counter the challenge presented by china. mitt has worked extensively on american foreign policy and national security. he has been a champion for ukraine and a strong supporter of supplying aid to that brave country in a time of peril. most of all mitt has reminded us over and over again of our 36 trillion-dollar national debt and the need to put our trust funds on solid ground. in fact i think the great post senate responsibility that mitt takes on as a commission to look at all of those trust funds he

has proposed legislation to do just that. i can't think of a better person to have that commission. mitt announce his decision to step down from the senate with these words. while i'm not running for re-election, i'm not retiring from the fight. as he and his wonderful wife anne move on to the next phase of their lives i am sure that this outstanding leader will continue to fight for the core values that have made america great. thank you mr. president. >> mr. president. >> the senator from north carolina. did i miss that? the senator from new jersey. >> we are so much alike.

will the senator yield? b yes. >> i rise to object. it will not let this man go quietly into the night. i would ask for unanimous consent to force him to stay in the senate. like all my unanimous consent requests in the past two years non-of them have ever passed. [laughter] case in point. i didn't necessarily expect to find myself they are getting sad and angry that we are losing mitt romney. first of all because we have obviously to the naked eye so much in common. i am black and mitt romney is -- mitt romney is a man of great personal net worth and i am a man of great personal net girth. but the reality is the more i have served with mitt romney the more i found myself hoping to have more in common with him.

i've watch somebody for years now give a master's class and what i believe america needs the most. i ran for president because of his drive and his feeling that our nation was becoming two finalists take thy watch time and time again a person that put aside their desires for partisan adoration for a deeper conviction to stand up for our nation. i watched a man not confuse celebrity with leadership significance. i watched time and time and saw with my own eyes being in airports and scorned for taking principled stands that he saw as the best way to try to hold our country together. i disagree with him even though

i see him now in front of his colleagues getting great approbation for a moment i remember when i was a mayor watching him run for president where he was asked what the greatest national security threat his knee said russia. i've been in classified briefings with him and other senators were his wisdom and perceiving a threat was not only appreciated, i literally saw people applaud for the man but i disagree with him now. to me the greatest threat to america despite other comments that have been made here here including from my esteemed colleague yesterday who said it's our national debt the greatest threat to americans than our inability to come together as a country. if americans are united there's nothing we can do. indeed the greatest calling of our country right now is was more indivisible back into this

one nation under god. i have sat here for years now and i've watched perhaps someone show with clarity and purpose that i have got to be what his faith in mind called for, blessed are the peacemakers. people stand in the breach blessed are the people who heal, who tried to weave together the torn threads of our great nation back into eight -- this body is lesser, it's lesser with this loss. when i heard the news that he wasn't running again i wasn't happy for him and his family and i know his values start with that core of faith and family but i do worry about this body and i do worry about our nation. the one thing that gives me hope is because the light is shined

into this place will endure and perhaps many of us as he departs will try our best despite the forces opposed the part art best to pick up the work that he has left behind to do more to affirm a principle that he clearly has kept centered in his eyes as in the center of the aisle of this great institution which are those words from e pluribus unum. mitt romney thank you for being my friend and thank you for being someone who has inspired me to do better and thank you for being a great american patriot. >> the senator from north carolina. >> thank you mr. president. mitt romney he and i are seatmates and these are our assigned seats. i told matt that i've not prepared a single comment but i did want to say if you think

about him and i hope that we use this opportunity and remembered over the next two years. there's a question we can all talk about and thank him for the incredible work that he has done and to his staff. the problems he has caused for you by being so honest and so forthright in so direct, right? how many times that i bet you can answer because of the rules but how many times has your staff said we wish sometimes you just were so forthright and honest. but that is who this guy is and i've seen him and we've been battle but he's in the lot of bipartisan efforts in without his support and the support of a handful of others generational value would have never happened. i would ask everybody here who is thinking mitt romney for his

role model behavior and the times he's been in the senate and the times that i've known him him in the first time i met him was the december before his election when i was a fairly new legislator and there was no reason why he would know me but i remember that meeting. i've been friends with him since that moment in charlotte north carolina when he was running for president. let us go forward and hopefully ask ourselves as we come together as a nation, as we solve problems that can only be solved by people on both sides of the aisle coming together and taking the heat that comes along with that, let's ask ourselves into her for years what would mitt romney do and let that be a guiding post for those folks who are going to be here who may be put into the situation to do right by this country. we are going to have one less person here but all of us know

what matt has done and i hope that's part of the legacy that we will honor when he's gone. finally if you don't know about that i'm going to miss him and their many reasons to miss met. i'm going to miss his wit and his ability to call things quickly. having a seatmate like that when you are in the middle of vote aroma is gold. the conversations we have had back here in the middle of the night. he's a good man a good father had a great-grandfather. by show of hands whose shares dna with mitt romney up there in the gallery? congratulations to all of you in the thousands of other family members who are hugely proud of mitt romney. i am. thank you. >> mr. president. >> the senator from montana. >> we have a vote coming up so want to be very brief. first of all met you have been

an incredibly united states senator. we are losing some good ones this time round but you are at the top of list the list. my father was born and raised in utah. my father and mother were both good democrats that i'm going to tell you they would have loved to mitt romney. the reason they would have loved mitt romney is because mitt romney is a realist. somebody who looks at issues and tries to solve them and tries to get to a yes and not to a no. without giving up his principals. your time here in the united states senate and the gift that the good gave to me to work with you and other folks besides us on that infrastructure bill is something that i will never forget in this body. you stood up time and time again and talk to realism to all of us. as you go out just no there's

not a soul in here that doesn't know you are a man of faith and i appreciate that because you exhibit that faith. you don't preach and you walk the walk and i just want to say as others have said before because it's true the united states senate will be diminished because of your absence. i appreciate the opportunity to know you want to work with you and to get some stuff done. the clerk: mr. budd, no.

we are talking about higher education in america with the president and chair of the association of american university program. >> it's a pleasure to be here. thank you just started your term at association association of

american universities. tell us about the mission and who the members are. >> i was honored to chair the board. this is a group of 70 of america's leading people that includes public universities private universities and what we share in common is a commitment to educating students at the highest level and research of the highest quality that enables our country to enjoy disparity and promotes the security of the country. >> what are your goals and priorities going to be quick >> it's important to continue for the government to continue supporting the research we have an ad states that we have benefited tremendously in this country from having a partnership between the government and its universities that has been practical applied research in basic research that has laid the foundation for later discoveries but one of the things i want to do is work closely with the present of the

aau barbara schneider in congress and to protect the freedom of our institutions and help to make the case for what those institutions are doing for our students in the country. make the case. how would you describe the current state of higher education in america? payment the current state of higher education is terrific in the united states and part of the evidence of that is all around the world people come to these universities of students and faculty members and the return on investment from a four year college degree which is what all of us at the aau offer is tremendous and for many families that investment in higher education will be the best investment that they make in their lifetime just by the financial return and they are lots of other benefits in getting a four year college degree. the research that are universities produce is a difference maker in terms of our health and in terms of

information technology and in terms of innovation and jobs. >> you talk about return on investment. a college degree has become extremely expensive and it continues to get more and more expensive outpacing inflation and has put about a breach or lot of american kids. why is that and wise a college degree so expensive these days quick >> i'm glad you brought that up because they are a couple of things and what is the common narrative. i want to say one is the cost of people pay for higher education over the past four or five years hasn't been going up with inflation it's been going down and that's something you can find in college for date and there's a great article. >> tuition itself has been going up. >> at the sticker price of tuition has been going up but what people actually pay is the sticker price minus financial aid at institutions and institutions including mine have

been raising dollars from alumni and from endowments so in fact their education is more affordable than ever. i will use some of our own data around that. 71% of the students from princeton are on financial aid, 71%. their scholarships that are larger than the tuition price so the average student at our university is getting a subsidy for room and board at our university in addition to coverage of tuition. when people are looking at education they had to keep two things in mind about it. one is what matters is the net price and all of the aau institutions for example are offering significant financial aid to their students but people had to look carefully at what they are actually going to pay and the second the critical question. education is that return on investment to figure out what the net prices and pay attention

