and she points to this chart of her hut and she 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, has done 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. ♪♪ >> since 1979, in partnership with the cable industry, c-span has provided complete coverage of the halls of congress, from the house and senate floors, to congressional hearings, party briefings and committee

meetings, c-span gives you a front row seat to how issues are debated and decided with no commentary, no interruptions and completely unfiltered. c-span, your unfiltered view of government. >> we will take you live now to the u.s. capitol where the senate is ready to gavel in continuing work on president biden's remaining district court nominations and also democratic senator butler of california will give her final floor speech. you're watching live coverage on c-span2. ... the presiding officer: the senate will come to order. our chaplain, the reverend dr. barry black, will open the senate in prayer. the chaplain: let us pray.

author of life, who put into our hearts such deep desires that we cannot be at peace until we rest in you, mercifully guide our lawmakers on the path of your choosing. may your holy word be for them a lamp and a light in these challenging times. lord, keep them mindful of the importance of being people of integrity, striving to please you in all that they do. make them women and men of principle who share a strong vision of a godly nation

with a promising future. may their humility match your willingness to help them, and their dependence on you liberate them from anxiety about what the future holds. we pray in your sovereign name. amen. the presiding officer: please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag. i pledge allegiance to the flag of the united states of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. the presiding officer: the clerk will read a communication to the senate. the clerk: washington d.c., december 5, 2024. to the senate: under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3, of the standing rules of the senate,

i hereby appoint the honorable raphael g. warnock, a senator from the state of georgia, to perform the duties of the chair. signed: patty murray, president pro tempore. the presiding officer: under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. morning business is closed. under the previous order, the senate will proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the following nomination which the clerk will report. the clerk: nomination, the judiciary, tiffany rene johnson of georgia to be united states district judge for the northern district of georgia.

we must also talk about the epidemic of obesity in our country. 90% of people with type two diabetes are overweight or obese. . the time is long overdue for us to pose some very simple questions, that is what this hearing is about today. how did it happen that according to the cdc the rate of childhood obesity in america has tripled since the 1970s and has gotten so bad that one out of every five children in our country is now obese? how has it happened that over 40% of adults in the united states today are obese?

and in my view the answers to these questions are not very complicated. for decades congress and the fda have allowed large corporations to make huge profits by enticing children and adults to consume ultra-processed food and beverages loaded up with sugar, salt and saturated fat. there is growing evidence including testimony that we've heard writer in this committee that these foods are deliberately designed to be addictive, similar to cigarettes and alcohol, and lead to a higher rate of type two diabetes. shockingly, according to a study published in the british medical journal, ultra-processed foods make up an incredible 73% of our nation's food supply. bottom line, much of the food

that we as americans are now consuming are making us unhealthy and are contributing to the fact that our life expectancy is significantly lower than that of many other wealthy countries. none of this is happening i accident. the food and beverage industry is spending $14 billion a year on advertising to push the unhealthy products onto the american consumer. even worse, and really unacceptable, $2 billion of this money is spent to directly advertise these unhealthy products to our children in order to get them hooked on these foods at an early age. according to the red center for policy and obesity, children and teenagers view of about 4000d and beverage ads on television each year, an average of ten advertisements per day.

last year, for example, coca-cola spent $327 million on advertising in the united states alone while it raked in more than 9.5 billion in profits. not one of these ads will tell you that the 20-ounce bottle of coke contains more than 15 teaspoons of sugar, 15 teaspoons of sugar over twice the recommended daily limit for kids. not one of these ads will tell you that drinking one can of coke a day can increase your chance of getting type two diabetes by up to 26%. given this reality, which has been widely discussed by scientists and doctors for decades, this really is not new news, the question then arises, what is the food and drug administration, the fda done to address these epidemics which have impacted the health of millions of americans and costs

as hundreds of billions of dollars each year? as far as i can tell, the answer is not much. way back in 2010, the national academy of medicine, recommend the food and beverage industry be required to put nutrition labels on the front of the products that the american people could easily understand. that was in 2010. on june 1313, 2023 the fda announced it would propose a rule to require the food and beverage industry to put nutrition labels on the front of their products later than october of 2023. the fda missed that deadline. on december 6, 2023 fda three fda announced this proposed rule would be made public in june of 2024. the fda missed that deadline. on july 5, 2020 for the fda announced that the post will be made public by october of 2024. the fda missed that deadline.

i have been told on november 21, 2024, after more than 14 years of inaction the fda finally set this proposed rule to the office of management and budget for their review. but has still not been made public. that is unacceptable. in 2016, chile, 2016, chile and political and limited a law mandating warning labels on the front of unhealthy food and beverage products after this law was in limited calories consumed from his products went down by 24%. similar labels will put into effect in peru in 2015, in israel and to mexico in 2020. injury to a 2021 and in brazil, colombia, argentina venezuela in 2022-2024. nearly 30 years ago the fda and congress had the courage to take on a tobacco industry whose products killed over 400,000

americans every year, including my father. and as result of these actions, smoking rates among adults dropped from 43% in 1965 to 12% in 2023. smoking rates among teens dropped even more significantly. that effort was a major success. now is the time for us too seriously combat the type two diabetes and obesity epidemic in this country. in order to do that we must have the courage to take on the greed of the food and beverage industry which everything is undermining the health and well-being of our children. for starters, we need strong front to package food labels all consumers especially children can be warned as to which products are harmful to their health. tobacco labels in the united states do not say hi in

nicotine, high in carcinogens. they say cigarettes cause lung cancer, emphysema, and may complicate pregnancy. and let's be clear. not only must we put strong warning labels on our healthy food and beverages, we must also ban junk food ads targeted to children. the national institute of health is estimated that if the united states man's fast food advertising marketed to children we could cut the child obesity rate by 18%. this is not a radical idea. the 1980s québec ban junk food advertising to children under 13. last summer the world health organization called for countries to substantially reduce the marketing of junk food to children and norway and ounce that it would be banning all food and beverage advertisement to kids. ireland, portugal, spain, taiwan at some of the major countries have either seriously restricted

or banned junk food ads targeted to children. not a radical idea. and finally in my gut we've got to substantially and this committee has done with this a lot, reduce the outrageously high prices of diabetes and weight loss drugs ozempic and wegovy. in april i introduce legislation to enact a federal ban on junk food advertising targeted toward children and require the fda for strong warning labels on products high in added sugar, salt and saturated fat. so, today is an important hearing. we are dealing do with the health and well-being of many millions of our people. we are dealing with the need to substantially cut back on the hundreds of billions of dollars we now spend on diabetes. so we thank dr. califf and mr. jones for being with us. senator cassidy, the mic is

yours. >> thank you, chair standards. you are one in three americans live in obesity including 14 million children come nearly one in ten have type two diabetes, one of many chronic diseases obesity is associated with and obesity costs lives and result in hundreds pressure $173 billion in healthcare spending per year. when obamacare was past the was the mckinsey report that said unless we address the burden of chronic disease will never control healthcare costs and a beating as one of those things that was listed as those drivers of chronic disease. all this said we must have solutions. for both obesity and for the competitions of which we have spoken. a great place to start is a nations food supply and the changes in americans diet over decades. according to "the annals of internal medicine", 37% of adults consume and a healthy diet. now, i'm pleased as a reducing obesity particularly among children is bipartisan.

the incoming trump administration is indicating combating obesity promoting healthy foods as a top priority. many of president trump's concerns about food transparency are echoed by democratic colleagues including chair sanders. in the new majority i'm excited to work with president trump and colleagues on this dais to examine these issues cracking after drafting policy to enhance the health of americans. today will hear about the fda designed to permit a mandatory front of label, front to package label. now, it's not what it were holding hearing before fda has released a formal proposal but it's an important conversation. we must recognize food labeling reforms are not the end-all be-all which is to say they are not a silver bullet solving the nation's health obesity issues. the committee needs to look at all factors leading to obesity and a congress can use its resources to promote a healthier lifestyle. this means examine fda's roles in reviewing the safety of

chemicals and great is a go into rfid tickets aboard fda take a close look at existing review framework so foods are safe to consume. we also need examine how congress can better support robust scientific research on food ingredients and i look forward to discussing this with fda leadership. i also want your from fda about the progress it is made in approving food safety duties. under the biden-harris administration fda face enormous challenges in regulating food safety including the 2020 infant for the shortage which severely impacted american families.

mr. mcconnell: mr. president. the presiding officer: the republican leader. mr. mcconnell: every year scores of bright young people arrive on capitol hill to begin careers of public service. on the whole, they tend to be bright, ambitious, principled,

and patriotic, and i've been fortunate to have the best of them on my team. but i'm certain that no one has ever shown up on day one better prepared to advocate for a state he's not from than my deputy chief of staff for policy, scott redd. from the moment, the moment he walked in the door in 1999, scott knew as much about my legislative record and about kentucky's priorities as anyone on the team. before long he was fluent in the commonwealth's smallest towns and counties. somewhere along the way he turned into a rabid fan of kentucky basketball. and for years new arrivals to my

staff in the republican leader's office have consistently mistaken this honorary son of the bluegrass for a native son. i say all of this to make it clear that the kind of person we're dealing with, this is the soar of friend and advisor that simply doesn't grow on trees. the natural wiz that still studies relentlessly, the wonk whose expertise runs both deep and wide, the man for whom loyalty is not a transactional currency but a way of life, and of course the champion of blue shirt thursday and the only member of my staff who can pull off the bow tie. this exceedingly rare breed,

this is scott redd. as my policy director, there's no topic that falls outside his port portfolio, and there's no problem that isn't in some way his to solve. this is hardly a recent development, and it's certainly not by accident. after just a few years on my personal office staff, through steady and unassuming competence, scott became a clearinghouse for input on important decisions. our entire teamed liens on his encyclopedic knowledge, his good ju judgement, and of course his upset picks in the march madness brackets. but much of scott's tenure, his colleagues turn to him as a resident expert on health care policy. he had to protect my blindside

on a set of issues i confess have always confounded me. but when you're at good as scott is at boiling complex problems down to their essence, you wind up pulling extra duty. it didn't matter if an issue wasn't in his portfolio. if it was, it's really hard and really important, it of course would wind up on scott's desk. eventually, as is often the case with the greatest flying aces, it fell to scott to lead the whole squad squadron to marshall the strengths and expertise of my entire team, and to deploy them in pursuit of an outcome. there have been very few o outcomes scott has pursued and not achieved.

