i would love to

live in a country where the department of justice does not engage in selective prosecution. i would very much like if the department ofn justice focused n the work of law enforcement instead of politics but until it does i will object to these nominations and i object to giving unanimous consent that i will need mr. president --. >> the objection is heard in the senator from on senator from what i present mr. president my colleague says he's holding up these critical law enforcement positions because former president trump is being treated unfairly. he promises to the department of justice to a hault and loyalty to his political ally. president biden is continually constrained his respect for the justice department never interfered in any investigation into himself or his family. in contrast president trump treated the justice department's personal law firm for four years

and continues to undefined the rule of law are repeatedly threatening and making baseless accusations against judges prosecutors grand jurors and -- president trump has been invited for separate times once for -- and churches. as a colonel charges mount president trump is becoming more reckless and threatening judges prosecutors jurors and witnesses. thates is why inappropriate references to our j judicial system, that's what they look like instead of directing his concerns there the senator from ohio is attacking law enforcement officers who want to keep their families and communities safe. that's one of the nominations he is holding up an argument that the department of justice has become a political tool is theol nominations which he supports in his own state of ohio. so if this person is -- what a

support this person for this nomination? and holding out for political reasons. despite the talk about crime in america and all the references making references to cram the city of chicago. i can't think of a better way to fight fight crime and to protect communities and by confirming all of these qualified nominees especially the one from the northern district of illinois. will the senator from ohio stands in the senate talking about my home state in other places ms. perry would be leaving firearms trafficking straight and tracking the illicit flow of illegal drugs from other states into chicago. the chicago police department recovered more than 10,000 guns every year in criminal investigations in the last two years. 10,000 guns taken off the streets. ms. perry patel to coordinate theseor efforts with the atf and

other law enforcement agencies. instead thanks to my colleague's political position our law enforcement agencies in u.s. attorneys are missing key officials who would otherwise be adding these efforts. if you are for law and order and for safety on the streets if you want to reduce gun violence in the world can you rationalize stopping the nominations of u.s. attorneys, the lead criminal prosecutors at the u.s. department of justice. given the leadership they need and the senator from ohio blocks it. these officers should not be subject to politics. these are highly qualified nominees who deserve to be swiftly confirmed and our law enforcement agencies in ohio illinois mississippi and california are going to be limited in how they can fight crime. i'm saddened that this is become the new standard for senate

republicans. onee senate republican to stop 300 military promotions and for six months or longer. deserving men and women who many of them who risked their lives for country and have served us so well are being punished because of a political item on the agenda. you've chosen the wrong targets to take political revenge for the same thing as true when it comes to these nominees. for goodness sakes give the department of justice the tools it needs to stop the spread of fentanyl and narcotics from the united c states to slow down violent crime and do something to protect children who are being trafficked and stop these nominations to. turn a blind eye to the reality we face crammed our country. i can can't explain it and i won't even try to. i just beg the senator of ohio to h think twice big ran into yu is department of justice to a hault as you have promised is nothing to be proud of.

we will not be savored the nation and we will not be better off in terms of the safety of our children in this political strategy is unfortunately ill intended and will result in hurting a lot of innocent people. i back. >> the senator from alabama. mr. president hrsa go senator schumer announced we willil be voting on the commander then record army chief of staff and the chairman of the joint chiefs of. staff. it's about time. i've called for individual votes on these nominees are almost six months. instead of voting democrats hav months complaining about having to vote. they want us to use for time for things like liberal judges like the one we confirmed a couple of hours ago. senator schumer