to what you are getting back from that. education isn't just a consumer good to use in a way that something much like the kind of investment ticket for a lifetime. when you look at that investment is one of the best investment you'll ever make. >> nonetheless are people taking on a lot of student loans to pay for college. you take a position -- a position on student loans being forgiven? at the aau doesn't have an official position on student loans forgiveness. we have a commitment to affordability and we believe the government should increase the pell grants that enable students from low-income families to attend college and flourishes when they go there. we ate and other associations that supported the idea of doubling pell again. one of the things i think people need to know is these narratives get out there through stories that i think are often outliers is financial arrangements often

allow students to graduate without any debt from college. princeton makes a commitment to students that all of them will get financial aid that will allow them to graduate with zero debt. more than 83% of our students graduate every year debt free for the others are taking out relatively small loans for discretionary basis but the reality when parents take a close look when they research universities at what other colleges are offering its different. >> you had to get into princeton first. >> that's why say, it's not easy and we have extraordinary students who are applying to us but what i said is true in different ways across its entire extraordinary group of 70 universities and many universities that are outside of that group. it's not just the very select universities. >> there has been a decline in

enrollment across-the-board of american universities. is that a concern among university leadership quick >> we are seeing a generational shift right now. as you look at demography we have known we will see declines in the numbers of college going students and demographic patterns change. the leading research universities in the country the applicant pools and the sets of students who want to come to our colleges and universities from within the united states and outside of the united states have been made very strong. i think we are going to see effects more broadly as the demographics shift. >> if you'd like to join the conversation if you have a question or comment about higher education in america you can give us a call. our guest is christopher

eisgruber president of the university and the lines are republicans and independents might 202748-8000. we have aligned for and so if you're currently a growth in college right now please give us a call and let's get your perspective (202)748-8003. there had been fewer protests on the gaza war than we have seen in the past. how are schools addressing this issue the school year? fay i think what schools help to do around this issue is to respect basically the principals of our united states constitution which are part of our university rules as well which means we respect free speech and at the same time we insist students and others

comply with what are known as time place and manner restrictions when they are protesting. in this country in the city of washington d.c. where government is located we can criticize their country and you have to have a vigorous free speech on college campuses where he can speak up on topics like the israeli gaza war. we have rules the united states and our college campuses. you can't just pitch a tent to protest on the capitol mall and you can't occupy a building here in washington. you can't spray-paint your message on the washington monument and we had to have the same kinds of frozen college campuses. princeton and other universities to enable people to speak up and to make sure they do so in a way that allows everybody to go about their business and doesn't disrupt the activities of the

campus. they are. things we had to do there. we have to be elevating the conversation so in our country and on our campuses a lot of it gets covered in the lot of the news media and their allowed discussions going on in seminars that are balanced and rational but the one to get the pictures are the students with the signs. we have to take the conversations with tough issues that are happening at our campus and to elevate them. second i would say we want students to be engaged around these issues. they are people who go about their business and don't pay attention to the issues that are happening in the world who want students to grow up to be engaged leader so expect the right -- respect the right to protest. >> what was your experience on the campus of princeton university and also not just the protest but the freedom of speech access? >> i think they did a good job at princeton and that's what we hear from her students when they

survey them as well. we asked him about the experience and we do this every year. last year students continued to report a high sense of satisfaction with their student experience and in fact it's higher than the previous year. i mentioned that because it's important when we have these tumultuous events ended his tumultuous and the feelings are raw but to give students educational experience that they want. we have a lot of people who are upset about various things that have buttoned on the campus and we had students chanting slogans. i am jewish and i have relatives in israel might bounce of the slogans offensive that i felt i had an obligation under the constitution were i her free rules at princeton protect the rights of people in the states. we also have to enforce the rules when people are violating

them we were clear about what the rules were. it enabled us to get through the year but we had a number of different events that allow people to look at these issues in more more detail place and i'll mention one quickly. our dean of international affairs probably the most common political scientist in the united states. she did a couple of sessions with her counterpart at columbia who is an israeli who was previously in the israeli military and the two of them became friends when they were professors at princeton before they came to the schools and in the fall of last year not long after october 7 they were doing public events and in order to model for students what it meant for people with very different backgrounds to disagree with one another and disagree civilly. those events don't get the kind of the tensions that the protest

do but that's the heart of what goes on on college campuses and i don't think it's happening many other places in our society. >> colleges are turning to institutional neutrality but can you first explain what that means it is that a good approach >> institutional neutrality is the kind of slogan that describes a view about when universities should take positions and when president should make statements on issues. this has been something that has been discussed among university presence in people in higher education and it exploded after some of the unsuccessful statements that were issued last year. institutional neutrality reflects the view that universities at a broad level ought to be very circumspect and restrained which is a word i

like better than neutrality about when to speak out. the idea behind it is you take a broad phrase that i agree with that universities ought themselves not to be the critics and taking a position as princeton university that are critical in our government. they should be enabling faculty and students to raise their voices. i personally don't like the phrase. i have an institution that stands for the value of research and stands for the value of free speech and the value people of all backgrounds that should be able to flourish on their campus and those are real values. neutrality expresses this well. universities have to be careful not to take positions as institutions except no limited set of circumstances. >> chuck is calling from syracuse new york a republican. hey chuck. >> high. a little bit surprised this

gentleman that saying he's putting forth -- to be successful. you have mark zuckerberg and bill gates and other people who have been very successful and to show about plumbers and electricians and other jobs that are successful but one person who would agree with you that it's a good idea to get a college degree would be ted chris senseki the unibomber. i'm sure he put his degree to good use. >> thank you for the question and thank you for the opportunity to clarify what i think about this. i agree entirely that you can be successful in a number of different careers without going to college and i don't believe that everyone should go to college. i think it's important for us to recognize that as a country and

for academic institutions to support people who make other choices. on the other hand but i do believe in what i did say is people who want to go to college and people who make that choice are making a spectacularly good investment to go to college. when you look about the data about my institution in the institutions in the aau for four year college degree is more generally the return on investment in economic terms is very strong and provides a lot of other opportunities as well. it doesn't mean it's right for everybody but it just means they are people who are thinking about this choice and asking themselves the question hey i'd like to go to college and a career that you get by going to college sound attractive to me and will that investment payoff? it's not the right investment for everybody because other good investments are not right for

everybody. >> michael in denver on the independent line you are next. >> thank you so much for taking my call mr. eisgruber and thank you for being here this morning. i just have a quick comment in question. it's the issue of mental health and colleges and it's statistically shows 40% of students on college campuses are experiencing some form of mental on this and as you know many times there's a lack of access that students have in many cases for treatment or services. the question i was going to ask about this is what could be implemented for feel should be implemented in terms of making sure students have access to mental health care and furthermore identifying mental health issues before it's too late >> michael thank you for the question. so important for our colleges

and for our country. what i would say first of all as we are facing a mental health crisis right now. much of our population and say but especially acute among young people of high school age and what we typically think of is college age students. if you put it that way it's not worse for students who are in college. the numbers are actually a bit better for students wearing college and peers of the same age. you are correct that this is an issue that we need to worry about on college campuses in an issue we need to worry about in the country. to respond to your specific question from my own institution and the one that i know best we work very hard to increase the availability of counseling and psychiatric services at princeton. we work hard to educate her students as well as our faculty

to recognize times of distress in themselves or in their peers. we take a comprehensive approach to mental health on the campus recognizing that mental well-being isn't just a matter of counseling and psychological services it's a matter of making sure people feel supported and have ways of talking through problems throughout their life and academic environment. i think you are right to bring up the question and it's something that should concern us all not just in terms of access of resources but in terms of understanding what are the sources of this issue and pointing to things like loneliness in our site site he -- social media. at this time we need better access to these services after leaving campuses. ..

i think in my job, both now and when i was in the chief budget officer at the university maximizing the impact of our mission base dollars but, let me say a couple of things about why it is that any university is going to have to invest

aggressively in people both on the faculty side and on the staff side. i will just mention on the staff side, the conversation i just had her third previous collar, michael, about counseling and psychological services. all this people are staffed up or they're not a wasted and critical work to support a students and other members of our community in order to enable them to flourish. i think that's true of the vast majority of people who sometimes or administration. faculty are the core of the enterprise it in a great college or university. they are doing teaching and they are doing research. both of those things are important especially at america's leading research universities. i think the thing that drives expense whether you are at the university level or dealing with high schools or elementaries is what matters get great teachers great minds and classrooms with new students that enable them to push the students.