and that's because he's one of the very few people in washington who, by their very involvement in an issue, signal that things are probably going to somehow work out. i'm speaking, of course, about scott's daily arrival to light and tend the fireplace in my chief of staff's office. in meetings, anywhere in the capitol, scott speaks with my authority, but a command of policy nuance and procedural requirements entirely his own. without uttering a word, scott patrols along the back wall of this chamber for a sign to our colleagues that things are under control. or at least they will be very soon. scott, of course, is too modest to acknowledge this. he's too self-effacing to admit the number of times where the

price of rescuing much passed legislation or keeping the federal government's lights on has been his nights, his weekends, and his all hours attention. for a husband and father with a young family, it's difficult to quantify this sacrifice. it's impossible to overstate how the road to high-stakes government funding agreements has so often been paved with missed swim meets and soccer games and with goodnight calls and bedtime stories over facetime, illustrated with a cookie monster hand puppet. so, i'm grateful to scott's dear wife, katherine, for her patience and to molly and lauren for sharing their dad with us so often. there's simply no way to make

sense of the quarter century of honorable service scott has rendered without talking about a certain intangible devotion. you don't stick around that long for the pay. you certainly don't do it for flexible hours. but if your name is scott raab, you might just do it because you love the senate and believe in the people you work with. as it so happens, scott's colleagues over the years have believed in him too. they say that his input was essential, that he'd be the person in my office, in my will to take care of my kids, that he does the right thing the right way, and they're proud to call

him their friend. well, i am as well. and i'm going to miss staring down the toughest fights with scott raab at my side, but if anyone is entitled to cut the net down and walk out of here satisfied they left it all on the court, it's scott. so scott, thanks for everything.

mr. durbin: mr. president, i've served on the senate judiciary committee over 20 years, including the past four as chairman. during that time, i've voted on thousands of judicial u.s. attorney, u.s. marshal and justice department nominees. every nominee who has gone through our committee, every one, shares one thing in common, whether nominated by a democrat or a republican president, every single nominee has undergone an fbi background investigation. every one. president-elect trump has the right to nominate his preferred candidates for justice department and judicial vacancies, but the judiciary

committee plays a critical role in offering advice and consent on nominations, which includes receiving and reviewing the results of fbi background investigations. after weeks of reports that president-elect trump planned to bypass the fbi entirely, it was a relief to hear that the tramp -- that the trump transition team signed an agreement to hey lou the fbi -- to allow the fbi to conduct background investigations. i remain concerned whether president-elect trump will require all to undergo the process. listen to what "the new york times" reported, quote, despite the signing of the agreement, it remains unclear whether the trump's team plans to send the names of all officials requiring a security clearance or senate confirmation to the fbi for v vetting. if president-elect trump's nominees are not required to submit to the same fbi vetting

procedure as previous nominees, it makes you wonder what they are hiding. the practice of the fbi conducting background investigations is not a new idea. the nominations and investigations of the president's nominees dates back 70 years, to the eisenhower administration. and it applies to every senate-confirmed position, including more than 1200 positions in the executive branch, 900 federal judicial nominees, 93 u.s. attorney nominees, and 94 u.s. marshal nominees. every sickle one is subject to an fbi investigation -- every single one is subject to an fbi investigation. you might ask yourself, why is it so important to vet all these nominees? consider the news of noah bookbinder and graying nunciata former republican and democrat counsels on the judiciary committee, who on a bipartisan

bailses reviewed hundreds of nominees' background investigations. they wrote in "the new york times," i quote, without nominees being scrutinized by the fbi, the danger is that neither lawmakers nor the public would know whether they're trustworthy or have issues that compromise their ability to do the job or even their loyalty to the united states. as mr. bookbinder and m mr. nunziata noted, i quote, a nomination was never, never scheduled for committee consideration without the committee receiving an fbi background check, reviewing it, and clearing the nomination to move forward. by design, positions that require senate confirmation are of great importance. these individuals make critical decisions that protect america, our national security, and affect many thousands of american lives, including who is

investigated, who is charged with a crime, and how the justice system operates. it is absolutely critical that people nominated to these positions are upstanding citizens who can be trusted with sensitive life or death government information, people who will be immune to blackmail or foreign influence, and who are truly loyal to the united states. president-elect trump has reportedly considered using a private investigative firm to conduct these background ven ventions -- backgrounds ventions. that is unacceptable for one bank reason -- first, when the nominees submit their paperwork to the fbi as part of their background investigation, they are on notice that lying or concealing material facts is a felony, a felony. the same goes with individuals is who agree to speak with the fbi about a character's if i had f.y.ness. there would be no penalties for

misleading a private firm. second, the fbi's resources in determining if a nominee poses a risk far outweigh any private firm's capabilities. seasoned anticipatings at the fbi field offices nationwide are deployed to pull records, interview individuals and report their findings. any private firm paid by the trump transition team would have an unavoidable conflict of interest. they would have an incentive to clear the backgrounds of nominees so they would get more business from the transition team. by contrast, the only motive for fbi agents is honoring their oath to the constitution. it is the duty of president-elect trump to pick nominees of his choosing. it is also the duty of the senate under the constitution to carefully examine the record of each nominee before this body. to fulfill this constitutional

duty of advise and consent on nominations, the judiciary committee must continue to receive background investigations conducted by the fbi for every single nominee. we owe the american people a transparent transition of power, but that is only possible if the incoming administration follows long-standing, established practices ensuring that the president's nominees can be trusted in a position of power. mr. president, i yield the floor. i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: the clerk: ms. baldwin. mr. durbin: mr. president. the presiding officer: the majority whip. mr. durbin: i ask consent that the quorum call be suspended. the presiding officer: without objection.

mr. durbin: i ask that privileges of the floor be granted to rebecca schatz for the duration of the day. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: i ask the quorum call be instituted. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: the clerk: ms. baldwin.

mr. schumer: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the quorum be dispenseded with. officer if he without objection. mr. schumer: first, the senate will continue doing what we have been doing all week -- working to confirm as many of president biden's well-qualified judicial nominees as possible. yesterday we confirmed two more district court judges for the northern district of new york -- anthony brindisi, who/worked with when he was a member of congress. later this morning we'll vote to confirm sarah davenport to be district judge for the district of new mexico. following that, we'll vote to advance the nominations of two more judges -- tiffany johnson to be the district court judge for the northern district of georgia and keli neary to be

district judge for the middle district of pennsylvania. so of the five judges i filed cloture on on monday. >> while democrats still hold the majority, we're going to do everything we can to confirm as many judges as we can. now, on senator helmy, today we say thank you and farewell to another member of our caucus, the junior senator from new jersey, senator george helmy. senator helmy will resign this weekend to make way for our new colleague, senator-elect andy kim, who we're all very excited to get-to-work with. in a very short amount of time, senator helmy put his name on over 30 pieces of legislation, advocated for children's meant it will health, stood up for the well-being of the people of new jersey. i'd also be remiss if i didn't point out that senator helmy never hesitated to preside

during pro forma sessions, a thankless but necessary job. senator helmy's is also also be remembered for its historical significance. he was the first senator from the cop coptic. he invited his grace to the senate a few weeks ago to deliver the first of ever prayer from a member of the orthodox church. congratulations for a job well-done. you made new jersey proud. we wish you and your family the best. finally, today i wish to pay tribute and say thank you to a colleague from across the aisle, senator mitt romney, who delivered his farewell address yesterday. i enjoyed meeting senator romney's family, his sons, his wife at his reception the other night, and told him how much i respected him and how much we'll

miss him in the senate. on most issues, senator romney and i may have seemed like oil and water, but i've always appreciated him for his decency and commitment to our country. over the last four years we found numerous ways to do just that. senator romney was a good part with me on covid relief legislation, despite much opposition from the other side, and he helped build consensus on the infrastructure bill. he also remains a fierce defender of the ukrainian people. finally, i will always appreciate that senator romney joined me alongside senators rosen, kelly, and cassidy on our mission to israel in the aftermath of october 7. so, thank you, senator rom me, and i wish you and your family a new chapter in your life. and finally, a few days ago i sent senator thune a letter

asking that we go through the regular advise and consent process. that meant full fbi investigations of every nominee, the senate be able to look at those, hearings with questions in the senate on every nominee, and then votes on the floor. i'm glad to see that at least pentagon president-elect's administration is beginning to look at the fbi investigation issue, and that's a small step in the right direction. but we must have them for all nominees. they must be full fbi investigations, and they must be available for senators to look at. and, of course, the necessity of hearings for each nominee, the necessity of votes on each nominee are just consonant with the advise and consent process that we have done in america for decades and decades and decades under democratic and republican

presidents alike. i hope there will be no deviation from that grand and useful tradition. i yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call:

i've hyperaware of this, i have a breathless pancreatic was in the hospital. i was there and he got one of the tube axis ivey fluid is supposed to get because of the shortage. i'm very aware of it. i will say that we've been opening up in order to allow a facility which make sure it's going to be safe. >> fda approved already loose and told that would be -- >> we would have to get back on the specific but fda approved for facilities to cover wide range of possibilities. whether it's the actual product, how long ago was a, et cetera. so staff will have to make sure when we import things that it's safe. >> kata follow up with you after? >> please do. >> next, i won't if i refuse not to be rude but just to get through some questions.

