of ebola in the capital of uganda and an outbreak of u -- this freeze pausz the urgent public health work, the assistance that we provide to make sure we are safe from a lethal global pandemic that we put in place after the last pandemic. when we halt foreign assistance, it has consequences. it's just 1% of our total budget. most americans think it's a big percent of our spending, but it's 1% -- less than 1% of the total federal budget and there's a winner here and it's not the american taxpayer. freezing programs like this causes chaos and also costs more to restart them after review. the winner is china. our biggest global competitor is delighted that we handed them an

opportunity to say to communities and countries around the world that we are not a reliable partner, that despite contracts, promises, commitments and programs, they now have months to crow about how we have abandoned our partnerships with country after country around the world. china's delighted when we lay off or furlough or cut the resources that help fuel the work of our diplomats and our development professionals and china has seen its opportunity to expand its influence through programs like the belt-and-road initiative. they spent a trillion dollars in projects in the global south. and our ability to counter chinese influence to make strategic investments have been put at risk by putting on hold the contracts that help deliver. the administration may claim it's temporary but the effects will not be. the lasting impact on

contractors, ngo's and loss of expertise, loss of their workforce and credibility i think will be lasting, dangerous, and harmful. mr. president, i rise today to warn my colleagues about the risks posed boy the nomination -- posed by the nomination of chelsea gabbard. as ranking member of the subcommittee, i have a substantial role with our nations intelligence community and what we've seen already from congressman -- former congresswoman gabbard in her hear issing alarming. refusing to speak clearly to the actions of edward snowden that have earned him the title traitor. bemoaning the rise of hgs in syria without mentioning the fall of the brulleal dictator assad, repeatedly dodging relevant and timely pointed questions about fisa and section 702, critical to america's security. all of this sadly is in keeping

with the long-standing record as an apologist for authoritarians and enemies of our nation. she's repeatedly blamed the united states and nato for russia's full-scale invasion of ukraine. she visited syria and met with assad, a brutal dictator in 2017 and relied on pro-assad sources to cast doubt on his horrific use of chemical weapons to attack his own people. and former congresswoman gabbard's long history of repeating pro-kremlin talking points such as the false claim the united states was operating biological research labs in ukraine has made her a favorite guest on russian state media. we should be working together to elevate people in our national security apparatus who are sanctioned and banned from russia because they've worked hard to oppose our enemies, not praised by them. our nation faces real and growing threats daily.

we need an intelligence service researched and led about to capably oppose them. can we count on her to provide that leadership? i don't think so. and i cannot support her nomination. with that, mr. president, thank you, and i yield the floor. the presiding officer: the chair recognizes the senator from iowa. mr. grassley: every so often i come to the senate floor to bring my colleagues up to date on the lack of financial management system in the department of defense. i'm here again to address what i consider a festering bureaucratic sore.

the pentagon can't keep track of the taxpayers' money. as i've just indicated, i speak about this many times. in 30 years of watchdogging, little or nothing has happened. internal controls over the taxpayers' money remain weak or nonexistent at the department of def defense. and i'm here today to speak specifically about a recent inspector general's audit driving home that point. specifically, auditors discovered one in one-tenth billion dollars in undocumented payments by the pentagon using funds congress provided to assist ukraine.

they examined 479 transactions for the counteryear 2022 totaling two in one-tenth billion dollars. the auditors determined that 65% of the transactions could not be verified for a lack of documentation. if the sample were doubled in size, the inspector general estimated a staggering 94% would be unsupported. now, we all agree that's unacceptable. or if we don't agree that that's unacceptable, there's something wrong with our thinking. the rules are crystal clear. supporting documentation is

required when paying bills. proper documentary support should include a contract travel authorization invoice, receipts, payment voucher, or things like that. and i don't mean you have to have all those available to pay a bill, but you ought to have at least one of them or more before you spend the taxpayers' money. now, taken together, these records form an audit trail essential for payment verification and fraud detection. if the documents match up, a bill is ready to pay. so, mr. president, one in one-tenth billion dollars went

out the door and there's no documentation to back it up. i want to make very clear, that's an audit report, not chuck grassley saying that. so we don't know how much -- we don't know how ma money was used -- how that money was used. was it spent to assist ukraine as required or was it misused or stolen? we simply don't know. clearly, unsupported payments leave the door wide open to fraudsters. paying bills without documentation shows neglect and indifference. it is reckless and should not be tolerated. these undocumented expenditures

occur on the watch of chief financial officer or as we know him cfo mike mcchord. although mike mcchord has departed the department, he and his deputies are accountable. they failed to exercise due diligence over the public's money. such gross mismanagement is made worse by the pentagon's pitiful accounting system, or as i said in my opening, the lack of a financial management system. top managers turned a blind eye to this problem as well. just like a long line of their predecessors. instead of modernizing, they kept pouring out billions down a

rat hole, to upgrade ancient systems that belong on the junk heap. why did such smart, experienced managers go down that rabbit hole? why did they fail to acquire modern systems that could produce reliable information, effective controls, or clean opinions? why has this problem not been fixed? there once was a brave hearted watchdog in the air force's cont controllers who claimed to know the answer. ernie fitzgerald was that person's name. i knew him in the 1980's. he worked in the defense department until he retired maybe 20 years ago and he

probably died about three or four years ago. he had this to say. quote. leaders in the pentagon don't want to fix it. sloppy accounting gives them flexibility to hide their shenanigans. end of quote. there is no audit trail to follow. it's easy to make sneaky accounting adjustments to cover your back side. pentagon managers have some explaining to do, and i'm all ears. i want to give you just one recent example. and i'm following up with the inspector general and the pentagon to get some answers on this. over a period of six years until

earlier last year when she pleaded guilty to -- can you believe this -- stealing $106 million out of the defense department. she was buying all kinds of homes and all kinds of expensive cars. and i don't have a long list of where $106 million went, but can you believe over a period of five years, there was nobody in the defense department -- well, i suppose eventually after six years somebody discovered it. but she got away with it for six years. now she's going -- she's prosecuted and 15 years in prison. she wasn't prosecuted. she pled guilty. so i write to the i.g. to get an explanation of how come they have a financial management system or a lack thereof that