that means investing and that's what we do and we do it well. quick. the thomas in ferndale, michigan democrat hi thomas a. >> caller: good morning. my name is thomas i made instant alum it's great to speak with you and thank you for being on the show. princeton has done a pretty good job handling the complex issues and controversies that arise with the conflicts. how much how can students get the attention of the administration when they have issues they want to address like divesting from weapons manufacturing, divesting some institutions that might support ideals so conserved in the serviceable nation. thank you. >> thomas, thank you for calling in. for other viewers in the service of all nations the motto now is

in the nation service in the service of humanity. our alum is quoting and that. thomas, i appreciate the question. multiple ways students and others can bring their concerns to the attention of myself or the administration. you may know as an alum that at princeton we have been meetings of the call that counsel for the princeton university community. basically once a month during the academic year. it ends up about being six meetings per year one of those is a town hall were just as i am doing now to questions from whoever shows up. i am present at almost all of those meetings as are my colleagues. then we here at the concerns are of the community. people are concerned about things like divestment have the opportunity to present petitions to what is a student, faculty, staff committee that considers issues about divestment of the use of university resources for this a lot of different ways to do that. by the way it is permissible to

protest. as i said earlier protest on college campuses find per disruption is not. sometimes students choose that as a way to bring issues to people's attention. there is a difference in getting attention on them and getting the particular outcomes that a group once when you've got an issue and questions about the israel war or about divestment are often perfect examples of this. they're going to be multiple opinions on a college campus. multiple opinions in strong disagreement within the student body on those issues. it may be the case people bring up issues that are then discussed through a process where lots of different viewpoints come in the university does not end up taking it position that goes back to institution restraint on some of these issues the right thing is for the university say i understand you're really excited about this particular issue but it's not one or the

university should take a position. we encourage you to continue taking positions as students or faculty members but thank you for the question i hope i see what reunion. >> let me just share this newly introduced bill is called protect economic freedom act. it essentially cuts off federal student aid to colleges that participate in the commercial boycott against israel read this prohibits colleges and universities from receiving federal student aid if they engaged in commercial boycotts, dedicated but -- dictated by those in the boycott sanctions divest movement. that comes out of the house educational workforce committee. it's not expected to go anywhere but your response of that? >> looked coming when he said this verse. i the aau have strongly opposed boycotts in general. i put out eight statements opposing boycotts in the first year of my presidency now about 12 years ago.

i think, as universities we depend on building bridges rather than creating walls it's important for us to be interacting with other institutions around the world. and again with regard to the issues around what i would prefer to call institutional restraint i don't think it is appropriate for universities to be engaging in those kinds of actions. on the other hand i think there's a huge danger if congress starts picking out particular issues and the same with regard the makes it different in the world were going to pick on this political issue or that political issue and use it as a reason to start cutting off aid that ultimately makes these institutions more affordable and allows them to the researcher which our country depends but. >> in austin, texas independent independently good morning. >> caller: hi. i am from texas i do believe in higher education. i'm 61 years old i wish i could go on a speaking tour to all these high school kids and tell

everyone we didn't make bad grades you end up being an organic housekeeper like myself. i've also got to do training that jobs where i learned phlebotomy and ekg technician does not pay well. i'm also a musician for 38 years that does not pay well but that's my passion, i love it. i am for protesting as long as it is civil but it also, texas governor abbott brought in the state trooper i got real violent because the state troopers it was terrible. i want everybody to know i quit buying into the israeli propaganda about five years ago i learned a lot. to me i believe doctors without borders and all of these major newspapers saying these children have bullets in their head but they are kidnapping doctors and nasty students are passionate and they don't want that. university should protest against that. i do not want any with the

republican house and now the senate they are going to pass that bill you all just showed. anyway, thank you. thank you c-span forgiven the people to voice. >> are any comments? >> jeannie, thank you for calling in. the one thing i would say is we want our students to have engaged and passionate opinions have you have engaged in passionate opinions for their going to have different ones. over this past year sometimes protesting both sides out on the lawn with different slogans we think that's important it should not be the university doing the protesting or the speaking in those circumstances. moreover as important as the protest is it's really important to have these conversations like the one we're having here this morning. take the topics and try to elevate them and get people to appreciate one another's side to the extent that's possible look for solutions are going to make a difference for the future. >> we have got text from doug in

toronto, ohio who wants to know your opinion regarding free college for all i will show npr article here university of texas mit and others and out free in n for some undergraduates. >> free tuition for some undergraduates is a great idea but as i said earlier the aau schools are all doing this in one way or another. we all do it on the basis of financial need. that is for students who are qualified to attend her institutions and unable to afford to go to her institutions we provide aid that makes it possible for them to do so. for some students it makes it free. i do not believe in free tuition for all. i think there are some people who are able to afford to make this extraordinary investment in college education. it's a worthwhile investment is good thing for people to do. >> me give you some numbers mit is an example says undergraduate

undergraduates family income below 200,000 can attend tuition free starting next year. that's up from the current threshold of 140,000. there is come as you know, big endowment at some of these ivy league colleges but including yours at princeton. should those be maintained at that level? or should that be used to increase the amount of aid given to students? >> at the great question. i really push at the opportunity to speak to this. endowments are meant to be used and we are using those endowments. if you look at mit why it's able to do it is doing alright talked earlier about how princeton has 71% of its students on financial aid for scholarships in excess of the tuition price and students as a result graduating debt free. that's because were spending our endowments on financial aid but

we are spending our endowments on financial aid. we are spending them on a research endowment sometimes think they are at saving accounts that set off to the side. they are not like that they are annuities. it pays for your retirement at princeton were currently spending 5.3% of our endowment every year to maintain the operating across all that we do. the reason why i was able to answer your first question by saying the affordability of american universities is getting better and better is because those of us with endowments we are deploying them aggressively to do things like what is happening at princeton or mit was the other school you mentioned to create scholarship opportunities that did not exist before. that's what we ought to be doing. >> christopher president printed university but also chair of the association of american universities. you can find out about that organization 88u.edu. thank you so much for joining us. >> think it's been a pleasure. >> look at today's "washington

journal." i want to give you a quick update on the situation in south korea before we get to our topic. front page of the "washington post" about what happened yesterday. martial law that a reversal in south korea says south korea deeply unpopular president by declaring the emergency martial law. a risky power play six hours until more about the military dictatorship many south koreans believe had been consigned to the history books. a televised announcement late tuesday night's as he accuse the accusedthe opposition of quote antistate activity. thousands of protesters demanding a return to democratic government to gather outside the national assembly where lawmakers convene urgently to overturn the order. with the police officers forming a barricade around the parliamentary complex, some opposition lawmakers even climb through windows to get into the

voting chamber. before dawn wednesday morning he said he would lift martial law and withdraw troops from the streets. the "new york times" at the latest of what is happening today live update south korea leaders is in doubt as lawmakers move to impeach him. that's a topic of the justice department, your confidence in it. take a look at the christian science monitor who wrote this, he says the pardon comes as politics and the criminal legal system will have become increasingly intertwined. next month mr. biden will succeed his office to donald trump is been subject to multiple federal prosecutions himself. and has said he will use the federal justice system to pursue his political enemies.

all told the episode represent another blow to public confidence in the justice system. its independence from politics mr. biden's pardoning of his last arriving sunday represent a measure of justice and compassion for some. but for others it represents more evidence the system is corrupt and broken. we want to hear what you think about that. you can give us a call it will go straight to our phone lines now here is joe and leonard town maryland good morning. >> caller: good morning everybody. thank you everyone for listening. two things. number one as i sit here today doesn't want to go to school we are literally having school yell at us because my kid won't go to school. that makes sense for poor people but for rich people there his son can buy drugs, buy guns, they could also they can get away with so much i'm at home

scared the police are going to come yell at me because my kid eight's going to school. but this kid can get a pardon for who knows what he has done. it just shows you how our justice system in our country works is for the rich, it's not for the poor people and it is ridiculous. i have no confidence other than the new world order. that's what it really seems like. hunter biden and jared kushner have the same attorney abe lowell. isn't that weird? they all have the same people yet they are different team supposedly. i apologize my frustration at andwashes my whole life. see what the hell does your child? >> caller: at my chums 11 years old i have a 17 year old lead the way these kids want to go to school. one of them got assaulted three weeks ago by a boy he is 18 years old he threatened my daughter real heart my daughter has heart problems.