one of fda's primary responsibility includes safety is inspecting. i i understand fda continues to struggle to conduct regular inspections of pre-pandemic paste. at what point will we back and what steps are you doing to get back to these more regular safety inspection? >> first of all let me say i mean as you all know the day i was conferred was a day of the recall. that was my welcome back to the fda. it was immediately obvious we had many, many good people working between the human foods program and the inspectorate who were in the wrong configuration. this has led to this massive reorganization. a major part of the reorganization is to get more, call the investigators, you would think of the term inspectors, out in the field and make sure they are highly valued. among the many difficulties we have, and i use to manage a

global clinical trials organization that did studies of therapeutics, our investigators are flying government style and staying in hotels that their colleagues are doing inspections for the industries are not staying in. so we're really upgrading the status of the investigators so that when they arrived at a place they are prepared and ready, building information systems. so very quickly, i know we will be short on time. we want an information infrastructure so when they're in a place ai is a big part of this, guided to focus her attention where it's needed so they can do more inspections. we are going to get into i know later in the searing the state relationships, states do a lot of inspections and is also intelligence from other countries that doesn't substitute for an fda inspected but could be very helpful. we're working on every part of that to increase the reach the

magnitude of inspection. >> it begs the question, before these positive steps you had a higher rate of inspection and after these probable steps you can together lower rate of inspection the begs the question of, like obvious that sponsored. >> as we had a lot of loss of key people during the pandemic. it was not, everything i've told you about the lives of the inspectorate, and then flying around in the pandemic, not exactly a choice job compared to other options. it really took dedicated -- >> when you look at your decline investigator inspector workforce, what percentage declined do you have? >> i can give you the exact number. we can get back to you but i can tell you it's on, we were losing that people. >> let me ask you -- >> but now on a positive slope. >> limited time. to what degree can you contribute the loss of workforce to the decrease inspection?

was at the sole thing? >> there were other factors like we had to be -- >> now, post-pandemic. >> now, i i think it's a matter of personnel and time allocated. but i know working with your people on some details. >> i'm just going to ask you if you don't mind, later a question for the record provided some metrics you are using to judge the kind of progress. isn't all personal that's understandable? if it's still system related despite the changes in systems, that would be something for us to know. >> again very quickly, a lot of it is personal but i describe some other characteristics that are characteristics of government that make it hard for the inspectors to do their work. it's going to take us a while to fix this because these are governmentwide policies. >> thank you. senator baldwin. >> thank you, mr. chairman. and dr. califf, thank you for joining us today.

it's critical that the fda provides consumers with clear and accurate nutritional information at the grocery store by enforcing labeling standards and upholding the agencies own rules for standards of identity. for years i've worked with farmers and dairy processors to address the misuse of terms like milk and butter on plant-based foods. in addition to introducing the dairy pride act i have repeatedly asked the agency to enforce labeling standards and even secured funding for the fda to dedicate to this purpose. so i'm very disappointed by the lack of progress made at fda. in 2023, the fda published draft guidance that enabled misleading product labels to remain on store shelves. the update merely provides

voluntary guidance on nutritional labeling the plant-based processors, violating both fda's rules for standards of identity and the administrative procedures act. it's hard to believe that plant-based alternatives would willingly highlight the nutritional disadvantages of their product compared to real milk. so we're here today because of the health of american families and children is at risk due to insufficient nutrition. studies consistently show that consumers mistakingly believe that plant-based alternatives are nutritionally equivalent or even superior to dairy products. and at the same time the inappropriate substitution of nondairy alternatives has been linked to a range of health issues in children and in infants. so understanding this, how does the fda justify the voluntary

approach outlined in the guide? >> this is our first conversation, i guess this will be our last on the same topic. i'm going to ask mr. jones to give details here. our narratives are not exactly the same, as you know. mr. jones. >> thank you, senator. there are two issues you're racing. one is using the term milk and the other one is nutritional equivalent, i'll try to address both of them. as a plant-based-based milk alternative is labeled as milk instead of for example, soy milk, that would be a violation but that is not allowable. the law doesn't prohibit the term milk in the labeling of such products so long as, solely as the name itself is not misleading. we have affirmative research compelling amount of research that consumers are not speech i'm sorry, can you talk to sean measuring u. >> consumers are not misled by using terms such as soy milk or

oatmeal. they understand it is not milk. they are purposefully seeking such parties because they are not milk. so on the issue of using the term milk you have to use it, you have to characterize what it is derived from. has to say soymilk or oat milk. it catches a milk on such a label. as relates to nutritional equivalent the guide should describe where taking comments on that and we as you pointed out we said we encourage manufactures of these products to identify they are not nutritionally equivalent to dairy product. we've got a fair amount of comment that that is not adequate and then were taking that comment under consideration. ultimately i can't say where we will land that issue but the nutritional balance issue is very much on our radar and is is that we got a fair amount of comment along the lines you described around the nutritionally equivalent. >> it would be cleared up if they didn't use the term milk,

right? let me go on. we're also seeing a rise in the availability of cell-based lab grown products using dairy terms in stores. does the fda have a plan to ensure that these products are labeled in a clear way that avoids any additional consumer confusion in already, with already a complex marketplace for dairy products and plant-based alternatives? >> well, we would talk about a cell-based-based products it's important we know exactly which one because in general we regulate the safety of these products but usda regulates the label of these products. and so we have to know which ones you are talking about. but i think above all else is going to be important that the labels accurately reflect what the product is. so we certainly agree whether

it's as or usda that needs to be taken into account. >> senator hickenlooper. >> thank you, mr. chair. thank both of you for your service. i was in a roundtable in colorado a while ago and throughout one of our constituents refer to dr. califf, , which i thought was really given the fact he saw somewhat of an accent i thought it would be an interesting way to magnify that. and i do appreciate the fact that you have been resilient in seeking more funding. many of the complaints that we are having our because there is a clear manpower shortage. i'm not saying everything is a result of that but certainly a significant part of the complaints we've herd so far this morning, it's a lack of people being able to respond to

inquiries, to complaints, the opportunities to address some of these health related issues. let me talk about shared connections and dementia. obviously you talk a little bit about how almost 3/4 of our food supply is made up of ultra-processed foods. recently the researchers are starting to see a possible connection between ultra-processed foods with high rates of diabetes and later in life there seems to be a connection to dementia. i understand the limitations of science and that's one of the challenges for you all that every time science which in one direction, the unbelievable treasures of profits and corporate quarterly earnings pushes you or presses back in a powerful way. but even as the site is evolving, there is pretty good

evidence -- the science -- diabetes leads to irate of inflammation, damage blood vessels -- to a higher rate -- were chosen to be part of paramount of our cognitive efforts as we get older. again, this is already a problem, could become much more severe. so dr. califf and mr. jones, has the fda come across this connection while conducting research on the impacts of sugar? and how should the fda and other public health organizations be responding? >> this relates back to senator murray questioned as youwh knowe don't have rum call be suspended. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. thune: mr. president, one of the drawbacks of the end of a congress is the need to say goodbye to departing colleagues. we're losing two republicans this year, senators m.i.t. romney and mike braun. m.i.t. gave his farewell remarks yesterday and they were characteristic of the man i've

come to know. humble, faith filled, patriotic. m.i.t. is what i would -- mitt is what i would call a character guy. he's guided by a moral compass and is not afraid to live by it. in a world where religious isn't always highly regarded, he's unapologetic about his faith. mitt is also a family guy. we have shared the good and tough times for well now over 50 years of marriage. hard to believe to look at him. but they say children keep you young and mitt has five sons and incredibly 25 grandchildren. a beautiful legacy all on its own. mr. president, mitt's professional legacy needs no recounting. he's well known as a successful businessman. a successful republican governor of a deep blue state. and most recently, as a

successful senator. he may be leaving us after just one term, but that term was filled with an outsized amount of work. and he has more than earned his retirement. mr. president, in addition to mitt, mike braun is leaving us at the end of this congress and in his case to serve the governor of indiana. he's had an outsized impact in a short amount of time. he was named the most effective first-term senator and no surprise. it was clear from the beginning that mika here because he wanted to get things done. now he will bring that same drive and effectiveness, the drive and effectiveness that helped him grow a small business with 15 employees into a national company to his work as governor of indiana. i have no doubt at all that the state will thrive under his leadership. as i may have told mike, hoosiers is one of my top five

movies of all time. which is automatically made me a big fan of the hoosier state. so i look forward to seeing all the great things that are going to happen to indiana during his tenure. i know he will be incredibly busy as governor, especially because mike is a guy that gives his all to what he does. witness the fact that he has visited all 92 of indiana's counties every year during his time here in the senate. i hope he will still find time for his beloved mushroom hunting. and i know he'll be finding time to spend with his wife, maureen, and their four children, three of whom work for the family business as well as with their seven grandchildren. mike, congratulations on your election as governor. it's been a pleasure to work with you here in the senate. and i look forward to seeing all the great things you will do in indiana. mr. president, i yield the floor. and i suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll.

quorum call: the clerk: ms. baldwin.

quorum call:

especially important. it would be better if we can words people can understand. he said no one understands it.

every living organism. what can the tumor you ask. >> if i'm a consumer in the grocery store, that means nothing. let me ask about another concern now i'm about so grown in a lab. i know that i'm curious about proteins and lessons we've learned applied i would be.

our climate is changing radical changes. an example right now the climate change we are going to action exit. resilient dire. the manufacturing process i think we are going to get better and better. ovulation out of their home

around the world market is different than on they have their visually. >> you talk a bigger sound than i would. >> in your room will presentation but since you were

referring to i would ask my the nations that are successful. and other know when it comes to the health. you don't present them with the charge shows use of the nice.

provide lost that has to do with the environment they are living in. i am colorado grown.

>> already embraced the labeling it is commercial the supplemental programs like good benefits. so many children the u.s. can't afford their own diet. it would be the most important things u.s. government cost of purchasing our. if you snap benefits.