doesn't catch somebody stealing $106 million. so i sent along with that -- those questions i'm asking the i.g. a report that i put out in 1998 that was a report of people stealing money at the air force base in dayton where they had this check writing machine. and we found out that the person managing that check writing machine could make checks out to people their family and there was about $5 million stolen at that particular time. and so we went to dayton to study what was wrong, and what was wrong is exactly what this

audit report shows today. they were writing checks without invoices. now, you see we pointed something out what? 26 years ago or something like t that, that was wrong with financial management in the defense department. so i guess you could say the defense department has learned nothing in the last 26 years. and i just hope that they would take my report of 1998 and what's wrong with janet mellow stealing $106 million and try to change the system. now, we in the congress with our power of oversight or as you study in high school government, checks and balances of government, we appropriate

money. we pass laws. but we don't enforce those laws but we have a constitutional responsibility to point out when the executive branch of government or the people in the executive branch of government aren't faithfully executing the laws that we pass or properly appropriate spending the money the way we appropriate it. so we don't enforce the laws. we make the laws. we have oversight. what do you do? you come to the floor of the united states senate and try to raise cane about it and get some changes made. but the defense department is a little bit different than any other agency of the federal government because they're the only agency of the federal government that has never had a

clean audit. i yield the floor and suggest the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: the clerk: ms. alsobrooks. quorum call:

that charged by congress was investigating every civil aviation and serious incident in the united states and significant in other modes of

transportation. sympathy on behalf of the entire board for those that lost loved ones in the terrible tragedy. our thoughts our prayers are with you, entire communities were affected and we are thinking of you. with me today is bryce banding. bryce is a senior aircraft accident investigator with the national transportation safety board. he will also serve as our investigator in charge of this investigation. also with me today is the entire board. we have todd inman, member todd inman, todd will serve as a board member on scene. the spokesperson for this

investigation, all of the board members will be here. we have vice chairman alvin brown, member mike graham who lived in wichita for 20 years and we also have member tom chapman. the ntsb's headquarters is just 1 mile from here. and, so, we are all here because this is an all hands on deck event. we are here to assure the american people that we are going to leave no stone unturned in this investigation. we will conduct a thorough investigation of this entire tragedy looking at the facts. with that, i want a level set. we allow the safety mission.

the safety rescue and recovery. the important safety mission. so this a different on scene. we have nearly 50 people on scene. in addition to our resources at the headquarters in our labs and throughout the agency. so, with that said, we are not going to get into specific facts in this press conference. i want to level set here. we will get into our investigative process. as we are able to confirm factual we are able to provide that. i do want to say that this is a whole of government. i was able to brief along with others the president of the

united states and the vice president this afternoon. i want to thank them for their leadership for our investigators and for the responders that are on scene doing an important mission. i also want to thank secretary sean duffy who i was communicating with early on. when we first got word of this tragedy. we have been working together throughout the day along with his team at the dot and within foa. i want to thank secretary pete hegseth who was also integral in working with us today. chris lotion the acting administrator of the administration. we have heard from many members of congress on both sides of the aisle. i will say that this is a tremendous, one more time, whole of government effort.

i want to take a moment and thank the many, many responders that have been on scene. it has been an incredible effort and i will have a full list that i will provide, that we will provide tomorrow. i want to thank them for all of their work. we will turn it over for additional remarks. >> today is our first day on scene. our investigative will be on scene for as long as it takes. in order to obtain all of the perishable evidence in the fact-finding that is needed to bring us to a conclusion of probable cause. our mission is to understand not just what happens, but why it happened. and recommend changes to prevent it from happening again.

since we are just beginning our investigation, we do not have a great deal of information to share right now. we will keep you informed by giving regular updates as we learn more. our intention is to have a preliminary report in 30 days. the final report will be issued all of our fact-finding. in our investigation. we will not be determining probable cause of the accident while we are here on scene. nor will we speculate about what may have caused this accident. today we will be going and having an organizational meeting establishing our parties to our investigation. we currently have the following parties that are already identified. psa airlines. ge aerospace. sikorsky. faa. nafta which represents the air-traffic controllers. helping the pilots.

army, nasa which represents the flight attendants. the transportation safety board of canada will be an accredited representative under annex. they will be supplemented by -- as a technical advisor. they were previously known as bob adair. the ntsb offers his party status to those companies, government agencies and associations that have employees, activities or equipment involved in the accident. we offer that because they will provide technical expertise and relevant information supporting the best possible information on the record. once they join this they are not permitted to release documents or talk publicly about the investigation without the consent of the ntsb. i want to stress this, it is only the ntsb that will provide information related to this investigation with one exception

regarding the fatalities that occurred. that notification will be handled by the d.c. medical examiner. we will not be discussing fatalities or names. i will be handled by them as the proper authority. so, we want to talk a little bit about our process. we will analyze the facts and determine the probable cause of the accident and an issue a report of those determinations. i also want to talk a little bit about some additional people that are here with us and they are very important to us. that is our family assistance group. later today we will be briefing the families. we normally try to do this before a media event but in this case they are still arriving. our family assistance specialists are already working closely with local officials and others to help assist in their efforts to support everyone affected by this accident. and let me just reiterate, what the chair said. a loss of life and in aviation

accident is very unusual in the united states and our heart felt sorrow goes out to everyone affected. it affects us and it affects everyone around us. there are a lot of people hurting today. we will help find out what happened. we will do it factually and we will do it accurately. as part of this we will be standing up some specific working groups. those working groups will be operations. looking at the history of the accident flight, crewmembers duties, as many days before the crash as appears relevant. we will be forming a structures group which will be the documentation of the airframe wreckage in the accident scene. including calculation of the impact angles to help determine planes pre-impact course and altitude. we will have our plants group that will do the examination of the engines and the engines accessories. we will have a systems group that will study the components of the planes hydraulic electrical, pneumatic and

systems. together with the instruments and elements we will have an air traffic control group. that will do reconstruction and review of air traffic control systems to include accusation of flight track system. the pilot communications. we have a survivals group, we will be doing the documentation for him act, community for rescue efforts. also, due to the unique nature of this crash, we will be having a helicopter group as well. lastly, we will have a human performance group and this will not be its own group. it will actually be a part of the operations air-traffic control and helicopter groups. they will study true performance and all before the factors that