they don't like being going to school anymore it scared because as parents the yeas are 52, the are 45, the nostalgias is -- nomination is confirmed, the president will be immediately notified of the senate's action the clerk will report the motion to invoke cloture. the clerk: cloture 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 844, sarah morgan davenport, of new mexico, to be united states district judge for the district of new mexico. the presiding officer: by unanimous consents -- is it the sense of the senate that debate on sarah morgan davenport to be

united states district judge for the district of new mexico shall be brought to a close? the yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule. the clerk will call the roll. vote: the clerk: ms. baldwin. mr. barrasso. the clerk: mr. bennet. mrs. blackburn. mr. blumenthal. mr. booker.

mr. boozman. mr. braun. mrs. britt. mr. brown. mr. budd. ms. butler. ms. cantwell. mrs. capito. mr. cardin. mr. carper. mr. casey. mr. cassidy. ms. collins. mr. coons. mr. cornyn. ms. cortez masto. mr. cotton. mr. cramer.

mr. crapo. mr. cruz. mr. daines. ms. duckworth. mr. durbin. ms. ernst. mr. fetterman. mrs. fischer. mrs. gillibrand. mr. graham. mr. grassley. mr. hagerty. ms. hassan. mr. hawley. mr. heinrich. mr. helmy. the clerk: mr. hickenlooper. ms. hirono. mr. hoeven. mrs. hyde-smith. mr. johnson. mr. kaine. mr. kelly. mr. kennedy.

mr. king. ms. klobuchar. mr. lankford. mr. lee. mr. lujan. ms. lummis. mr. manchin. mr. markey. mr. marshall. mr. mcconnell. mr. merkley. mr. moran. mr. mullin. ms. murkowski. mr. murphy. mrs. murray. mr. ossoff. mr. padilla. mr. paul. mr. peters. mr. reed. mr. ricketts. mr. risch. mr. romney. ms. rosen. mr. rounds. mr. rubio. mr. sanders.

mr. schatz. mr. schmitt. mr. schumer. mr. scott of florida. mr. scott of south carolina. mrs. shaheen. ms. sinema. ms. smith. ms. stabenow. mr. sullivan. mr. tester. mr. thune. mr. tillis. mr. tuberville. mr. van hollen. mr. vance. mr. warner. mr. warnock. ms. warren. mr. welch. mr. whitehouse. mr. wicker. mr. wyden. mr. young.

the clerk: senators voting in the affirmative -- baldwin, bennet, blumenthal, booker, butler, cantwell, cardin, collins, cortez masto, duckworth, fetterman, heinrich, helmy, hirono, kaine, murphy, murray, ossoff, reed, rosen, sanders, tester, warner, warren, welch and whitehouse.

the clerk: mr. lujan, aye. mr. warnock, aye. mr. moran --

senators voting in the negative -- blackburn, boozman, braun, budd, cassidy, cornyn, cotton, cramer, daines, fischer, graham, grassley, hawley, hyde-smith, kennedy, lankford, lummis, marshall, mcconnell, moran, mullin, ricketts, rounds, scott of florida, scott of south carolina, sullivan, thune, tillis, tuberville, and young.

met in president? >> a senator from michigan. >> first about i would say wouldn't you know i get laryngitis. [laughter] for somebody who is an elected office we know that's not a good thing. please bear with me. i want to thank chuck so much for his comments this morning and for being a dear friend. today is bittersweet for me standing here on the floor of the united states senate. making my last speech my last majork: speech. so many of my staff from michigan have traveled to be here as well as staff members who have worked for me in d.c. over the years.

i am truly overwhelmed that over 100 michigan and d.c. staff are here in the gallery and on the floor. family and friends who are not able to fly into they are watching on c-span. as we come back from thanksgiving i am filled with so much gratitude and respect as i think back over my years of public service. i am thinking about the incredible number of people who have supported me and contributed in so many ways to my success from my family, my staff, my colleagues, and of course the people in michigan who put their trust in me for over 50 years. i started when i was five. [laughter] from county commissioner to state legislator to u.s. senator. michigan you will always be in

my heart. today is about recognizing all of you. if some of you know i lost my mom just a week ago. i suspect she is tuning and from heaven's version of c-span right now. watching me, listening, just as she has always been a watching d supported me my whole life. mom not only lived a long life, 98 years of age but a rich and meaningful one. for hard work, her kindness, her strength, and her loyalty were to true gift to me too my brothers don't start with my family. might tom, daughter of mount sara, son-in-law scott, and my

five incredibly talented and amazing in children. the most talented grandchildren we have ever seen. ra, willow, a very, everett violet. many campaign ants over the years on closing add to cause me too beat an incumbent republican to be first elected to nine states house. they too broke down barriers the first in michigan for a legislator to be pregnant and have a baby while in office. most of my mail colleagues did not note to buy for a baby shower so i got a lot of stuffed

animals. [laughter] my family members have marched in countless parades, attended thousands of events with me planned birthday parties and holidays around the legislative calendar. they sacrifice their time and in many cases thick and thin i am incredibly grateful. i love you all so much. my family story inspired my work as an elected official i grew up in claire, michigan or my mom was director of nursing for our small rural hospital. this sparked my lifelong interest in healthcare. as a 24 real grad student unit michigan state university at effort to save medical care facility from closure it was the only nursing home that serve low income seniors at the time.

i've never been involved in politics before but i knew it was wrong to close that facility. we stop the board of commissions on closing this critical service. i was encouraged to run for county commission because i looked in the district of the commissioner who tried to close the nursing home. iran against him. he called me that young blonde and i beat him. and as they say it, the rest is history. healthcare ever made a top priority for me from those early days to today. today i am proud and grateful that more people in america have access to home healthcare, to hospice services and lower prescription drug prices. in part because of my work. medicare, medicaid committee health centers provide stronger foundations for care for millions of americans.

as a new member of the senate finance committee when president obama made healthcare reform is top priority. i was excited to be involved in every part of passing the affordable care act. making sure that maternity care and mental health services and addiction treatment will were all part of the new law. i spent a tremendous amount of time focused on the affordability of the new healthcare system. was successful in bringing down the amount that individuals would have to pay for coverage. i considered it a badge of honor during the final vote in committee when then chairman marcus turned to me and said we have senator affordability. my first viral moment as an elected official happened during the debate on the affordable care act. amy klobuchar is often told the

story. one senator from arizona argued against including maternity care, as vacant coverage by stating >> i've had the support he knee needed to manage his disease and move forward with his life. i saw what happened when someone did not get the help they needed and i saw what happened when

they did. this experience fueled my passion to reduce the stigma on mental health and mental illness and as i've often said we need to treat health care above the neck the same as health care below the neck. i worked on this issue in the early days of my career training mental health committee in the michigan house of representatives later i was honored to team up with senator for a ten year effort to transform how we fundamental health and addiction services. this has been my passion and my most meaningful achievement. on the 50th anniversary of president kennedy signing the community mental health bill the last bill he signed before his death senator and i introduced and spoke here on the senate floor about our new legislation.

the mental health and treatment act. president kennedy envisioned a world where people wouldn't be housed in asylums as they were called at the time but would get the treatment and the care they needed in their community. the first part of his vision was implemented over the past 50 years mental -- but the second half of it creating comprehensive community care never happened. senator and i worked intensely over the past ten years to make the second half of president kennedy's vision a reality. by creating comprehensive community behavioral health clinics or ccbhc's clinics are funded as health care not just

to grants that stop and start. now, because of our bipartisan efforts, culminating in full funding in safer communities act we are in the midst of creating comprehensive community based care across the country. and i thank you all of you for your help so many people here for your help in making that happen. we now have more than 500 community behavioral health clinics providing care across the country. with more being created every day. millions of people now have the dignity of receiving mental health care and addiction treatment in their community instead of sitting in the emergency room or in a jail or sleeping on the street. the goal, of course, is to have every community and every state provide these critical health care services.