>> i know we need to. >> what's going on is the food industry figured out combination of carbohydrates because you are bring in the same neural circuits and other addiction have. don't have access to so if you are a person without financial means you are walking a grocery

store process is half the cost. the everett tried to keep dictatorship that's been uncovered the circuits is what they are doing circuit work. there are three pathways that are fascinating learn a lot more about. this probably addictive. my opinion let me just take a

moment. most important thing, he said the food industry, unhealthy and addictive. the question of course is what have we done about it over the last 15 years? >> article with that one 100%. the most important discussion is our well-being. evolved that way the last 20, 230 years. it happens to be the most visible time to intercede, is it

worth it to keep pushing expensive drugs no potential to wellness and prevention of times on this platform. sixteen years ago and tired 300 employees not five times that many, imagine the geometric cost of healthcare when i said enough is enough. build the system on prevention and wellness created healthcare consumers by employees and cut costs way over 50%. anyone in the audience on your house and. they want to put an application

on the use run. the food industry especially mediation business driven by big hospitals and keep driving these dynamics we cut diabetes off before it would become emblematic blood serum decatur's. why are we still in nothing to do with an ounce of prevention you happen to be in the agent that has to deal with it all the time in terms of the modality that will keep expensive.

preventing it rather than going to. my favorite article titled fda. the article that relates to what you said and it does.

it doesn't look good in this regard. a lot of people are going to be watching for the you change. if you run a house system making money after. >> your you are on the pulpit. in the transparency position.

i talk about illness and invention. >> how often the premiums claim well. it can be for all of us to have a little skin in the game the incentive to shop around for modality of care consumer immediate results.

probably better at this. >> the cognitive literature get into the choices they can't figure out what to do. >> and the one -- two punch, i know that is part of the solution. it makes costs for government to go down to medicare and medicaid and we can get the best of both worlds. >> thanks for this hearing and

thank you for being here today. good companies and one and a half billion dollars targeting and we've been talking about the impact of. these companies target parents marketing the product. i beverages are marketed as all natural can mislead parents think they are somehow traced. >> the term healthy and important term and it is way out of date. we are in the process of defining the term healthy and putting it there for people, a nice-looking can identify what

healthy so that is. we've already discussed the difficulty in advertising and general. we are in our ability to restrain with the first amendment right. the advertising industry is clever in a way that is hard. it highlighted that slows of. >> work with other agents in the fda is working on a proposal to require food companies display

information packages. help identify options on the they did not how labels might impact so how will the fda sure packaging make healthcare decisions? researching study. studies were not done directly

to our parental years and reinforce was about 4.26% of all in their for our. >> i am okay to do this. we would have studied a lot more. >> i appreciate the work you have done. opioid epidemic we have today

make sure it never happens again i want to focus on the labeling issue. opioid claims they were safe and effective despite evidence showing the great opioids called. last year the fda for opioids which should help doctors and patients alike and the rest of opioid addiction. >> we are one m 100% -- nate -- call. ms. baldwin: oh, i ask that the quorum call ab vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection. ms. baldwin: thank you, mr. president. i rise today in support of mark he is ca-- mark eskenazi.

i want to note for my colleagues that the commission has not had a quorum since april of 2023. and as a result it has been unable to decide cases for more than a year. delays with the commission's cases create significant risks to workers and that is in part because when an employer appeals a citation, they don't have to fix the alleged hazard until the commission issues a final decision. mr. eskenazi is the currently an assistant general counsel at the office of the u.s. trade representative and previously had held numerous positions at the national labor relations board. this is ms. woodlihouse's second nomination to the commission.

she was previously confirmed in january of 2020. prior to her role on this commission, she has served as the director of labor and employment policy for the national association of manufacturers and as deputy general counsel for the senate committee on homeland security and government fairs. i support this bipartisan pair of nominees that will allow the commission to have a quorum, and i urge my colleagues to do the same. i ask unanimous consent that the senate consider the following nominations en bloc -- calendar number 374 and 785. and that the senate vote on the nominations en bloc, with no intervening action or debate, that if confirmed, the motion to be to reconsider shall considered and laid upon the

table and the the president be immediately notified of the senate's action. the presiding officer: is there objection? a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from kansas. mr. marshall: i object. the presiding officer: objection is heard. the senator from wisconsin. ms. baldwin: mr. president, i am disappointed that my republican colleague has blocked confirmation of these nominees. these nominees have been held up since last year, and it's time to end these delays. -- and confirm these nominees. i yield back.

ms. baldwin: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from wisconsin. ms. baldwin: i ask the scheduled vote occur immediately. the presiding officer: without objection. under the previous order, the senate will resume consideration of the following nomination, which the clerk will report. the clerk: nomination, the judiciary. sarah morgan davenport of new mexico to be united states district judge for the district of new mexico. the presiding officer: is there a sufficient second? there appears to be. the clerk will call the roll. vote:

the clerk: ms. baldwin. the clerk: mr. barrasso. 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.

the clerk: 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. 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. vote:

the clerk: 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, booker, cantwell, hassan, klobuchar, lujan, murray, ossoff, stabenow,

warren, warren. senators voting in the negative -- barrasso, blackburn, cornyn, cotton, crapo, hagerty, hyde-smith, lankford, lee, rubio, schmitt, wicker. the clerk: mr. hawley, no. the clerk: mr. heinrich, aye.

the clerk: mr. wyden, aye. mrs. fischer, no. right young will. they tend to be bold and patriotic. i have the best of them on my team better prepared advocate

government worked in the door 1999 anyone on the team is somewhere along the way kentucky basketball. honorary delivery.

world they go and what only member of my staff in the director outside in some way is

so. it is certainly not by accident. on my staff and. it is judgment. it is a complex problem. wound up falling the.

it was really hard and and wound up on scott's does by the entire team. there are very few outcomes that cannot be very few in washington were very involved in will work out.

in meetings with my authority. without uttering a word a sign that banks are control. he wants to analysis and with legislation keeping the lights on. the husband father and family,

it is impossible to overstate government funding agreements. good night calls and bedtime stories. i'm grateful for your patience. there's simply no way to make sense of the honorable service scott has rendered. you don't stick around that long for the party.

like to split on the senate and believe in the people you work with that happened that believes in him not to. they say it is essential that he does the right thing, the right way. i'm going to miss him by my side.

scott, thanks for everything. >> i voted on thousands of justice department nominees. every company is gone through our committee chairs one thing in common. every single nominee has undergone a background investigation. the judiciary committee plays a critical role offering consent

on nominations which includes receiving and reviewing themselves on the investigations. after weeks of reports president elect trump land to bypass this entirely, it's a relief to hear the transition team finally signed an agreement to conduct background investigations but i remain concerned trump will require all to undergo the process. despite the agreement, it remains unclear whether they plan to send the names of officials requiring security. it trumps nominees are not required to submit the same, it

makes you wonder. this is not a new idea. it dates back 70 years and it applies to every senate confirms position 900 federal judicial nominees. every single one is subject to an fbi investigation. so important too but all the nominees. on a bipartisan basis with

hundreds and wrote in the new york times scrutinized by the fbi they would know whether they are trustworthy or are compromised to do the job. a nomination was overscheduled without the committee receiving and reviewing it. by design of great importance, these individuals make critical decisions that protect americans, national security and thousands of american lives including the stars of the

crime. it is critical they are upstanding citizens. they are truly loyal to the united states. trump is considered using a private investigative firm. unacceptable. buying or stealing is a felony. the same for individuals of nominees. in comparison, no private let's get firm in the fbi's resources

housing risk for private firms capabilities. they are deployed to pull records and report their findings. any private firm by the trump transition team conflict of interest would clear the nominees so they would get more business from the honoring their oath to the constitution and pick of his choosing to fulfill

nomination and must continue to investigations for everything will nominee. you only american people but transparent transition of power. >> i yield the floor. >> first, today the senate will doing what we have been doing all week as many of biden's modified judicial nominees as possible and confirmed two more district court judges. ...

>> so of the five judges i vote cloture monday we will have confirmed three by the end of today and will be very close to confirming the remaining two. while democrats still hold a majority we're going to do everything we can to confirm as many judges as we can. now, on senator helmy. today we say thank you and farewell to another member of our caucus the junior senator from new jersey, senator george helmy. senator helmy will resign this weekend to make way for do colleague andy kim who we are all very excited to get to work with. in a very short amount of time senator helmy put his name on over 30 pieces of legislation,

advocated for children's mental health, stood up for the well-being of the people of new jersey across america and around the world. i would also be remiss if i didn't point out that senator helmy never hesitated to preside during performance sessions, a thankless but necessary job. his service will also be remembered for its historical significance. key was the first senator from the coptic church. senator helmy faith that an immediate and direct impact innocent when he invited his grace bishop david to the diocese to the senate a few weeks ago to deliver the first ever senate opening prayer by a member of the coptic orthodox church. senator helmy, congratulations for a job well done. you made new jersey proud. we wish you and your family the best. finally, today i wish to pay

tribute and say thank you to a colleague from across the aisle, senator mitt romney, who delivered his farewell address yesterday. i enjoyed meeting senator romney his family, his sons, his wife at his reception the other night. and told him how much i respected him and how much we will miss him in the senate. on most issues senator romney and i may have seen like oil and water but i've always appreciated him for his decency, his commitment to our country and his willingness to work in good faith in a bipartisan way when the chance presented itself. and over the last four years we found numerous ways to do just that. senator romney was a good partner with me on covid relief legislation, despite much opposition from the other side, and helped build consensus on infrastructure bill. he remains a a fierce defendef the ukrainian people. finally i will always appreciate that senator romney joined me alongside senators rosen, kelly and cassidy on our mission to

israel in aftermath of october 7. so thank you, senator romney and i wish you and your family the best chapter, a new chapter in your life. and finally, a few days ago i sent senator thune a letter asking that we go through the regular advice and consent process. that meant for fbi investigations of every nominee, the senate be able to look at those, hearings with questions in the senate on every nominee, and votes on the floor. i'm glad to see that at least the president-elect's administration is beginning to look at the fbi investigation issue and that's a small step in the right direction.ra but we must have them for all nominees. they must be full fbi investigations and they must be