may be involved in human error including fatigue, medication, medical histories, training, equipment design and work environment. now we will take a few questions we do not have a lot of information. we will continue to gather that. we will try to release it as we can. we will only talk about the facts of the case that we know right now. i will ask, we will call in a few people i asked that you state your name and affiliation. [inaudible] >> unfortunately, i did not hear the remarks. i was briefing house and chair members. >> as part of any investigation we look at the human, the

machine and the environment. so we will look at all the humans that were involved in this accident. again, we will look at the aircraft, we will look at the helicopter, we will look at the environment in which they were operating in. standard in any part of our investigation. >> has a flight data recorder what is the difficulty in this which prevents a very difficult environment for your investigation? >> the question was on the flight data recorders. we have not recovered the flight data recorders yet. we know that they are there. they are underwater. this is not unusual for the ntsb we have many times recovered flight data recorders and water. we have our lab right here that is about 1 mile from the ntsb so it is not unusual. once we get those, we will be

able to get those red and information from them to be able to provide further information to you. i am going to turn it back over. >> 's are. >> cbs news. [inaudible] team at the question was has there been human error or mechanical save -- failure. >> we do not know enough facts to be able to rule in or out human factors, mechanical factors. we have all of these groups coming together. it is one of the reasons why the ntsb is known as the gold standard. we will take the time necessary. i like to reiterate that if we find something that is a significant issue that warrants

immediate action, we will not hesitate to make those recommendations and make them public. we have a good track record of matter we want to continue doing so the. [inaudible question] >> tom, with all due respect, i think that the press also likes to state what probable causes before we get to probable cause. you need to give us time. you need to give -- it is not that we don't have information, we do have information, we have data, we have substantial amounts of information. we need to verify information. we need to take our time to make sure that it is accurate that is best for you, that is important for the families. it is important for legislators

seeking answers to try to figure out what they are going to do about this. it will take time. we do have a lot of information, but we need some time to verify that. [inaudible question] >> the question is about controllers. we are just now forming the groups. they are entitled to representation that will be working with our party systems and party groups. conducting interviews. they will need to be analyzed transcribed and other team members will need to look over. it will be a long process, but we will go through the entire history. [inaudible question]

>> the question was about my briefing for the president and the vice president. as is standard, we offer briefings on our process and what we know. this was a briefing with the president and vice president and with secretary duffy and secretary hegseth and also the acting administrator of the faa. there was discussion on what we know so far and our process and that was about it. >> adam chairwoman. [inaudible question] >> the ntsb, we conduct an important state the nation where we take a very careful approach.

i'm sorry. the question was on speculating during investigations which is, we often hear about. what i will say is that we look at facts on our investigation and that will take some time. at some point, we will be able to provide that factual information as member inman said the we will provide that hopefully, tomorrow. [inaudible question] so the question was about black boxes which are referred to as black boxes which are typically orange. we have not recovered any of the boxes involved yet. we feel confident -- comfortable and confident that we will be able to right now. recovery of life is probably the

most important and those involved. there is still ongoing recovery efforts involving the fatalities involved along with some debris coming out as well. we will make sure that that perishable evidence is maintained. we have a great process for that we will probably have more than one black box, so to speak. it is our understanding that the helicopter is equipped with some form of recording devices. those will be read either by the dod or by us. we have a good starting relationship with them. we have already made agreements in order to do that. so i feel comfortable in what we will be doing. the other question is about the air-traffic control. that is still being reviewed and analyzed. i would say there's a lot more information that usually comes in that with what you may find online and people may speculate it that is part of the overall

process where we take the time to get the information correct and make sure all the parties are engaged, involved inc. in fact check that information. [inaudible question] >> we have not reviewed any specific reports about the controllers at this time. at least from the leadership team. investigators are continuing to full all that information shared part of the investigative progress. speculating anything that may happen in the media before we can get the opportunity to validate and see how it impacts the investigation. we will take a few more questions. sir. [inaudible question]

>> the question is about the families. many of those families are still in route. some are still being notified from both the military and the commercial crash. there is a family assistance facility being stood up by american and psa airlines. they have already been working on that. we plan on briefing them. it is customary that at some point the families wish to go to part of the accident site that we would arrange such a thing. it will only be when we know that it is safe. we have the correct perishable evidence and we can do it in the proper modesty that should be for those family members.

it'll be a little bit of a process and it should take some time. [inaudible question] we will not speak to the totality. the d.c. medical examiner will. the fire chief this morning said correctly that we believe there are no survivors. [inaudible] >> hang on, one second. nothing we have seen would indicate that slides or shoots were deployed. very quick rapid impact. we have seen nothing in that regard so far from the evidence that we have that we need to verify all of that information. one more question. [inaudible question]

>> go ahead. [inaudible question] >> the question is about the helicopter procedures. in d.c., it is kind of a unique environment. i'm not an air-traffic control specialist, but they are helicopter zones, if you will, or tracks, this one was transitioning from track one- four as normal of their procedure. you see a lot of helicopters going down into this area. a very well defined system in that regard. as far as altitude until we get the additional information, we cannot validate until we get more of the electronic data in the data on the plane. >> i do want to clarify one question that came about cell phones. today's agent time a lot of electronics and other devices do contain a lot of different information. we have found on a lot of our

accidents that we are notified through a smart phone that makes sense of that. as part of our process we will obviously treat a the effects of the deceased with nifty. we are already starting to pull that information together. if we feel it is necessary to find or pull that information, we will work with the families and make sure that we do it in a manner that is respectful to them and their privacy. right now, we do not have any plan specifically on that area until we need to. thank you very much.

waiting for senator to come to the floor to speak. doug bergen to be interior secretary and chris right to be energy secretary. also this week the upper chamber may consider the nomination of del collins at veteran affairs secretary. your watching live coverage of the senate on c-span2 quorum call:

mr. merkley: mr. president. the presiding officer: i recognize the senator from oregon. mr. merkley: i ask that the quorum call be lifted. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. merkley: i ask unanimous consents to grant floor privileges to my interns on the following dates, olivia summer field, sarah kurtz, february 6, 2025, eleanor white, february 12, 2025, gee recle, february 19, 2025, dia jarshanker, february 25, 2025. lauren pack, february 27, 2025. ruben hallsworth, march 5, 2025. lilah batch elder, march 5, 2025. lucy eckel, april 2, 2025.

the presiding officer: without objection. mr. merkley: thank you very much mr. pr , mr. president. i note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: the clerk: ms. alsobrooks.