i intend to continue to do everything i can to support your efforts to make sure this transformation is completed. i'm forever grateful to the people of michigan for the trust they have shown in me over the years. i've lived in michigan my whole life and i viewed the work in d.c. as a commute to work long distance commute to work. not as long as the west coast side -- but a commute to work. i see everything through the eyes of michigan and our beautiful state. our great lakes and our water, are part of our michigan dna. protecting our water has been my passion from passing my very best bill that bans drilling in the grairk and offers great lakes restoration initiative. this land mark initiative has helped transform the health of our lakes and watersheds and

will continue to do so in the future. looking to those in michigan again i understand we don't have a strong economy unless somebody sees something and grows something for this reason, i've been a member of the agriculture committee at every level of government where i've served. both state and federal. and i've been deeply involved in efforts to protect and expand american manufacturing. including the new clean energy revolution occurring in our country. it's been my privilege to put my stamp on our nation's farm and food policy, i have frequently said that you can see michigan on every page of the farm bills i've written. as the author of this specialty crop title in the farm bill, i'm grateful that the full diversity of farms, small and large are now reflected in our funding and our agricultural policy. i'm so pleased that families

across our scrrnght access to healthy, locally grown foods through farms markets and urban agriculture and their children can count on permanent funding for summer meals and other critical food assistance. i would like say that i see prefer day to fight for michigan. and there's no truer statement than my work on michigan workers and michigan manufacturing. i'm so proud to have championed the rescue in 2009, to change tax incentives to invest and make things in america. and toughen our laws to support american manufacturing. i know we have the best workers in the world. and i know also that michigan -- michigan manufacturing well positioned to prosper in the future i want to take a moment to thank all of you. all of my great, great

colleagues. on both sides of the aisle -- both past and present. so many of you have been wonderful partners in getting things done. and i'm so grateful for your friendship. i'm especially grateful for my michigan partners, first, the amazing and now my dear friend gary peters. i like to say we're the one-two punch for michigan. as we all know to be effective -- it's not necessary to agree with someone on everything, in fact, i don't agree with anybody on everything. it's only necessary to agree on one thing. one problem that needs to be solved and then agree on the way to solve the one thing. then we look for another colleague across the aisle the workers and one thing.

that's how positive change happens. we all realize with all of the incredible demands on our time and constant additions and changes to our schedule it is hard to find time to get to know each other and a personal level. over the years i've been so grateful for the bipartisan willing senators dinners, the international travel that we have. there's so important and playing christmas carols on the piano -- senate prayer breakfast is something i've thoroughly enjoyed. exchanges stories about our families, our faith, our personal challenges have made a real difference been a great honor to serve as democracy leadership since 2005. i want to recognize democratic leaders tom and harry reid so supportive of me. and i want to thank my great

friend, senator chuck schumer and his extraordinary team. extraordinary team. chuck loves the united states senate. and he loves our country with every bone in his body. and of his leadership and tireless work. and friendship -- well announce my retirement nearly two years ago i thought i was ready to pass the torch a new generation of leaders and i couldn't be prouder to pass the torch to michigan new senator elect lisa. i know -- she will have the heart and the talent for this job. and we'll do great things for our state and our country. i thought long and hard about how to express my gratitude to smartest hardworking staff that i could ever have imagined.

truly, my success comes from their amazing efforts. over 500 bright, talented professional staff have worked for me over the past 50 years that's unbelievable. many of them for decadessing det doesn't include countless interns i want you to know everywhere -- this staffer -- i want you to know how moved i am that so many of you took time to be here today and on c-span. you are much more than employees. you are family. i've watch master's degree of you get married several times thanks to our offers and watched our children grow up. your children grow up as well. you are truly my dear friends. you have the kind of service that people of michigan should expect from their elected

officials. you have been there for me personally through the best of times and through the rough patches as well. you have cared and persisted together we have achieved so much whether it is policy changes or helping literally millions of michiganders cut through the bureaucracy and solve a personal problem. i salute each and every of you and i thank you for your service to michigan. and our nation -- and passing a torch to you because i know you'll continue to care about people and public service. and do great things -- i could not have done this without you. as i close i want to acknowledge the important moment that we are in a country we know as great division, promoted by so many who want to gain their own power.

at america's expense -- yet we have so much in common. we all love our children, and want the same things for them to be successful. we want safe communities and a chance to be rewarded for our hard work. we can heal the divide and work together if we just look for that one thing. that we can agree on to make our lives better and get it done. and then we can look again for that one thing. if we don't let the haters divide us we can rebuild trust. with one another -- and be the america we want to be. this is my hope. and my prayer for all of us. as i begin this next chapter in my life my heart is truly filled with gratitude. to my family --

my colleagues, my staff, to the great people of michigan. thank you one and all from the bottom of my heart. it's been an honor to serve you. thank you. [applause] senate president. >> senator from michigan. >> senate president, i rise today to honor my friend. my colleague, the senior senator the great state of michigan debbie stabenow she's been an absolutely tireless advocate for our state, and an unrelenting fighter for every single person living in michigan.

and as a result she's done absolutely beloved publicker is vent in my state her career in public service has been defined by her trail trailblazing accomplishments. it was 50 years ago this november debbie mentioned she was merely five. as she attended she was in graduate school michigan state university. i don't know how you did all of that debbie as she was a graduate student at michigan state, she was first elected to serve on the county commission. and she went on to become both the first and the youngest woman to chair that commission. debbie's career then took her to the michigan legislature where she became the first woman to preside over the michigan state house and after successful stints in michigan state senate, and u.s. house, she was elected stoarve to serve in the united states senate in 2000 and she

made history once again as the first woman to represent michigan in the ?ats. senate. as soon as she arrives debbie hit the ground running i think it is safe to say she's never stopped running and thought to make meaningful positive change for our state as well as for our entire country. in the very first piece of legislation, as she passed into law, as the united states senator, it banned oil and gas drilling in the great lakes and her commitment to protecting and preserving the great lakes didn't stop there. and in 2010 senator stabenow authored great lakes restoration initiative it is a land mark program that has literally transformed the health of the great lakes. by helping to combat against invasive species strengthen our wildlife habitats and protect the entire great lakes watershed. and for nearly a decade now she has served as the co-chair of

the great lakes task force delivering countless wins to ensure lasting health of the great lakes for generations to come. and i've been honored to work with her in those efforts. debbie, of course, has also probably served as chair of agriculture nutrition, and forestry committee a position that she has used to literally reimagine agriculture's role in american society. and under her leadership on that committee, she has not only made important progress in some of the issues most important to farmers across michigan and the country she's also used her post to address some of the most pressing issues of our time. from childhood hunger to climate change. and throughout the years, senator stabenow has let our michigan delegation through immense challenges. in the face of a flint water crisis, debbie worked tirelessly to advocate for the people of

flynt her drive and determination guided our delegation as we fought for congress to pass the funding needed to kick start the federal response to that tragic situation. debbie was also driving force behind rescue of the u.s. automotive industry in 2008. helping our michigan economy get on the road to long-term stability. debbie knows that michigan's workers are the begs in the world and her tireless efforts to create and protect thousands of good paying jobs, union jobs for michiganders have bolstered michigan renaissance we're witnesses today all across our state. as a original author of the affordable care act, debbie helped to make health care more affordable for michigan families and help pay us major reforms to bring down the cost of prescription drugs for everyone. in particular debbie has long fought to ensure that our mental

health receives the same focus and care that our physical health gets. her efforts to expand access to mental health services not only ensure that people in michigan and across the united states get the care they need her leadership has literally changed and truly changed how our nation delivers mental health and addiction services, it is going to be a legacy that will live for generations to come. and on a personal level, senator stabenow has been an absolutely invaluable mentor to me. when i joined her in representing michigan in the senate, she set an example for me at what leadership really means. early on debbie instilled in me most important ideal that should guide our efforts as elected officials. to always work in a bipartisan way to get things done. for the people that we care about -- debbie is kind.