available for senators to look at. and, of course, the necessity of hearings for each nominee, the necessary of votes that each nominee, just with the advice and consent process we have done in america for decades and decades and decades under democratic and republican presidents alike. i hope there will be no deviation from that grand and useful tradition. i yield the floor and note the absence of a quorum. >> one of the drawbacks of the end of a congress is need to say goodbye to departing colleagues. we are losing to make republicans, senator mitt romney and mike braun. that gave his farewell remarks yesterday and they were characteristic of the man i have come to know. humble, faith filled, patriotic. he is what i would call a character guy. he's got a by a moral compass and he's not afraid to live by it. any world were being religious isn't always highly regarded he's unapologetic about his

faith. mitt is also a big family guy. like me he married up and he and his wife ann pictures the good times and the tough times for a while now over 50 years of marriage. hard to believe to look at him but they say children keep you young, and mitt has five sons and an incredible 25 grandchildren. a beautiful legacy all on its own. his professional legacy needs no recounting. he is well-known as a successful businessman. successful republican governor of a deep blue state. and most recently as a successful senator. he may be leaving us after just one term, at that term was filled with an outsized amount of work. and he is more than earned his retirement. mr. president, in addition to mitt mike braun is leading us at

the end of this congress, in this case to go and serve as the governor of indiana. he is another guy who's had an outsized impact innocent in a short amount of time. in fact, used in the most effective first-term republican senator in the 117th congress. in no surprise. it was clear from the beginning mike keenan because you want to get things done. now he will bring that same drive and effectiveness that helped him grow a small business with 50 employees international company to his work as governor of indiana. i have no doubt at all the state will thrive under his leadership. as i may have told mike, hoosiers is one of my top five movies of all time. which is automatically made me a big fan of the hoosiers state. so i look forward to seeing all the great things thatth are goig to happen to indiana during his tenure. i know he will be incredibly busy as governor, especially because mike is a guy that gives

his all to what he does. witness the fact that he has visited all 92 of indiana's counties every year during his time here in the senate. i hope you'll still find time for his beloved mushroom hunting. know he will be fighting time to spend with his wife and, therefore, my children three from the work for the family business as well as with their seven grandchildren. mike mike congratulations onr election as governor. it's been a pleasure to work with you here in the senate, and i look forward to seeing all the great things you will do in indiana. mr. president, i yield the floor and i suggest the absence of a quorum. >> it went very well, thank you. it went well. it was frank. it was, you know, it was frank. >> what did you guys talk about? >> we talked about the obvious

issues that the allegations from various anonymous sources. talked about his mother of course and just briefly and you know, her coming to his defense. we talked as you know his wife was with him. i asked him about is anything else that we don't know that could surprise us that you know to be too? he said there's absolutely nothing. unless somebody makes something up, right? i said well, that's always a possibility for sure. but i said, you know ye of the things that hurts people the most in this business in my business is surprises. nothing that we know of that would be true. i have no reason not to believe him about that. i was most satisfied as you know i mentioned you and you are reported the drinking thing is a

pretty significant issue, whether you have a problem with another pump what you think of it from what you think you have a problem and he said his commitment is to not touch i'll call once in his position. he understand my situation, my personal background as well as the importance of clear eyed secretary of defense. with regard to alcohol, he made that commitment i don't want her to that commitment. i was very satisfied with that quite honestly. for the most part we talked about the future of the department of defense and look at things he would like to see done. i'm looking at things he would like to lead, to both modernize and build up our deterrence. he got right into the issues i care about, about relates specifically to processes that hamper production, processes that get in the way of moving quickly at the speed of china. my words, that is but talked a

lot about the importance of somebody coming in second kick down the doors and breakup dash of all the things i support. modernization effort is going to require our silicon valley type of attitude not an official complex attitude. and he brought up silicon valley before i did. i thought all that was very good. i talk specifically about, really, really bad idea and i don't want to see any type of the commission that gets designed to hunt down woke generals. people who wear the uniform salute to the political leadership, , not the other way around. not to say there are people with that agenda who wear uniforms but it don't think we should form a commission to go after is the right message to send to aspiring generals, or for that matter privates and sergeants. >> did he agree with you? >> he did.

he was fine. he was very clear the culture is the problem and i agree with them. but i don't think it's the generals that are guiding the culture. so no, he was, i thought he was very responsive. >> are you ready to -- [inaudible] >> i give him the benefit of the doubt. i am ready to be supportive of getting him to that point. property team in front of the committee. i did warn him i said not what on the committee is as fun as i am, but you don't think it's a present also said the salute on the committee that doesn't are in our respect and certainly there are people like joni ernst and tammy duckworth who earn more than i will ever earn, given their history. i was very favorably impressed quite honestly. i see no reason at this point cannot be supportive of him. >> has he said he will not drink

alcohol if he speeded i didn't ask him if he had a drink today or if he is currently drinking. my commitment of the security will not drink come he will touch our call. he be ready for a focal three in three in the afternoon or three in the morning and every hour in between which i thought was speeded i will ask to be clear because senator schmitt said he told he's not drinking come different from what you speeded i don't think that the conflict is what he says but as a different question. so he did i do recall he said he wasn't but that was my concern. my concern is he won't. [inaudible] >> i do believe him. again, we're not there yet but at this point i see no reason not to support them. frankly, we'll see what else happens but i want to be supportive. i wanted to be supportive of him from the very beginning. the allegations as an engine and no surprised him our serious. but it remains serious allegations that can be

verified, from anonymous sources, well then, and that's what they were in living. >> did he deny there were incidents where he was publicly intoxicated at work events, or did he just say the past -- >> know. no. good questions. both things he said. he said there are times when i drank too much you know, there are times when i drank too much whenever that i drank too much in anything improper. for example, he said i've never been at a strip club in louisiana intoxicated. there are events like that. i was not. he said i sort have never been on a stage and the intoxicated state. i have no reason to doubt him any more than belief somebody else. >> what about delegation about the woman and the california hotel? did you talk about that? and memo sent to the transition team about that.

>> so all of it except i brought up right away and said as far as the person goes and looks to me like that is pretty well been debunked. the police report itself, a deeper dive into it. i think that one is pretty clear that that was consensual and even properly where he was the one being pursued. >> the woman has signed a nondisclosure agreement which she can't really talk about it. >> that would be refreshing somebody actually fulfill that obligation. doesn't matter to me. >> did you ask him about -- [inaudible] >> interesting. this is why i mentioned, what i said earlier to them, just a you know, joni ernst and tammy duckworth deserve a great deal of respect. not that he would respect -- i made the point that talking about the process the hearing itself.

i said it won't be pleasant. i mean, it won't be, we made some hearings on the democratic party point and democrats will be ready to make unpleasant for you but it will be over. >> he had a meeting with joni ernst today. did he talk but how it went? >> he did not and i haven't talked to joni. >> you mentioned concern about court marshaling generals. i know there's been -- >> the cloakroom is calling me. you want to let them know -- cola cloakroom and find out where we are, where we stand. my vote won't matter. tell them -- >> you know how it goes. it's up to him. sorry. >> just about the exchange with him about the court marshaling generals. where did you land on that? >> he said no one has ever told

him that there should be some sort of a commission or committee to do this. he didn't seem interested in it. he said nobody, that's not a policy, it's something that's an idea that broke almost right after i was need come which is true. and, but he said there's nobody on the policy came or transition to the seems interested in that. just lino i talked to the president about it twice and it didn't seem overly interested in it either. >> when was last time to talk to trump? >> when i was on the trip down to texas with him. >> when was the last time -- >> oh, i don't know that he talked about that. >> over all the sounds like you have that you proud him on all this and now you're walking out feeling like he can get to a yes vote. >> and i'm likely to get to a yes vote, yeah. ice on reason why not to be. again it's not time to vote but

yeah, i look forward to being supported as a can't of him. >> doesn't mean you are contingent on the epic, results of an fbi back reject? >> that will be informative. he welcomes it, that's encouraging. quite honestly, if you're not guilty a lot of things people are saying about you, but the most is a full revelation of what happened. he seems genuinely interested in that come in that process. in fact, he seemed downright relieved. he was grateful they finally came to, you know, some consensus on that. >> you have any indication he would give up or speeded i did not have any indication of that whatsoever. i think it's pretty clear. and it would be silly to come in in a situation like this and not be that committed to it. quite honestly. because as soon as you show a

different outcome or your interest in negotiating, you're done. no, he was quite clear he is in it to stay. >> he's no longer in your office? >> he is not. he said he would be ready for a phone call at three after the three in a moment. is that what you asked it was that what -- >> so that's a good way, good question, claudication. i said it's really important that we have a clear eyed secretary of defense if the alarm goes off for the phone rings at three in the morning. and that his usenet three in the morning, three in afternoon and evening hour in between. >> thank you.

the clerk: mr. merkley, aye. the clerk: mr. graham, no. mr. schatz, aye.

congratulatory to my dear friend mitt romney who i've gotten to know very well, became a very close friend to with his wife ann and their family and gail and i have become very close to each other and enjoy our come. i have followed his career from afar for a long time. watching the success he's had as he came up to the business ranks very successfully. as he came up through the business ranks very successfully i watch that. i deserved the olympics is going to be embarrassing to the united states of america if someone didn't step forward and take care of the mess we got yourself into. lo and behold mitt romney did that and i was so thankful as an american and also admiring his

skills to post altogether because i know it's a a difficult task working without olympic committee. i watch his presidential campaigns which i thought were absolutely electrifying and i enjoyed it because i could see in his heart public service is what he is all about. but it really didn't my first encounter with mitt as former, we both governors together at the same time. i was come in in 24 come he was going out in 2006 turkey does is unbelievable thing about getting healthcare to everybody in his statement is just absolutely something phenomenal. so i called governors have a certain bond, does you are, where he from if you've never met before, a person, there's a bond. i said tell me about this healthcare plan you have. he said i was able to do this, this, this because he mentioned some of the good people that were smart and they were put together but i know one thing. anybody who sits in a position when you have good people around, someone has to assemble

them. all that material and put it in force. mitt was able to do that and i told him this, i don't have the economy you have in massachusetts and i would love to do something for my state. i does you remove is not he said the mighty way to work through your public employees insurance agency to let small businesses by info group. we are able to do something that endeavor been done before that help an awful lot of small businesses and people, who had no insurance to get insurance because of you. i remember that vividly. and then he comes to the senate and that's when my personal relationship, i admired him from afar for a long time. we just clicked but i've got to say this. he was involved from day one. they won he hit the ground running. mitt, there's so much institutional knowledge and so much basically support that he could bring to any conversation come to bring you the content data bring you the graphs, everything you wanted and even a lot more that you didn't want.