, i will blame for, more importantly planning second go-ahead i four years today appointing the writer or alleviation station the commission, currently vacant you will the greater deputy very

able guy. regarding gmac okay, there will memoranda the damage done aviation by the light patient will policy, residential memoranda is that your secretary asportation administrator to make sure that doing all of that damage, that we are assessing how much done and that we are ensuring evil hired within the faa keeping with the memorandum anywhere on our only outstanding mobile people for the job therapy hired in two in other

words, be not yet, elevating that over everything else policies pursued by the bible patient. >> i think everyone that. and obama will them yet okay. where's crazy so many other ways okay mr. president, clear are you race or gender role in the tragedy. >> it may have i don't know if you incompetent may have played a role. we will let you know we want the most people. what rate they are we want the most wrestling talking about they do not have a great rain, great power the brain they will not be very good at what they do and that will happen is about

the amount ingestion the airport do you think there like something out of that airport be not know. i think we need very people running the flight along that are not, they will do one or two things to many coming in and they cannot handle it or they will have the waiting up in the air which everyone generation and circling the airport an hour that is good either. helicopter airport, are you sure enough you're in the right location they are not level. coming in at 30400 and helicopters writing at 300 or 400, why would they not be a 500 i should mark in that, air-traffic roller, weight. >> you think what happened last night with preventable feedback i do, yeah, that will thing that

should not we will not let it happen again yet, on your, will they be recruited occluded arabs people pouring into our country. the drugs and fentanyl that have come into the country. to canada and mexico in the form of deficits. i will be putting the tariff of 25% during canada and separately 25% on mexico. we will really have to do that because we have very big deficits with those countries. those tariffs may or may not rise with time. >> mr. president.

[inaudible] >> nothing to do with it, as far as i'm concerned. oil has nothing to do with it. >> mr. president. >> mr. president. [inaudible question] is there a possibility that that will increase? >> it could increase, yes. it depends. countries that will not take back their criminals that they sent into us, they sent them to us, they put them in the caravans and they came, they were sent by those countries and then they will be met very harshly with sanctions and et cetera been a guantánamo bay, this new facility up and running >> it will be up pretty quickly. a lot of the structure is already there. >> mr. president. you have said that incompetence may have played a role. are you aware of any performance issues or disciplinary actions that were taken against anyone working the tower last night or flying the plane? >> no. certainly over the years it has been the case.

it is the case with respect to close calls and it's the respect to circling for hours upon end. plane circle a lot and they circle because the people bringing them down, the people that have to be very, very smart it is not based on anything other than the brain. we need the smartest people. we need both psychologically smart and just brilliant. we will have them in our control powers. .... hey. we do allow for them and they are going to do it.

dear to my row -- million federal workers to resign immediately and their 50,000 faa employees. this is tragedy give you reason to reconsider that option because of concerns about staffing? >> the people are coming to work because they are going to come into the office and report everybody knows what the data as it's been very well-documented. they will be terminated. >> you're not concerned about that as many people take that offer there could be shortages. soon they will be very -- they will be replaced. we are very confident. >> have you spoken to any of the victims of the plane crashed quick >> i don't want to comment on that. i have no plan to visit the site. you tell me what is the site, the water? i will be meeting with people that were badly hurt and they'll

be meeting with the families. to believe there are five votes on the supreme court -- stan what position for citizenship. >> birthright citizenship if you look back when this was passed in me that was meant for the children. this was not meant for the whole world to come in and pile into the united states of america. everybody coming in totally unqualified people with perhaps unqualified children. this wasn't meant for them. this was meant when it was originally done for the children of and that was a good and noble thing to do. it wasn't meant for the entire world to occupy the united states. >> does that require a constitutional amendment >> i just believe will be winning -- we will end up

winning a supreme court and i look forward to winning it. we are at the level the only country in the world. there is no other country at this level no other country in the world that does this. >> if they didn't have a role why bring it up? >> in that particular position we have the most -- people in the country because we are talking about lives. it may or may not have had to do with it but i don't like the fact that the helicopter was it the exact same level as the airplane. the helicopter should have been 1000 feet or 500 feet above it for something below it. the plane was three to 400 feet in the plane should have been

stopped because the helicopter could have stopped to the plane can't be stopped but the plane was on schedule. they call it a track and at the same track that every other plane is used for many years. he was going down and landing in the helicopter got in its way and if the helicopter was higher or lower were stopped or turning left or turning right at the quicker time, it turned but it turned when it was too late. a tragic story so i don't know, do you blame it on the air traffic controller too two in addition to the pilots? into the pilot should have seen it but i would have thought they should have seen it because it was a plane loaded up. you can see it from kennedy center and you can see it easily so all i want is the most competent people in our country to be in air traffic controllers. in other petitions to by the way. we are talking air-traffic

comptrollers may be particular. they had to be brilliant with computers brilliant with graphics and a half to be psychologically really really smart and there a lot of people that wouldn't be able to do that. >> it's coming on the first, on saturday. [inaudible] we may or we may not. we will make that determination probably tonight. we will see it depends. if the oil is properly priced if they treat us properly, look mexico and canada have never been good to us on trade. we have been treated unfairly with trade and we will be able to make that up very quickly. you don't need the products that they have. we have for all the oil we need and we have all the trees we need meaning the lumber through the cap more than almost anybody

in an oil we have more than anybody we don't need anybody's trees. we had to free up some of the tree areas that we have. we have great lumber in this country to to free them up environmentally which we can do very quickly that we donate what they happen for us to be subsidized in canada to the tune of $175 billion a year in subsidizing mexico to th tune of 250 billion, three billion dollars a year in mexico and china sending in its product and with china on thinking about something because they are sending fentanyl into our country and because of that they are causing us hundreds of thousands of deaths so china is going to end up paying a toll for that and we are in the process of doing that. we will make that determination. china has to stop sending fentanyl into our country and killing our people.