but she's also demanding and persistent at times. especially when it comes to fighting for people in michigan. she will not take no for an whans it comes to building con consensus on things that matter most to the folks that see so proudly represents. i think most of us in this chamber have experienced that firsthand if debbie is pushing for an issue something she cares about something she knows is going to help people -- and if she gets you on the phone -- you will not get off that phone without saying absolutely debbie. i will support you in that effort because -- it is important. anyone who's had the privilege working with senator stabenow knows her enthusiasm and optimism are con contagious eney she brings to work can motivate you in keeping you working forward even when that going is very tough. but perhaps most importantly,

debbie stabenow has served as a role model for countless young women. she's opened doors and inspired the next generation of public servants in michigan and beyond including the newly elected senator from michigan elisa who is in the chamber with us here today. so as we bid farewell to her? the senate her legacy will live on as elected officials as well as staff that she's set an example for. a die hard michigander, a dedicated public servant, a caring mother, and an absolutely delightful colleague. debbie stabenow has been a fearless leader for michigan in the senate. and there's absolutely no doubt that our state -- our nation, is stronger because of her committed service. debbie it's been an honor --

it's been an honor to serve alongside you as you mentioned with a -- one-two punch for michigan. it's been a privilege of my life and i'm extremely proud of everything that you have accomplished and i look forward to seeing great things ahead for you and wish you god speed. >> senator from minnesota. >> madam president as we saw mr. meeters about our dear friend i saw that emotion well up in the eyes of so many of her staff even before she started to speak. and i think that is because of the love that debbie has for so many years with this staff, and it is such a tribute to you debbie that they came from all over the place to see you from the past from the present from michigan. so that's a lasting legacy -- another legacy i was thinking about is that incredible portrait in the agriculture room

and i see senator smith who has sits in that room with me of you surrounded by fruits and vegetables. as you should be and it is the first portrait of any chair of the agriculture committee that is surrounded by fruits and vegetables. and that is a tribute to you because you got that done for america. i think about the persistence that gary just spoke to. that persistence always with a smile always with lib lipstick always focused on getting things done that's something when people wake up and things are done to remember that smile and how persistent you were to get those things done is something will inspire all of us. and as you mentioned, with the incredible new leader coming to the senate, that you made sure that your legacy carried on with her election. so we thank you for that. i've had the great privilege of

watching you stand up firsthand in those agriculture rooms and hearing rooms to stand up for nutrition like no one really has ever done before. and leadership position in that committee -- how you have stood up for our farmers yes but also for the people that rely on getting that affordable food. you're standing up for the autoworkers i think in the way back zone, when you stood up at that time for the industry and you were there for them. investing in mental health care -- you mentioned one of my favorite stories and that story is yes -- rather hilarious because deb buy i want you to picture one of the few if not only woman in the room one of two -- yes. see -- presiding officer knows debbie will be one phone call away to correct us on what we have to -- [laughter] any time we know who to call -- one of two women in that room. and as the male senator was saying i don't know, i wouldn't need those benefits.

it was debbie that said i bet your mother did. and the pointed story was actually more than just the moment and that she got those benefits in it was also that she was first women in such a leadership role with few here today including senator murray. we think back to senator mckullski and she did it so well in the senate and her work chairing the committee. but we know that her work didn't end in this place. she also led on agriculture and other issues worldwide. i will never forget she led the first all womens trip to africa, and we made stops in senegal and tanzania and in closing story if you remember senator stabenow in ethiopia she had -- raising and she was alone her

husband had died and she was raising number of kids by herself. and she had become a leader on sanitation for the area. and had a graph up on the wall provided by one of our foundations that showed her in the middle with a star on it and we were all asking the senator like questions about her crops. and about her -- challenges of the walking two hours to fill the water every single day, and finally some of that is what's your biggest challenge. and here's the come in this little --ey with one solar panel walking two hours every day she says challenges -- and she points to this chart -- of her hut and says i have no challenges. i am a leader. debbie stabenow is a leader and she has gotten through a lot in the early days of women getting elected to these jobs. to be able to get here in the first place, and then to be able to rise to where she is. it's been an incredible tribute to her perseverance to her

incredible staff, and to the people of michigan. we thank you debbie we know you're only going to be a phone call away. and for those of us on the ag committee all we have to look up and see your smiling face among those fruits and vegetables. thank you for your service. i yield the floor. ♪ welcome back we're talking about presidents and pardon power with samuel morrison for the department of justice in the office of the pardon attorney. sam welcome to the program. thawnch. thanks for having me. what was your reaction to the president biden's pardoning of his son hunter? >> i actually wasn't surprised at all i know he said he

wouldn't but i expected he would just because impulse of a father to help his son was going prove to be too much and he had the authority to do it so i understand people find it disquieting i get that. but it certainly wasn't invalid. it was an entirely lawful constitutional exercise of the pardon power. so we can debate about whether it was -- a good i had a wise use of the power but it certainly wasn't illegal. it's also not -- it's very broad in a sense it is unusual. the only modern grant that even comes close would have been ford pardon of nixon that's seems to have been the model they use. empleg we'll talk about that but i want to first show a portion of president biden statement on his -- on his pardoning of his son that says no reasonable person who looks at facts of hunters cases can reach any other conclusion that hunter was singled out only because he's my son. and that is wrong. i believe in the justice system

that as i was wrestled with this i also believe raw politics has infected this process. and it led to a miscarriage of justice. and once i made the decision this weekend, there was no sense in delaying further. i hope americans will understand where a father and a president would come to this decision. what i want to ask you about is his line raw politics infected the process. .... he could just do it. he does not have to explain at all and people would've understood a father's going to help his son. so, was hunter singled out? maybe so. he did plead guilty to the tax charge and he was convicted of the gun charge there is no issue

or dispute he got due process in that proceeding. in that sense, it sure he came to the attention of the authority because he came from a prominent family i come to different lots of it advantages other people do not have a lot of people get targeted they have a conviction rate of 98%. the problem with what he said is he going to extend that same consideration to anyone else because it does not only apply to hunter. coxey said before only one other person has received a presidential pardon that was so sweeping which was richard nixon by gerald ford and 74. explain similarities and the differences. >> if i could just step back for a second period the president's authority to pardon people for

committing a federal crime is very broad it applies to any offense that is been committed. gisele had reduced to a charge or a conviction. any time the president was to pardon somebody for an uncharged offense there's always going to be a problem with how to frame that land so we know what charged you are talking about. in ford's pardon to nixon he did in terms of a date range he did not say any offense related to watergate he said any offense from 1969 until 1974. the purpose was to get watergate behind the country. he wanted to get past that. on its face that would've pardon any crimes even crimes we did not know about that occurred within that date range. that's what president biden did with his son. he said hunter was imparted not only for the two convictions that we know about, but for any offense that occurred from a

date in 2014 until 2024. >> what you think you did that? >> it's obvious there are other potential crimes out there and he was afraid the trump justice department was going to continue investigating hunter for other criminal violations anyone of this and that's the only way to do it. some people question is that a valid use of the power he did not specify the offenses. i personally do not agree with that. when they are readily identifiable, the supreme court is never going to constrain the president i think it's lawful. if it were to be challenged to i think it would be upheld. it is extremely broad progressive like to join our conversation was samuel morse and you got a question about the hunter biden pardon or presidential pardon in general and you can give us a call our lines are by party so republicans are in 202-748-8001.