he just engulfed us with all of this. i'm thinking one day, bipartisan infrastructure under the recall, he kept telling us that wouldn't work because you had better facts and we had and you were right that we are trying to take your facts and work with a critical situation we were in back and forth back and forth back and forth. he was mitt, he consensus here's why come is what you should do, here's why, his what needed to be done. he would explain everything and i thought we will never get through this. we are not going to get through this. one day we made a final decision were going to do this picky comes in and says i like it. i'm thinking what the heck can we just go through? he just beat the living crap out of us for about 30 days showing us how, come it was a roadmap f how to do something and thinking that he wasn't going to agree with it and his basic, was at this. this is better than what we got. we are moving the ball forward. that to me is the clarity of

purpose, the clarity of what he came for is to move the ball forward, make it better, try to make a more perfect union. we knew we couldn't be perfect. problem was in the working back and forth nobody was moving and rob, we finally got to the end mitt says this is good. can it be better? sure. this is good so let's go. that was a signal when you do get it from there. mitt, being a freshman six years, i've been here longer. maybe i should have left secures ago but i'm just telling you you've made my life so much better and the senate. i enjoyed it. my relationship of course on both sides of the aisle working together and bringing people together but it is been just an absolute pleasure and joy having you as a member of the united states senate, most deliberate body and will come the strongest body in a world, the body

fencepost make common sense out of sinks it sometimes don't make reason. this body is much better off come this country much better off because of your service here. it's going to be missed. most importantly i'm a better person. i don't gail and i are much more enriched because of your friendship and we appreciate that more than you know. i wish you only the best in the future. i wish you the best as far as what you're going to do and hope you don't change a phone number because we still need your advice to matter where we may go. go. god bless my friend. enjoy. >> mr. president? >> senator from a. >> thank you, mr. president. mr. president, and his with a combination of pride and sadness that arise to pay tribute to a truly extraordinary senator and

a good friend, senator mitt romney. i rise to praise his intelligence, imagination, and most of all his integrity. that is what has marked and characterized his service throughout his life. but particularly here in the senate. it's a day of sadness because i can imagine the senate without mitt romney. as a senator and as a governor, as a presidential candidate, as the founder of a successful business, as the savior of the 2002 winter olympics, and as a pillar of his faith, mitt romney

has brought intelligence, knowledge, experience, and once again, integrity to every task he has undertaken. he meets every challenge with determination and the talent for bringing opposing sides together to forge solutions. he is always focused on getting to yes, on using common sense and on achieving a result. i have had the pleasure of teaming up with mitt on so many important issues, many of which he has mentioned. he was among the group of ten senators who negotiated the infrastructure and jobs act of 2021. from transportation to

broadband, the most significant investment in infrastructure since the interstate highway system in the 1950s is bringing lasting benefits to our nation. mitt was also key in crafting the bipartisan safer communities act, landmark, common sense gun safety legislation that helps to protect america's children, keep our schools safer and reduce the threat of violence across our country while preserving the second amendment rights of law-abiding gun owners. his unshakable belief that the american people must have faith in our elections and that they are free and fair was evident in his countless contributions to

the electoral account reform act which ensures an orderly transition of residential power. confirmed. under the previous order, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. and the president will be immediately notified of the senate's action. the clerk will report to invoke cloture. the clerk: 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 845, tiffany rene johnson, of georgia, to be united states district judge for the northern district of georgia, signed by 17 senators. the presiding officer: by unanimous consent, the mandatory quorum call has been waived. is it the sense of the senate that debate on the nomination of tiffany rene johnson, of

georgia, to be united states district judge for the northern district of georgia 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. 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. mr. hickenlooper. ms. hirono. mr. hoeven. mrs. hyde-smith. mr. johnson. mr. kaine. we look so much alike. with a senator you? >> yes. >> i rise to object. i will not let this man go quietly into the night. i would ask unanimous consent to force him to stay in the senate, but like all my unanimous consent request over the last ten years none of them have ever passed.

[laughing] >> case in point. i didn't necessarily expect to speak but i found myself sitting there 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 black and adjacent. mitt romney is a of great personal net worth, and on the man of great personal net girth. but the. reality is, the more i served with mitt romney, the more i found myself hoping to have more in common with him. i watched somebody from the seat for years now give a masters class in what i believe america needs most. i ran for president because of this drive and is feeling that our nation was becoming to try ballistic.

at a watch time and time again from this state a person that put aside the desires for partisan adoration for a deeper conviction to stand up for our nation. i watched a man not confuse tribal celebrity with leadership significance. i watched time and time and saw with my own eyes in being harassed in airports and being scorned for taking principled stands that he saw as the best way to try to hold our country together. i disagree with and even though i see him now at from one of his colleagues getting great affirmation for a moment i remember when i was a mayor watching him run for president where he was asked what the great masses agree threat is and he said russia. at the time many people made fun of him.

his wisdom in perceiving a threat was not only appreciated i literally saw in a classic briefing people applaud the inside of the net but i disagree with him now. i disagree because to me the greatest threat to america despite of the comet that it been made here including one of my esteemed colleagues yesterday who said was her national debt i think the greatest threat to america is our inability to come together as a country. when americans are united there's nothing we can't do. we can beat the nazis, we can send some to the moon. edited the greatest calling of our country now is a bit more indivisible back into this one nation under god. i sat here for years now and i've watched perhaps someone show with clarity of purpose that i've got to be what his faith and my call for, blessed are the peacemakers. blessed of the people who stand

in the breach. blessed are the people who heal, who try to weave together the torn threads of our great nation back into a mighty hall. this body is of lesser. it is lesser with this loss. when i heard the news he wasn't running again, i wasn't happy for him and his family, and i know his values start with that core faith and family. but i do worry about this body. i do worry about our nation. and one thing that gives me hope is because the light that he is shined into this place will endure, and perhaps many of us as he departs will try our best, despite the forces that pull us apart come to try our best to pick up the work that he is left tied to do more. to affirm a principal that he clearlymr has kept centered in s

eyes as is innocent of the isle of this great institution, which is of those words from a dead language, e pluribus unum. mitt romney, thank you for being my friend. thank you for being someone who has inspired me to be better, and thank you for being a great american patriot. >> the senate from north kellen. >> thank you, mr. president. my folks and wonder why i'm sitting so close to mitt romney. he and i are seatmates. these are assigned seats, that i told mitt i had not prepared a single but it did what he come to us a few things about him. and i hope that we use this opportunity and remember over the next two years. here's a question we could all ask all we could all talk about and thank him for the incredible work that is done, and to his staff. the problems he has caused for

you by being so honest, so forthright and so direct, right? how many times, mitt, you can't answer that because i think it's against the rules, but how many time have your staff that said we wish you just were not so forthright and honest? but that is who this guy is. i have seen him we been battle buddies and allow the bipartisan efforts that have gone a long and he's reason why some a pascua donelson. without his support of the sport of a handful of others, stuff that has enduring generational value would have never happened. so 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 income first time i met him was in the december before his election when i was a fairly newly minted legislature, there's no reason why he would've known me or remember that beating but i've been impressed 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 could only be solved by people on both sides of the aisle coming together and taking heat that comes along with that, let's ask ourselves over the next two or four years what would mitt romney do? and let that be a guiding post for those folks are going to be here who may be put into the situations to do right by this country. we are going to have one last person but i believe it's in all of us to admit what is done. i hope that's a part of the legacy that we will honor as he's gone. now, finally if you don't know about mitt i'm going to miss him for those reasons, those are legitimate reasons to miss mitt but i'm going to miss his fast with and his ability to just call things quickly.

having a seatmate like that when you're in the middle of vote-a-rama is gold, folks. nobody's going to know that except for the conversations we've had back in the middle of the night. he's a good man, a good father, a great-grandfather. no, i don't us posted as either by show of hands who shares dna with mitt romney if they're in the gallery? [laughing] congratulations to all of you and to dozens of the members who have to be hugely proud of mitt romney. i am. thank you. >> mr. president? >> the senator for montana we've got a vote coming up a little? i'm going to be very, very brief. first of all, mitt, you've been an incredible united states senator. we are losing some good ones at this time around but you were at the top of the list. my father was born and raised in utah estate you represent. my father and mother were both really good democrats but i'm going to tell you that they would've loved mitt romney.

the reason they would've loved mitt romney is because mitt romney is realist not an idealist. somebody who looks at issues and tries to solve them, tries to get to yes, not to get to know. without giving up his principles and your time here and the united states the senate, the gift that the good lord 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 talked realism to all of us. and as you go out just know that there's not a soul in here who doesn't know you're a man of faith. and i appreciate that because you exhibit that faith. you don't preach. you walk the walk. i just want to say as others that said before because it's true, the united states said it

will be diminished because of your absence. and appreciative for cutie to get to know you and work with you and get some stuff done. >> the senator from utah. >> i rise today to first bank the leader for those generous comments and to mark for my colleagues the departure, soon, from my service or at the senate. during my life, i have rarely been truly alone maybe taking tests at school, or running cross country, or on my uncle's tractor cultivating corn. but i am impressed with people who have achieved great things largely on their own, washington commanding the continental army, lincoln guiding the civil war, edison in his laboratory. not me.