[inaudible] objection. mr. murphy: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, a lot of americans turned on the tv today hoping that the president of the united states was going to make a nonpolitical, nonpartisan statement grieving the loss of those who died in that awful plane crash last night. instead he almost immediately launched into a political tirade, blaming what he called dei. that accusation was echoed by the new secretary of transportation, the new secretary of defense. apartnerly the allegation is that by -- apparently the allegation is that by hiring

nonwhite men at the faa, this plane crash occurred. that's not true. that's offensive. it's not grounded in fact. it's just not accurate that by hiring women or black people or hispanics that the safety of this nation is compromised, that's offensive. what we've just learned though is that the initial faa report suggests that the tower staffing was not normal during the crash. that the controller on duty last night was doing a job traditionally handled by two people. there's supposed to be someone handling helicopter traffic and someone guiding planes into the airport. there was one person doing that job last night. we will learn more about what

caused this crash, but it is not lost on us that the president of the united states made a choice when he came into office. he threw the faa into immediate crisis. he ousted the administrator. replaced the administrator with no one, spent the last week trying to bully and intimidate federal employees, he fired the entire faa safety adversary board. so we will take the time to find out what actually happened, but this happened under president trump's watch. clearly something was not right in that tower last night, and it is important for us to follow the facts instead of making

quick accusations. mr. president, i came to the floor to continue the discussion that my colleagues have been having over the course of the last two days about something fundamentally dangerous the president is engaged in, an attempt to seize power from congress. i don't understand why my republican colleagues aren't outraged by president trump's announcement two days ago that he was suspending all federal spending. i don't know why my republican colleagues don't see how that essentially makes us irrelevant if we spend hundreds of hours of time engaged in very difficult bipartisan negotiations to come up with a federal budget every year, as is our constitutional responsibility under article 1, and then the president of the

united states decides to cancel all spending for weeks or months or longer. that's what the president did two days ago. now, the courts have put a stay on that order but the white house press secretary yesterday afternoon made it clear that they are still intending to pursue a shutdown of federal spending. and notwithstanding the very confusing set of news that came from the administration yesterday, notwithstanding the court order, my office has continued to be peppered with phone calls from organizations in connecticut that are doing incredibly important work who can't get paid. one of our most critical homeless shelters called this morning to tell us that the

disbursement system was still down. this was a homeless shelter that relies on federal dollars in order to pay the bills. right now they are potentially not going to be able to pay certain rents for their clients that are in emergency housing right now. they are facing an immediate cash flow issue. they'll be able to make payroll this week but not next week. they still haven't been able to get paid by the federal government because their payment system was shut down yesterday. it's still not back up. another not for profit in connecticut that relies on federal funding to provide food for families and children that are having trouble putting a meal or two meals on the table report that they are still not able to log on to get reimbursement. this is, again, a small not for profit that helps keep people alive with emergency food that

does not have ample cash flow in their bank account that is still unable to get federal reimbursement, the result of them shutting down or suspending operations is literally kids going hungry, tomorrow, the day after, the day after that. the state of connecticut has had a really important series of grants still suspended, payments have been suspended to a federal grant that helps install solar and clean energy projects in connecticut. that is not back up and running yet. nobody should think this crisis has passed. donald trump has suspended federal spending, the medicaid system got turned off, many other important payment systems got turned off. some of them got turned back on after the order went back into place or after it was clear

there was going to be a court order to stop the president from engaging in this unconstitutional action. many programs are still suspended. many are still who could be tossed out on the street and kids that could go hung ri because this crisis has not been fixed. this is a fundamental corruption, what is happening right now. because what donald trump will be able to do, if he seizes control of federal spending from us, is to be able to use his unilateral discretionary power. to deny funding to the competitors of those companies. to decide that this disaster in

a red state will get funding but this disaster in a blue state won't get funding. if you don't believe me, just look at the way that donald trump and republicans are behaving right now about the wildfires in california. all of a sudden republicans are talking about applying conditions to saving people's lives and saving people's property in california. california is going to have to comply with an unknown set of conditions designed by donald trump and republicans, conditions that were never even contemplated by republicans when there was a hurricane in louisiana or in florida. when there were floods or devastating tornados in the midwest. people aren't dumb. people know what's going on. there's a different standard if

you are a friend of president trump's than if you aren't. there's a different standard applied to aid that goes to states represented by republicans than aid that goes to states represented by democrats. and if we hand the unilateral decisions about where to spend money and where not to spend money to the chief executive, there's no going back. this is unconstitutional because the founders and the framers thought about this. we are article 1, not article 2 for a reason. we have the spending power for a reason. our founding fathers were scared to death about the second coming of a monarchy. they were scared to death about putting too much power in the hands of executive so they said that congress decides the big questions, where and how to spend money. the conditions applied to how that money is spent. whether or not the country goes

to war or not. those decisions are made by us. and when you hand them to any executive without check, it is a violation of the framers' intent. it's a violation of the letter of the law of the constitution. and it is a recipe for corruption. and so i am angry that a lot of my republican colleagues that i believe in, that i've worked with, that i've sat and negotiated tough bipartisan pieces of legislation aren't raising alarm over what president trump has done and what he is continuing to try to do. if you believe that this pause is good for 90 days, then i've got a handful of bridges to sell you. if it's for projects in

democratic states or projects that don't align with the president's personal political priorities, nobody should believe that that pause is just going to last 90 days. this is a constitutional crisis. and, yes, the courts have stepped in and put a stay on the president's order, but ultimately we should stand up for ourselves, we should stand up for congressional prerogatives, democrats and republicans. and what pains me even more is that my republican colleagues don't see the story and the broader danger to our democracy, to our country that is posed by the actions of this president in the first week. there were a handful, a small handful of my republican friends who stood up and said it was wrong for donald trump to pardon the most vie lentsz of the january -- violent of the

january 6 rioters. it was wrong for him to have pardoned any of the rioters, the people who sought to do violence to us. i hear a lot of republicans claiming that these were just tourists. yeah, there were a couple of bad apples in the bunch but most everybody just kind of got pushed into the building by accident. they thought they were coming for a tour of the place. i was here that day. i don't remember a single one of my republican colleagues staying in the chamber after we were told to flee to greet the tourists. everybody knew that day that our lives were all in jeopardy, that they were looking for blood. one of the rioters, one of the most violent rioters who beat police officers, who was let out of jail last week by donald

trump went to the scaffolding, the gallows after he beat up police officers and he posted on social media, too bad there aren't any democrats hanging. i don't know why more of my republican colleagues -- and i thank senator grassley for speaking up on this -- don't realize what happens when darkness descends on our agencies. i remember a time when republicans believed in stewardship of the dollars that we appropriate, that we wanted to see what happened inside these agencies. donald trump fired all the inspectors general. they're our people, they're there for us for the american people to make sure there isn't thievery happening in these agencies. if you want to fire an inspector general or replace them with somebody better, final. there's no inspector generals in our agencies. they're gom.