democrats can call us on two 202-748-8000. independence 202-748-8002. you can text us at (202)748-8003. going back to history for a moment, where did it originate from this idea that president should have the ability to pardon federal crimes? what were the founders thinking? were they worried it could be abused? >> they actually discussed all of those things. it originates in the kings empowered to grant pardon in england. that is the historical origin of it. it's modeled after that in a sense. the founders were creatures of the enlightenment but they understood no legislature could pass a law in the abstract that

would cover every single administration that would arrive when you try to enforce that law because the real law is more complicated than it wanted to beat we understand that might beat reasons or circumstances that mitigate someone's guilt or public policy reasons for a larger political reasons they might present moment to exempt somebody even if they were speaking guilty under the order of the law they vested that power in the president in his discretion and they assumed he would care about his reputation he would not abuse it. at the political power of the president the remedy because the opponents of the party power said what if he grants pardons to his cronies or to his families or to himself? the answer was the impeachment power. it's a political power of the pe

president is extraordinarily broad. >> it's right before you leave office for. >> at that loophole in the constitution. as marshall said it's a constitution not a code. there is some play in the joints and this is one of them. so yes it can be is that way there's very little you can do about it. >> what is your opinion president elect trump want does it know to call future president trump pardoning himself? >> my own view is he can. although it's like the pardon of hunter it would be unprecedented and probably is a bad idea he probably should not do it. he could if he wanted too. the reason is the supreme court has interpreted the pardon clause to mean exactly what it says. he can pardon any offense against the united states except

for cases of impeachment. he cannot stop it impeachment proceedingth that is the politil check. they have also set any limits on the pardon power have to be found in the context of itself. i don't see any limit in the text of the constitution that would implicitly prohibit him from pardoning himself against the united states. >> get a president pardon eight future offense? could he just say look, anything they could do in the next five years? >> out is a good question and the answer is no point the supreme court has addressed that. one it says offenses against the united states they interpreted that to mean in the past tense. so a pardon for future crime which would be a license to commit a crime will be void. >> staten island republican good morning anthony. >> good morning, hello sir. before i asked my question i find it funny if they really had

evidence against president trump he would've been in jail already. and president bided you correctly if i'm wrong sir this is biden's last chance he covered his son i believe for 10 years and 2014, 2024 which i really believe the only pardon pardoning that far because he knows they thought they would evidence leading back to him. i find it funny. how can you pardon somebody for a 10 year period when they've never been charged with any of those crimes. you pardon someone with a charge kuester. >> yes you can print the supreme court has said that several times. the commission of the offense. not the chart or the conviction. >> a patsy in st. louis, missouri democrat euronext. >> hi. i think president biden should pardon his son even though he was convicted of such minute crimes that president trump did

hideous crimes not to pardon his son here comes the presidency and the republican party with all the houses against him and supreme court. trump is going to vindicate and have revenge against different people they did not put trump in jail for his convictions and his convictions were greater deeds then biden's son. so i think he should have pardon his son. who would want his son to be convicted and they throw him in jail. i think biden still has a month or so to go he should put trump

in as president and he has been convicted. i assert would not leave my side and there he did the right thing for art patsy when you think? >> i guess all i have to say i hope president biden extends the same consideration to other people there are lots of people having pending petitions requesting pardons many of them in fact most of them except acceptresponsibility and ask for forgiveness they are not challenging the validity of their convictions. i think the only way to take some of the sting out of the political scandal around this pardon is to grant pardons to bunch of other deserving people pick oxo to show a chart from the bbc you can see it's@bbc.com biden has pardon fewer people than most u.s. presidents in the recent history. take us back here to truman who apparently had a lot of pardons during his term. it goes down all the way here you can see commutations is in

yellow. obama having over 1500 commutations biting with very little down here. what you make of those numbers? >> unfortunately in modern times with the notable exception of president obama, presidents have tended to wait until the end. they sort of neglect this at the beginning and then they find they run out of time so that rush to get done what they can at the end it's not as easy to do as it sounds you have to vet the cases. that's why the numbers are not so great should be quick to talk about that process of venting the cases. agreed to. the clerk will report the nomination. the clerk: nomination, the judiciary, sarah morgan davenport, of new mexico, to be united states circuit judge for the district of new mexico.

mr. padilla: madam president, as if in legislative session, i ask unanimous consent that the committee on finance be discharged from further consideration of h.r. 5863, and the senate proceed to its immediate consideration. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the presiding officer: h. h.r. 5863, an act to provide tax relief with respect to certain federal disasters. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the committee is discharged and the senate will proceed. mr. padilla: i ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. padilla: i know of no

further debate on the bill, madam president. the presiding officer: is there further debate? if not, all in favor say aye. all opposed, no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the bill is passed. mr. padilla: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. padilla: madam president, thank you for that. for folks watching at home, we just passed a significant disaster tax bill, which is critical to helping disaster survivors across the country, and it includes bipartisan legislation that i introduced, along with senator wyden and senator cassidy. our protect innocent victims of taxation after fire act would make sure that individuals, families, and entire communities

who have suffered from utility caused wildfires can receive the full compensation to rebuild their lives without fear that their settlement payments will be subject to taxes. in my home state of california over 70,000 people have been impacted by the destruction of the butte fire, the north bay fire and the camp fire in recent years. if you can imagine, when you're wading through the ashes of your former home, and thinking about how you can possibly begin to rebuild. the last thing you should have to worry about is that the government is going to tax the payment from your legal settlement, that already fails to cover the full cost of your losses in the first place. disaster settlement funds aren't

income. it's not an asset. it's compensation for what a family has lost. it's meant to be an opportunity to begin to rebuild your life. an opportunity that should not be diminished because our tax code is outdated. it's not just for my constituents, madam president. my constituents looking to rebuild. utility-caused fires are becoming increasingly common across the western united states. but this bill we just passed would make sure all recent and future wildfire victims throughout the country have access to their full sett settlements. that includes those in oregon, and hawaii, who have either reached settlement or are still working through the process with the utilities that caused

devastating wildfires. this measure is a commonsense, bipartisan solution to protect americans at the most difficult time in their lives. so i want to take a moment to thank senator cassidy and senator wyden for their partnership, as well as to my california colleagues in the house, representatives mike thompson and doug lamolfa for their leadership in that chamber. i look forward to seeing the president sign there bill into law as soon as possible. thank you, madam president. i yield the floor. mr. wyden: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from oregon. mr. wyden: while he's on the floor, let me thank senator padilla for our partnership lo these many months. and also to senator cassidy and we westerners have really strong views about this, because the fires of the west today are not

your grandfather's fires. they're bigger, they're hotter, they're more powerful, they are leaping over rivers, and the families that my colleague and i are talking about, they feel like they've been hit by a wrecking ball. and after getting clobbered, they're saying to themselves, why can't i get a fair shake from the government? why are they hitting me again, even though i don't have any income? as my colleague has said so well. these are people who have truly been visited by a disaster. their homes and their businesses are burned. their possessions and livelihoods gone. timery -- finally, the federal government is showing some common sense. that's what my friend from

california has spelled out. our effort is going to lift a big tax burden that has hit these victims of wildfires and other natural disasters at exactly the worst time. we are getting rid of a totally unfair tax on legal fees associated with settlements after disasters. and by the way, we've within working -- we've been working in a bipartisan fashion, and we had to do that because we're fixing something that went haywire in the 2017 tax bill. now, we have been pushing our colleagues in a bipartisan way for months to do a bill that addresses this and other issues. i see in the chair another very valuable member of the finance committee, our friend from new hampshire, senator hassan,

and she and i and others had a bill that got 357 votes in the house of representatives, that includes this important legislation that senator padilla and senator cassidy and i have worked on. i'd say to my colleagues, i brought this up, i say to my friend from california, we had our 1100th town hall meeting where the victims said ron, is it ever going to get done? i said you bet it is. it will be in the lame duck session. they said why hasn't it happened earlier? the reality is it should have happened earlier, because when you get 357 votes in the house of representatives, which included our bill, you don't get 357 votes very often over there in the house of representatives. doesn't happen by osmosis. it's because my colleagues worked in a bipartisan way and wanted to get this done. so we wanted, frankly, to do

more. we wanted to do it earlier. but i say to my colleagues that we're going to keep going on the things from that package that got 357 votes in the house, like the research and development credit, which our friend from new hampshire has championed, ending double taxation between the u.s. and taiwan. but tonight is an evening when senator padilla and i have said finally, after all this waiting, we're going to see these people who've been clobbered by these huge infernos, because that's the only way to describe our fires, i think, senator padilla, these are infernos. it gets hot and dry on the forest floor. somebody drops a match, maybe there's a lightning strike, kaboom! and those people are finally, tonight, through the work that's been done by my friend from

california, our friend from louisiana, and a lot of senators, senator schatz is another example. we're going to be able to tell folks in the west it's only 5:00 or so in california and oregon, i'd say to my friend, but we're going to be able to say to westerners hit by these big fires, they're going to be able to go to bed tonight in the western united states with a little relief that the federal government has finally come to its senses and made sure that they're not going to have this additional tax burden. so i want to thank my friend from california for his good work. he's been a terrific partner. it is very fitting that the senator from new hampshire is in the chair, because she more than anybody that i know of on our committee was really putting in the sweat equity for a bipartisan bill. this is a good night for the people we represent in the west. it's a good night for a lot of

other people in this country. i want to thank my colleague and the person who's led us on so many of these issues, from new hampshire, senator hassan, because we're finally getting justice and a fair shake for people who did nothing wrong, but have been visited by these fires and disasters, and the federal government is showing common sense, which most of them i think would agree should have been shown some time ago. i thank my friend, and i yield the floor.