i have consistently been surrounded by others, usually smarter, often more experienced, always becoming friends. in business, i chose partners with skills that exceeded mine, proof of which has been their stunning success after i left. as governor, my team helped craft the health plan that insured nearly every citizen in massachusetts. my wing man, bob white, counseled me in business, the olympics, and politics. my counselor, beth myers, advised and managed multiple campaigns and administrations. spencer zwick financed and helped guide almost every one of my endeavors. my senate chiefs of staff, matt waldrip and liz johnson, built and brilliantly led an exceptional team and with our policy directors, chris barkley and stephen newton, crafted and negotiated more legislation that became law than could possibly have been expected for a

freshman senator. mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the names of my excellent current and former staff members be included in the record, as submitted. group affair. at its center is my wife ann. she is my most trusted advisor, my indefatigable ally, the love of my life for 54 married years. our five sons are just as loyal and are the source of profound pride, joy and 25 grandchildren. during my first months in the senate, i was mostly on my own and thus, mostly unproductive. and then lisa murkowski invited five democrats to join with five republicans in her home for take-out dinner. with covid then active, we were spaced far apart, with windows

open despite the winter cold. our conjecture on how to bridge the impasse between the president and congress on covid relief led us, over the next several weeks, to dig in, negotiate, draft and eventually see our work become the basis of law. i was fortunate to also be part of what this team worked on that followed, the bipartisan infrastructure law, electoral count act reform, gun safety legislation, and marriage legislation that included religious protections. our group was rob portman, kyrsten sinema, susan collins, joe manchin, mark warner, jon tester, bill cassidy, jeanne shaheen and lisa murkowski. we had each come to washington to enact law that would help people. and that's just what we did. we accomplished together what we could have never done alone. so i will leave this chamber

with a sense of achievement. but in truth, i also will leave with the recognition that i did not achieve everything i had hoped. among other things, the scourge of partisan politics has frustrated repeated efforts to stabilize our national debt. without the burden of the interest on that debt, we would be able to spend almost three times as much as we do on military procurement, three times as many aircraft, three times as many ships, three times as many drones, spacecraft, and cyber defenses. alternatively, we could spend double the amount we spend on social security benefits every month. our national credit card is almost maxed out, and america risks becoming debt poor. now, my biggest surprise in the senate has been how much i enjoy the other senators, on both

sides of the aisle. and the truth is that while i may not miss the senate itself terribly much, the 10-minute votes that last an hour, the unknowable schedule of votes, the myriad meaningless votes, the absurd passion about the inconsequential votes. i will very much miss you, my fellow senators, for among you are some brilliant, some entertaining, some kind and generous and all patriotic. it is an honor to have been able to serve with you. it has also been an honor to represent the people of utah, the state of my family heritage. what sets utah apart is not just its beauty and vibrant economy, it is the admirable character of its people. now, it is customary to end

remarks like these with the words, god bless america. that has never seemed jarring or out of place to me because americans have always been fundamentally good. from our earliest days, we have rushed to help neighbors in need, as de tocqueville noted. we welcomed the poor, the huddled masses yearning to breathe free. we have respected different faiths, as our first president confirmed to muslims and jews. united we stand is a fitting refrain. as the leader of the free world, our sons and daughters have fought time and again for liberty, and our treasure has buoyed freedom fighters around the globe. like all people, we have made mistakes, some grievous, but often our mistakes have come from misguided understanding.

god has blessed america because america is good. there are some today who would tear at our unity, who would replace love with hate, who deride our foundation of virtue, or who debase the values upon which the blessings of heaven depend. now, i have been in public service for 25 years. i have learned that politics alone cannot measure up to the challenges we face. a country's character is a reflection not just of its elected officials but also of its people. i leave washington to return to be one among them and hope to be a voice of unity and virtue. for it is only if the american people merit his benevolence, that god will continue to bless america.

two so in my prayer. -- may he do so in my prayer. [applause] >> one fila final met at tf your senate will bid farewell to a number of distinct colleagues who are starting well-deserved next chapters. in coming weeks i will single out a few of them for particur praise. it seems fitting to begin with someone whose retirement is a departure not just from the senate but from a long and honorable career on the national political stage. on the bingo cards of american politics, the governor of massachusetts, senator from utah, combination is --

[inaudible] mitt romney repeated success in public office is a testament to his transcendent appeal of his character. as it turns out uncompromising honesty, earn his humility, and evident devotion in the face of family are as compelling in cedar city as they are in concord. of course a certain telegenic quality, did i say, presidential all, doesn't hurt either. by the time friend assumed the title of junior senator from utah is personal life in public i -- polished instincts of a professional who played to win at the highest level. and independent self-assurance has come a long way from unshakable convictions.

for mitt, the senate was not a waiting room for a stepping stone. it was a capstone to a life in public service. and with the wisdom to discern where to devote his attention, he managed to cram more into six years that many colleagues fit in in 12 or 18. he made himself a linchpin for bipartisan negotiations and wound up at the center of the effort of delivered measure for legislation. he poured himself into worthy fights on behalf of his constituents navigating everything from tribal politics to state department bureaucracy to characteristic diplomacy. he called the sentence the tension more closely to the state of america's competition with china. and the worthy demands of

american global leadership. he's met moments of enormous gravity with conflagration and utmost grace. the past six years will not be remembered as the senate -- [inaudible] on observers might have wondered what more distinguished service like mitt romney had to britain coming to washington including help -- [inaudible] this body. that would be misunderstood the way a friend has ordered his life. it wasn't that what had left to prove but what he had left to give. with that outlook mitt is been able to put even the most consequential business of public life in perspective. he reminds young visitors to the capital the true currency of life is the people you love and spend your time with. he's quick to explain his life isn't designed by the outcome of

elections and that his deepest meaning comes from his faith and his relationship with his family. it doesn't take much to recognize how earnestly he means that. for one thing we know joining the senate was at best a different second on the list of his most significant events of the year 2019. celebrating 50 years of marriage to a sweetheart ann. when you factor in the birthdays of 25 grandchildren and counting, even the most significant career milestone is bound to fall off the list. frankly, he brought -- [inaudible] i wouldn't worry too much about lining up my next job. full-time grandpa, to a brute as big as his, is bound to need

some extra hands for scheduling and advance work. mitt and his partnership is one for the history books. it is reminder when you spend your blood with the right people, success in business or politics is just icing on the cake. and when you ground yourself in firm beliefs, the winds of politics are easier to whether. as particular moving mitt's church instructs, do what is right, let the consequences follow, battle for freedom and spirit in might, and with strong hearts take you forth to tomorrow. god will protect you and do what is right. so mitt, i want to thank you for

devoting yourself to service and light is a consequence follow. may god protect you and your family as you write the next chapter. mr. warner, aye. mr. braun, no. mr. sanders, aye.

mr. risch, no. mr. hickenlooper, aye.

vote:

the clerk: mrs. hyde-smith, no. the clerk: mr. warnock, aye.

the clerk: ms. baldwin, aye. mr. tester, aye. the clerk: ms. klobuchar, aye.

the clerk: mrs. capito, no.

the clerk: mr. schumer, aye.

the clerk: ms. butler, aye.

the clerk: mr. hoeven, no. defense. it is with them. i asked, is there anything else we don't know?

he said there is nothing. i said that is always a possibility. one thing that hurts, there aren't any more surprises. the clerk: mr. whitehouse, aye.

i was very satisfied with that. for the most part the future of the department of defense deterrence and he got the information related to the process. all the things i support.

about idea permission designed the political leadership and not the other way around. to go after, is the right message effective to aspiring generals? so. >> are you ready? i'm ready to be supportive.

not be supportive. i didn't ask is currently drinking my commitment. different from.

i do believe verified anonymous.

the clerk: mr. sullivan, no. the clerk: ms. warren, aye.

feel of respect and influence of

no never told him interested in it.

overly back on a trip. >> federal we talk about that not having questions on this and you can get. >> i see no reason not. i look forward to being reported. >> obviously that would be informative about us. the thing you want the most

interested in that. it is grateful. >> i did not have of that. >> it would be silly not quite honestly. as soon as you show a different outcome are done it was quite clear. >> you would be ready for a phone call, is that what us?

>> it question. it is important the secretary of defense and that any hour in between. mr. thune, no. mr. barrasso, no.

stuart fashion. any agency.

>> the months leading up to like 24, incredible intelligence, this grave threat from an adversarial nations date. >> i can't discuss what i was or was not aware of i would imagine you were aware. >> we have a sense. if former president of united states was leading candidate and will be now. he was threatened by the nefarious. being that you are aware,

provided. >> at that time he was not. >> you would have been safer? >> would have been safer. i don't think this would have occurred. did they request tsu. >> i am not aware of a request. >> disseminated to agents in detail. >> i'm just pausing here. what i can tell you secret service provided assets.

>> folks who are was allowing were not aware of this threat and showing leadership we know for a fact butler. a protection and didn't have the tsu and acted quite frankly. it is a less gratuitous currently timed turn of the head. instead of this, did you go the

next day? they held that for five days. skewered and roasted on the oversight committee present the next day. >> why did you wait nine days? >> i was appointed july 23. >> the second most senior

member. that was protecting? >> they were operational. >> i spoke to them when they arrived in milwaukee. >> when we were talking, this is an epic fail. focusing on his areas improving the culture we know you have 3.1 billion you asked for 2 billion. we have to say epically -- 45, a

is agreed to. under the previous order, the senate will resume consideration of the following nomination, which the clerk will report. the clerk: nomination, the judiciary. keli marie neary of pennsylvania to be united states district judge for the middle district of pennsylvania. a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from california. ms. butler: i rise to join in the honor and tradition of the senate to offer my final remarks before departing. interestingly, i rise to let the pages know that breaking traditional senate practice, there are no written remarks for you to come pick up. i decided just this morning that i was going to write a different speech, that i was going to offer words of my own as i mark what is the end of a journey for

me. as i end this journey as the junior senator representing 40 million californians, it is a day that i want to thank them and thank governor newsom for giving me the honor and privilege of serving our great state. mr. president, it's been a remarkable honor, completely unimagined at venture to follow in the footsteps of dianne feinstein who so ably served in this chamber for more than 30 years, and to be blessed to walk the same hallways as senator carol moseley-braun and share the same office space as vice president kamala harris. it truly has been an unbelievable privilege. indeed, the footsteps that i have had the opportunity to