as far as i -- gone. as far as i can tell, there's one republican that raised an objection to this. you put all this together, the absolution of political violence, the darkening of operations in the executive branch through the firing of the inspect ares -- inspectors general and the seizure of spending power, that is all a recipe for despotism. and i understand that some people might think that that's hyperbolic, but i will just tell you democracies do not die in an instant. very few democracies that have perished have a day, a before and after moment. it's a descent. and all of a sudden you wake up one day and you discover you're

not in a democracy any longer. that the leader, the president has so much power that it can never be taken away. and the steps that have been taken by donald trump in the first week are a master class in the kind of plan that you would undertake if you wanted to grab power permanently. you say to your supporters, if you threaten or intimidate my opposition, i'll let you off the hook. you cast darkness over what happens inside the agencies so the president can move money any way that he wants without any accountability. and you see his control of spending. so you can use money to reward your friends and punish your enemies. one of the things that my republican friends may not understand is what's happened since the january 6 pardons to

democrats. a lot of us don't talk about this because we frankly don't want to legitimatize the people who are making the threats. but, mr. president, when donald trump's supporters are told that if they engage in violence in support of their president, they will be let out of jail or face no consequences, they believe h him. so i will just tell you the calls and the threats that i have received since those pardons are serious. they have changed the way that i have to think about protecting my family. and i know that republicans have received those threats over the years as well. i understand that these threats of violence do happen to both sides. but this is a specific immunity that has been given by donald

trump. he's not given a broad immunity to people for beating up police officers. he gave pardons to a specific set of people who beat up police officers. if you are beating up police officers to further the political agenda of donald trump, you have immunity. it's all of a sudden a lot of unhinged people out there believe that if they engage in violence to further donald trump's political ambitions, they have immunity, too. now, maybe at some point they will believe that they're furthering donald trump's political ambitions by making threats against republicans. but right now the threats take they are lodging are against democrats, especially those democrats that have spoken up most vocally against the pardons of the violent january 6 rioters. and what happens when people start to feel those threats of

violence, what happens when people worry about their safety if they engage in political action is that they don't -- is that they don't. what happens to organizations when they fear that they won't get a grant from the federal government, if they don't pledge loyalty to the president is that they don't speak up. democracies don't die in a moment. they die when the rules get rigged so that there is a price to be paid. a bodily or financial price to be paid for standing up to the leader. that's what donald trump is constructing in his first week, a system of rules in which you as an american will pay a financial price or a physical price for criticism of the regime. that's not allowed in a

democracy. and so i do not understand why we have been totally unable to find unanimity in two simple ideas. the president of the united states cannot, should not excuse and encourage political violence. and that the president cannot and should not seize control of the spending power in this country, to decide for himself which of us and which of our states get money and which of us and which of our states do not. those are fundamental corruptions that make our country weaker, that destroyed the democratic norms that are existential to our sense of patriotism and americanism. but also ultimately allow this administration to facilitate a

kind of corruption that happens to almost every country that slides away from democracy in which the leader unbound gets to reward friends around him who are loyal. so this crisis has not passed. as i said, there are organizations in my state that today cannot receive federal funds. a homeless shelter that is thinking about whether it's going to have to put people out on the vote very soon if that funding portal doesn't get turned back on. but i'll leave you with this, mr. president. i get it. that today it feels like

everything has to be partisan, everything has to be us versus you. i'll admit that i sometimes fall for that trap. probably all of us sometimes fall for that trap of just evaluating everything based upon red versus blue. if the other side is for it, i have to be against it. i will admit that i fall for that trap sometimes. but i also have my bonified -- bona fides. i've sat down and negotiated with republicans that i've disagreed with on tough issues like guns and immigration and come to conclusions on those. i've been able to put action where my mouth is. we can find combination and agreement. but i don't know, i'm heart broken. i am. i'm heart broken that more of my republican colleagues didn't stand up and say mr. president, you shouldn't have pardoned the people who tried to kill us, the people who tried to steal the ballot box, the people who

desecrated our capitol. you shouldn't have pardoned me. i don't think that should have been so hard for us to agree on. it shouldn't have required courage for my republican colleagues to stand up and say those pardons were wrong, mr. president. and i don't think it should have taken courage yesterday for more republicans to say you can't seize control of federal spending. it's not constitutional to cease paying people and paying nonprofits and paying for homeless services and paying for nutrition services while you evaluate whether the programs line up with your political pryors. we pass -- priorities. we passed a budget. we hammered out an agreement, a budget that has amounts and numbers, conditions on it. the president doesn't get to exercise independent authority he has to implement the budget

we pass. i will guarantee you, with a comes around, goes around. -- what comes around, goes around. sometime down the line, a democratic president will do the same thing, will just suspend money for things that republicans care about. i'll -- it'll end up hurting you, too. so i'm mad, i'm angry, i'm heartbroken, and i hope that this crisis will pass. but my belief is the only way that it passes, this crisis caused by the endorsement of political violence by this president, the shuttering of the inspector general and the suspending, is if we find way to come together as republicans and democrats. that's not happen today. my hope is it happens tomorrow. i yield the floor.