mr. padilla: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from california. mr. padilla: madam president, i also rise today with the bittersweet task of saying farewell to my trusted partner for the state of california, senator laphonza butler, as her tenure here in the senate with us comes to an end in the coming days. you may recall that just over a year ago, senator butler was appointed to serve alongside me here in the united states senate.

i remember it vividly. in just a matter of days, she received a call from governor newsom, accepted the appointment, traveled to washington to take the oath of office, and introduce herself to the nation. now, that alone is a tall task for anyone. imagine, to be called upon in such short notice, to serve a state of nearly 40 million people. but it's another thing entirely to be asked to also in the process fill the shoes of the legendary dianne feinstein. a titan of california politics, and the u.s. senate, who served with such honor and dignity and grace for over three decades. not to mention that she carried

on her shoulders the fate of a narrow senate democratic majority. it literally rested on her appointment and willingness to serve. as i think back and reflect on that moment and her decision to say yes, it takes a trail braser -- a trailblazer to fill the seat of a trailblazer. and laphonza butler was certainly no stranger to high stakes. she knew it, and proved it as a union organizer, fighting for workers all across the nation. she knew it as the one-time president of california's seiu local 2015 representing members of california's largest home care and nursing home workers union. and she knew it as president of emily's list. all leadership portions she held prior to joining us here in the

senate. so once very did join us in the senate, it was no surprise to me she hit the ground running. she immediately set up an office and built a team of more than capable and passionate public servants that would help her and my office, frankly -- we're a tag-team, after all -- serve the people of california. and imagine, as she began to navigate the complex senate procedure to effectively represent californians, she was also learning in the early days how to simply navigate the halls of the united states capitol. with the help of the legendary alex baldanoto, i might add. i was honored to serve alongside her here in the senate, to offer her advice when i could, and even lend staff assistance. and in the year that's followed, i've been proud to work with her

nominating and confirming historic judicial nominees to the federal bench, to fight for critical disaster funding for californians and the relief we just passed a few minutes ago, and working to protect and conserve our cherished public lands, and so much more. through it all, senator butler worked to also lift up the voices of all californians, including through her youth advisory council, empowering young californians to get involved in the civic process. so, senator butler, let the record reflect that it's been an honor to serve alongside you these past 14 months. and while we will miss you here in the united states senate, i know that your work is far from over and that our partnership will continue. and i have no doubt that i will see you in the trenches.

thank you, madam president. i yield the floor. mr. cassidy: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from louisiana. mr. cassidy: i ask unanimous consent that my remarks appear following senator wyden's in the record. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. cassidy: madam president, i rise in support of the federal disaster tax relief act of 2024. three years after hurricane ida and months after hurricane fran seen hit louisiana, communities are still recovering, and every bit we give helps. this bill allows hurricanes ida and francine victims, and other victims of natural disasters elsewhere in the country, to deduct qualified disaster-related personal casualty losses from income even when above the standard deduction. this is not new and this is not novel. we've done it before. i led legislation to help the victims of hurricane laura and those impacted by the great floods of 2016.

by the senate passing the bill tonight, the bill will go to the president's desk to be signed into law, cutting taxes for louisiana families who will use this money to rebuild. it goes without saying, we only have to look at north carolina to say what an impact this can have elsewhere in the country. we have to recognize in a family wants to rebuild, we can give them a federal handout or say use your own resources, and this is their own resources. the american people have always been there to help whoever has had a natural disaster. we in a louisiana benefited. we in louisiana will always help others. and with that, i yield.

mr. padilla: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from california. mr. padilla: mment, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. padilla: madam president, i have one request for a committee to meet during today's session for the senate. it has the approval of the majority and minority leaders. the presiding officer: duly noted. mr. padilla: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of calendar number 366, s. 3738. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: calendar number 366, s. 3738, a bill to reauthorize the great lakes restoration initiative, and for other purposes. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the

measure? without objection, the senate will proceed. mr. padilla: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the stabenow substitute amendment at the desk be considered and agreed to, the bill as amended be considered read a third time. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. padilla: i know of no further debates on the bill as amended. the presiding officer: is there further debate? if not, all those in favor say aye. those opposed say no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the bill as amended is passed. mr. padilla: -- motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. padilla: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the committee of the judiciary be discharged from further consideration of s. 4477 and the senate proceed to its immediate consideration. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. 4477, a bill to reauthorize the second chance

act of 2007. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the senate will proceed. mr. padilla: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time and passed and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. padilla: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the committee on health, education, labor, and pensions be discharged from and the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of h.r. 3821. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: h.r. 3821, an act to reauthorize the fire fighter cancer renal industry act -- registry act of 2018. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the committee is discharged and the senate will proceed.

mr. padilla: i further ask the bill be considered read a third time. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. padilla: i know of no further debate on the bill. the presiding officer: is there further debate? if not, all those in favor say aye. all opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the bill is passed. mr. padilla: i ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. padilla: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the banking, housing, and urban affairs committee be discharged from and the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of s. 3242. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. 3242, a bill to amend the securities is exchange act of 1934, and so forth and for other purposes. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the committee is discharged and the senate will proceed.

mr. padilla: madam president, i further ask baldwin substitute amendment be considered and agreed to 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. padilla: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to the immediate consideration of h.r. 1432, which was received from the house. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: h.r. 1432, an act to amend the internal revenue code of 1982, and so forth. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the senate will proceed. mr. padilla: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. padilla: and i know of no further debate on the bill. the presiding officer: is there further debate? if not, all those in favor say

aye. all opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it request. the bill is passed. mr. padilla: i ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. padilla: madam president, i ask unanimous consent the committee on the judiciary be discharged from further consideration and the senate now proceed to the consideration of s. resolution 910.not. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: senate resolution 910, designating november 2024 as national hospice and palliative care month. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the committee is discharged and the senate will proceed. mr. padilla: 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 with no intervening action or debate.

the presiding officer: without objection. mr. padilla: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the finance committee be discharged from further consideration of s. 712, and the senate proceed to its immediate consideration. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: s. 712, a bill to identify and address barriers of coverage of remote devices and so forth. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection, the senate will proceed. mr. padilla: i ask unanimous consent that the bill be considered read a third time. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. padilla: and i know of no further debate on the bill. the presiding officer: is there further debate? if not, all in favor say aye. all opposed, no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the bill is passed. mr. padilla: i ask unanimous consent that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. padilla: madam president, unanimous consent when the senate completes its business

today, it stand adjourned until 10:00 a.m. on thursday, december 5, that following the prayer and the pledge, the journal of proceedings be approved to date, morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day and morning business be closed. following the conclusion of morning business, the senate proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the johnson nomination. further, that at 11:30 a.m., the senate vote on confirmation of the davenport nomination as under the order of december 4, after the disposition of the davenport nomination, the senate advocacy cloture on the johnson nomination, following the cloture vote, the senate consider the neary nomination. at 1:45 the senate vote to

invoke cloture vote on the neary nomination many if any nominations are confirmed during thurts's session -- thursday's session, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the president be immediately notified of the senate's action. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. padilla: and if there is no further business to come before the senate, i ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order. the presiding officer: the senate stands adjourned until senate stands adjourned until senate continues work on approving more judges to lifetime appointment. president elect trump's: senate republicans to block all of the present biden's remaining judicial nominees which has

resulted in near partyline vote. more work on judicial nominations is expected throughout the week. the senate must also deal federal spending and negotiations continue off the floor. watch live coverage of the senate and lawmakers return here on cspan2. >> c-span is your unfiltered view of government. funded by these television companies and more including media. >> nearly 30 years ago media, was founded on a powerful idea cutting edge of broadband to underserved communities. from coast-to-coast we connect connectedenter 50000 miles of f. our team broke speed bears broke one gig speaks to every customer, so that when developing a platform with media, mobile is offering the best and most reliable network on the go. media calm, decades of dedication. decades of delivering, decades ahead. >> media calm support c-span is a public serce one of these other television providers. giving a front row seat to democracy.