follow in this walk of service have been filled with decency, honor, integrity, and courage. and i can only hope that for the people of california that i was able to do half as well as those who came before me. and as is true for all of us, and for those who came before, this journey of public service is not one that we travel alone. alone with us on the rough side of the mountain is our staff, the staff who works so hard to help keep the pace, who help to plot the path and bring all of the supplies and make sure that no one gets lost or left behind. i want to thank my capable, incredibly talented staff for making sure that we never lost sight of our north star -- the people of california. they have given their, not only

their hard work and long hours, but their brilliant minds and all of their hearts to make sure that the last 14 months have truly been impactful and for all of that i will forever be grateful. i know that it is most often true that in this, in the traversing of the roads of service that it is often our family and our friend that serve as the fuel that keep us going day by day, and that has been certainly true for me. my wife and daughter, neneki and nylah have refilled my tank and refilled my cup at the moments that i thought i was running low, and so to them i am grateful for never letting me run out. to my mother who has watched more c-span in the last 14 months than in all her 71 years,

my brothers, my sisters, aunts, uncles, cousins, and dear friends, just when the clouds get low and start to look a little heavy, it's been your card, your calls, your texts, your letters, your visits to d.c. that truly have brought out the sunshine. and so to all of you, i am deeply grateful and cannot thank you enough. to my colleagues and fellow travelers, you have truly made this journey special. the old quote by tim kay hill who said that the journey is measured in friends, not miles is true for me. you have all given me so much to make this journey one to enjoy. it could not have been more true

in my short time. i don't have the -- the years or have been able to clock the miles of any of my colleagues who have spoken up to this point as they prepare to leave, but i have had the opportunity to build what i believe will be lifelong friendships along this entire journey, and for that on both sides of the aisle i truly know that i am grateful i. want to give a special shoutout to my senior senator alex padilla and his kind an generous comments from yesterday. he has been like a tour guide on this incredible ride. always carrying the come pass, making sure that i don't stray too far off the path but knowing too well that i am a traveler who is intent on walking her own way. senator padilla has supported me

all along the journey and i know that senator-elect schiff is here and i thank him for his support throughout this transition. also a special call to leader chuck schumer who has given and throughout these 14 months offered his -- his wisdom and his trust, his friendship, and i am deeply, deeply grateful. mr. president, what i know is that i stand on the floor of this senate -- of the senate as a 14-month senator, but my road to justice and the pursuit of justice has been much longer than 14 months. i know that i only stand here because of the men and women, the working families of sciu and our labor movement. and i couldn't end this term without thanking them for sharing me and inviting me into their stories of courage and hope for what is possible in our great country, and i want them

to know that i carry their stories with me. i carry their families with me in my head and in my heart here in the senate and where ever it is that i go. mr. president, in my final few minutes, i want to end my time in the senate the way that i began it on this floor i gave my first speech talking with and about america's now generation. our young leaders, future members of congress, carpenters, plumbers, firefighters, nurses, police officers. i talked with them about what i had heard from them from so many of them about what was important, and so in my last

remarks, i want to come back with them, talk with and about them, offer a few lessons from this experience here with all of you. you know, all summer long this now generation has been bopping to the masterful beeps of california oh, own kendrick lamar and we have heard on our ipods the anthem they not like us, and as i celebrate what has become a global hit, i too have listened to it, you know, on repeat so often all throughout the summer. i want america's young leaders to know that the words of kendrick are just that, words and lyrics in a historic rap battle, sources of great entertainment and joy, but they

are not are words upon which we should build our community or the future of our country. because, indeed, they are exactly like us. you see, when i was 5, i went to levi temple head start center in magnolia, mississippi. of course, in head start, kids get just that, a head start in learning the foundational lessons of preparing to be in a school environment. and as i've been reflecting on this time and the lessons that this time has given me, i realized that it was in that old church building in head start that i -- the experience there actually shaped who i have become. the seeds planted in head start are ones that have grown in me

every day for the 40 years since i left. it was 1985, and my head start teacher was a woman by the name of ms. carrie hillbert, and i remember getting ready to graduate head start and trying on these royal blue graduation gowns and graduation hats and for two weeks, she prepared us for head start graduation. and our graduation song in 1985, she worked to make sure that our little squirmy 5 and 6-year-olds were going to be able to sing this song and former our parents and our loved ones and she did it masterfully. mr. president, in 1985 the lyrics that ms. hilbert taught me were the lyrics to we are the

world, written by the greats, lionel richie, quincy jackson, i remember having to practice that song day after day for probably about two weeks, not knowing then, but that all throughout that -- those -- that graduation rehearsal seeds were being planted. seeds sang by stefy wonder -- stevie wonder and lionel richie, there comes a time when we must heed a certain call when the world must come together as one. seeds from tina turner and billy joel. we are all a part of god's great big family and the truth, you k know, is love is all that we need. seeds sang and planted by the

unlikely duo of willie nelson and al, who planted the seeds that as god lass shown us by turning stones to bread so we all must lift and give a helping hand. one of the most powerful seeds that really stuck with me was those offered by michael jackson, huie lewis and cindy lauper. when you're down and out and there seems no hope at all, if you just believe there's no way we can fall. let us realize that change can only come when we stand together as one. young leaders, colleagues, mr. president, i believe it was those two weeks of repetition and practice that planted the

seeds of possibility and hope, seeds of determination and courage. it was learning the lyrics to that song at 5 years old that inspired a generation full of patriots who believed in the power of this country to do good in the world and for each other. because when we choose to do hard things together, the people of this nation, all of its elected leaders, our community advocates, when we see each other's humanity, when we see our neighbors as essential to the future that we want for our children, when we understand that our differences are our greatest assets, it's then -- then when we truly are doing and being the best country in the world. and so my final prayer as a member of this august body is

that we realize that as policymakers we are generations head start teachers. every single day we can plant seeds that will grow in the hearts and minds of young leaders, and we get to decide the seeds we plant. will we plant seeds that help them understand what and imagine what's possible for an are america filled with people of different walks, different face, different bank accounts, different languages? will we plant seeds to help them realize and see what is possible not just for the united states but for the world? and as was taught to me in that old church building, we will reap what we sow.

mr. president, i yield. a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from minnesota. i will wait for my colleague to receive her hugs of gratitude. i have a few words i'd like to say.

ms. smith: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from minnesota. ms. smith: mr. president, i wanted to just take a moment to add my thanks and congratulations to our colleague, senator laphonza

butler. you know, i look around this chamber, and this is a chamber that is filled with people who were once lawyers or members of congress, governors or lieutenant governors, all fine and honorable professions. but there are not that many people in this room who came here because they were organizers. this is something that senator butler and i talked about when she first came to the senate. organizers are different because we understand, like the power of accomplishing important things comes certainly from our leadership and the work that we do but fundamentally it comes from the people that we work with every single day, folks that are out there on the ground living the lives and doing the work. if you understand that your power to do good work comes from those people, then you approach everything, every problem from a different perspective.

i know this is where senator butler comes from as an organizers at sciu, because i think that kind of approach to problem solving is something that we can all come from. i watched you in the 14 months that you've been here, which is for many senators barely a blink of an eye, i watched you how to organize in this chamber, i noticed, senator butler, as you prepared to give your opening remarks that senator roger wicker from mississippi came up and gave you a big hug, this is a senator born in magnolia, mississippi, i saw you start your building of a relationship with him on one of your first days in the elevator when i was standing with you. that is a lesson for all of us, when you leave to go on to do what is next, that we should

keep in mind the power of those relationships and building power to actually make a difference -- make a difference in this world, and the last thing i want to say as we say farewell to you, only in this chamber, but not in our lives is your constant reminding us and using your platform to lift up what you say of now leaders. we have a tendency, some of us who are 50, 60, 70, 80, we have a tendency sometimes to talk about the next generation of leaders and your time will come and we will need you. you always speak of our young leaders in the present tense because they are the leaders that we need now. so as i think about your service here in the senate and the work you have done, those are the two lessonsly carry forward in my work in this chamber. i offer this with much gratitude for your leadership both here in this chamber, the work that you've done before and the work that i know you'll continue to do. thank you, mr. chair. i yield the floor.

mr. wyden: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from oregon. mr. wyden: i ask unanimous consent to speak for up to three minutes. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. wyden: mr. president, i would ask unanimous consent to have one additional minute to pull things together. mr. president, as if in legislative session, i ask unanimous consent that the committee on foreign relations be discharged from further consideration and the senate now proceed to s. res. 74. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: senate resolution 74 condemning the government of iran state-sponsored persecution of the bahai minority and so forth. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the

measure? without objection, the committee is discharged and the senate will proceed. mr. wyden: mr. president, i know of no further debate on the resolution. the presiding officer: is there further debate? if not all in favor say aye. those opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the resolution is agreed to. mr. wyden: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the wyden substitute amendment at the desk to the preamble be agreed to, the preamble as amended be agreed to, the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the motion to invoke cloture. the clerk: cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate, do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the

nomination of executive calendar number 846, keli marie neary of pennsylvania to be united states district judge for the middle district of pennsylvania signed by 17 senators. the presiding officer: by unanimous consent, the mandatory quorum call has been waived. the question is, is it the sense of the senate that debate on the nomination of keli marie neary of pennsylvania to be united states district judge for the middle district of pennsylvania 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. 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. a step back, we were concerned about that.

there are many questions to be answered surrounding those developments. testing and we are expect on the democratic process. and it can as well. at the work of our shared values.

the process within our okay and the rule of law which are the foundational pillars of the alliance. republicans and democrats the

same. it is our shared values. the heart of our relationship. in the around this can be

answered. we expect those processes to go about their way. >> anything else? >> i'm going to keep it lack private. and it is what it is about.

>> the u.s. and south korea, is there anything more you can tell us? >> i don't have any other perspective. the notifications

>> thank you and the.

and revamping. and using on that and. and because of this.

>> i'm not going to try find that. i will draw any on that the liberties and commercial law in accordance national assembly