mr. hoeven: mr. president. the presiding officer: the chair recognizes the senator from north dakota. mr. hoeven: thank you, mr. president. are we in a quorum call? the presiding officer: we are not. mr. hoeven: mr. president, i rise today to the urge my colleagues to support the confirmation of governor doug burgum from my home state of north dakota. to serve as our nation's 55th

secretary of the interior. whether it's energy, grazing, outdoor recreation, water supply, the national park service, or tribal relations, doug burgum is an outstanding choice to fully understand the vast responsibilities under the department of the interior. i've had the pleasure to know doug for over 30 years. and throughout his career, doug has gained well-deserved national recognition as an innovative leader. governor burgum is a proud native of arthur, north dakota, earning his bachelor degree from north dakota state university, home of the bison, and his master's in business administration from the stanford graduate school of business. after working as a consultant at mcken -- he returned home to -- mackenzie, he returned home to north dakota and he literally bet the family farm to purchase

a nascent accounting company, great plains software. over time, doug hired thousands of north and south dakotans to build great plains software, eventually offering a public launching in 1997 and then ultimately it was purchased by microsoft in 2300 is and it is -- in 2001 and it is now known as microsoft business solutions, that division of microsoft actually goes back to the company that he built. and to this day, i think it employs several thousand people in and around fargo, north dakota. great plains software, as i said, became microsoft business solutions. he remained then at microsoft for a number of years, actually hiring the current crow during his time there. he -- the current ceo during his time there. he then left in 2007, started a number of other companies, went

into fphilanthropy and helped really revitalize downtown fargo, continued his support for ndsu and, again, just had a very significant impact in many different aspects of business and fill lan three parliamentary inquiry. it's because of his countless contributions to north dakota that in 2009 during my time as governor i named doug as the 37th recipient of the theodore roosevelt rough ride he award which is our state's highest honor. i remember he looked at me at that time and said -- it was kind of funny. we had this big event for him and gave him this nice state honor. and he looked at me and said, gee, john, this is really great, but i sure hope i'm not accomplishing things at this point -- as he was getting the award. i remember that very clearly. and obviously he was far from done. in 23016 he was elected as the

33rd governor of north dakota and then reelected in 2020. he's been a true partner as we worked together to build north dakota into an energy powerhouse for our nation. when i started at governor, we produced 100,000 gallons of oil a day. and we've gotten it up to 1.5 million barrels of oil a day. it has gone back during the biden administration, but we look forward to continuing to grow not just oil and gas but all the different sort sources of energy, coal-fired electricity, renewables, hydro -- just a real energy powerhouse for our country. so he brings this incredible energy experience to his new role. doug did a great job as governor and then he ran for president. he was the first presidential candidate that when he left the race to endorse president trump. first one to do it.

president trump knows the importance of a big energy agenda, and he knows what energy dominance means for our country, for our economic and national security. president trump saw that doug is not just the right fit to head the department of interior as secretary. president trump also tapped doug to lead the newly formed national energy council, and doug will do a tremendous job leading this integrated effort to truly make our country energy-dominant, and he will work with president trump to do that. vitally upon for our economy, vitally important to bring down inflation, violately important for national -- vitally important for national security, and vitally important for our allies so they get energy from the united states rather than buying oil from countries like russia or iran and fueling either russia's war machine or

iran's state sponsorship of terror. but doug not only understands energy, he's also a rancher, a hunter, he loves our nate parks, and he loves the great outdoors. that is what you want in a secretary of interior. because all of those are part of his portfolio at interior. he has extensive experience in native american affairs. not only does he have the support of all of the tribes in our state, he has the support of more than 180 tribes from across the nation. doug received overly bipartisan support from our energy and natural resources committee. he came out of committee 18-2. and so i strongly urge all of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle to vote for his confirmation when we vote here very soon on his approval to be the next secretary of interior for the united states of america.

with that, mr. president, i

in mr. mr. president at the start start by thanking leader then for president jones nominee so prepared president trump is on t v old team. we have confirmed pete hegseth, kristi noem, scott s. at and many others who are doing an outstanding job implementing

prison trump's major first agenda that they are more critical nominees that president trump still needs to confirm this includes robert kennedy kash patel and tulsi gabbard along with two others. i have gotten a chance to meet with each of these nominees and have been very impressed. they are all outstanding choices and should be confirmed to president trump's cabinet as soon as possible. first i'd like to express my complete and total support for robert f. kennedy's nomination to be the next secretary of health and human services. last november resolved millions of americans, especially young americans flock to the movement after bobby kennedy endorsed president trump. both of my sons 28 and 30, tucker and troy were huge fans of rfk and they know there are

millions of young people who rfk has brought to the table into the fold opened our eyes to something that they have never been involved in that that's the health of their generation and our generations across this country. as we know bobby started to make america healthy again movement which eventually joined forces with president trump. it's just a political slogan. it's not just a political slogan it's a movement that has swept our nation. for the first time important issues like the effectiveness of vaccines, the dangers of prescription medicines and the chemicals in our food and household products are part of our national political disclosure. as it should be. it's all because of the work of robert f. kennedy jr.. before entering the arena bobby

four decades in environmental law and health care policies specializing in issues like water pollution, vaccines and food safety, for decades. he is an accomplished attorney who attended harvard, the london school of economics in the university of virginia and he is authored multiple best-selling books that i would suggest to anybody that's concerned about health and our country should read. throughout his career he is committed to discovering the truth about what is causing the current disease epidemic in america today. and his presidential campaign exposed the fact that we have a serious, a very serious public health crisis facing our country today and in the future. for example in his hearing

yesterday bobby kennedy laid out that over 70% of adults and one third of our children are overweight or. the rate of diabetes is 10 times more prevalent today than it was in 1960. cancer among our young people is rising by one or 2% every year. autoimmune diseases, narrow developmental disorders and addiction cases are hugely on the rise. depression and anxiety rates are absolutely through the roof. meanwhile more americans are relying on pharmaceutical drugs than ever before. i saw that in my fourfold life of being a coach with players years ago. very few owned any kind of drugs such as adderall or ritalin for

attention deficit but the last few years there was a huge uptick in prescription drugs and many, many young people across the country. these findings are alarming and they should and they -- all of us. thank god has dedicated his life to getting to the bottom of what's causing these trends. as he did in his hearing yesterday bob is an expert on health issues facing our country and has the facts, that they then the evidence to prove it. he will bring his commitment to evidence-based science transparency to our national health agencies and the simple, americans can access all the facts so they can decide what's best for themselves and for their families. bobby has committed to giving americans the information that they need to be informed and make informed decisions.

recently i've seen the mainstream media and some politicians attempt to spear bobby kennedy as anti-vax anti-industry or an enemy of food producers. all of this couldn't be further from the truth. it's just a political attack. we have even heard from prominent republicans like former vice president mike tends to his running ads on tv criticizing bobby kennedy for not being sufficiently pro-life. bobby addresses himself yesterday. he believes every abortion is a tragedy and he will work with president trump to implement his pro-life policies. these attacks are nothing more than dishonest attempts by the d.c. establishment. we have seen that in the last couple of weeks for all nominees. sure bobby kennedy might not be the typical pick for the job

that the american people don't want a typical pick for the one we picked four years ago for president biden was a lawyer living in california and seldom came to washington d.c. and worked from home. we got nothing done in health and human services. they gave us a mandate in november, 77 million people to deliver trump, president trump's agenda and that includes making america healthy again. as far as i'm concerned bobby is not part of the health care establishment class. that's a really good thing. we don't need that. look where it has gotten us. pharmaceutical industry and industrial food complex mr. barrasso: mr. president, notwithstanding rule 22, i ask unanimous consent that the senate vote on confirmation of the burgum nomination at 6:15 p.m. today. and that if cloture is invoked on the wright nomination all

postcloture time be considered expired and the senate vote on cloture on the collins nomination. further, that if cloture is invoked on the it collins nomination, all the p postcloture time be considered expired and the votes on confirmation of the nomination occur at times to be determined by the majority leader in consultation with the democratic leader no earlier than monday, february 3. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. barrasso: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum calls with respect to wright and collins nominations be waived. the presiding officer: without objection, so ordered. mr. barrasso: thank you, mr. president. i yield the floor. the presiding officer: the chair recognizes the senator from minnesota.

ms. klobuchar: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, i rise to join my colleagues in mourning the 67 people who were killed in the tragic air crash collision last night near reagan national airport. among the victims, as reported in the news, is a woman from my state, from matami, minnesota, a wonderful town. figure skaters we lost from the u.s. team and russia who will never get to compete in the world championship. families flying from wichita to washington, d.c., who will never get to see our nation's capital. and three american soldiers whose moms and dads will get the call that every parent dreads when their son our daughter signs up to serve our country. this was a horrific tragedy. while there is still so much more that we need to know about this crash, and we know we must get to the bottom of what happened. my thoughts are with the

victims' families and loved ones and the first responders leading the recovery operation last night and then of course the operation today in the icy waters of the potomac. turning to another topic completely different is what is going on right now in the halls of congress and over at the new administration. i also join my colleagues in expressing serious concern about the chaos that we've seen in just the first week of this new administration. earlier this week the administration issued an order to cut off support that families across the country rely on, including funding for first responders. it was actually a two-page memorandum from a guy named mr. vaeth in the office of management and budget. i had never heard of him, but he issued this two-page memorandum

that made the intent very, very clear. he cut off loans and grants, announced that this was in fact the position of the administration and that they were going to freeze or pause, in their words, loans and grants for everything from funding to child care, for health centers and medical research, for the heating assistance that millions of people rely on in my state, especially in these cold, cold days. this order made with the stroke of a pen by a single unelected bureaucrat opened the door to stalled projects, economic uncertainty and confusion across the country. and yesterday the administration, mr. vaeth himself, actually put in a one- or two-sentence memorandum that rescinded the one he had made just the day before.

so that was a moment to say, okay, we are looking forward to working with our republican colleagues and with the administration to make government more efficient and look at reforms, the way things are done. okay, that's great. let's do it together. but, it wasn't over, because then the administration created more confusion by putting out a series of contradictory statements and a social media post from the press secretary in the white house that in fact that wasn't true, that in fact the funds were still frozen. so we are still getting calls throughout the day trying to figure out. we've heard reports of some portals that have been shut down. i've heard that from other senators as well, and then some that have opened up and some that are opened up because of the temporary court stay that was put in place. this chaos, here's the point, does nothing to actually bring down the cost of housing, child

care, health care, energy bills, but it reminds us that it is our job, for those of us who took an oath of office just about a month ago, it is our job to protect and defend the constitution. because honestly, this was a defiance of the constitution. congress is set up in article 1. it is our job to make these decisions, and these were funds that were voted on, passed on by democrats and republicans working together when we got the last budget done, and then we got it extended. so this isn't a game. what americans are feeling is real. they were, a number of them voteded for change. they wanted to see something new, but for them that meant new things that help them with cost. i think about the mom who was unsure if she could get her child into child care yesterday

when she saw the news. i think about the teenager in a cancer study when those funds were frozen. i think about the woman in an abusive relationship who has nowhere to go because her local domestic violence shelter was cut off of funding. my office heard yesterday from a domestic violence organization that couldn't access their funding. i think about the firefighters who rely on grants to hire and retain firefighters as well as grants for equipment. i think about the 30,000-plus american veterans. i think about how our leading organization fighting veterans homelessness gets half of its funding through federal grants. i think about the construction workers who are worried they could lose their jobs if they're working on infrastructure projects right now, projects where the money has been not only voted on and signed into law, but also the money is actually out and they're working on the projects, but then they

don't know. and the question we got are these funds frozen too? i think about the seniors who rely on meals on wheels. we heard from volunteers with that program who are worried, what should we do? should we keep serving the seniors? are they going to have meals? what should we tell them when we go to the door when they ask us? i think about the small business owners who get the support through sba loans. and i think about the rural families who count on electric could opposite. we have -- co-ops. we have the one of the largest in my state to keep the lights on. when families already dealing with uncertainty 6 proposed tariffs and how that is going to affect them, particularly in farming communities, workforce issues, input costs and more, the last thing they need right now is more chaos and confusion. as i said, article 1 of the constitution makes clear that it is congress' job to direct

funding through laws passed by both chambers. that system of checks and balances -- and i mentioned this at the inauguration. why do we have the president's inauguration not in the white house or a gilded executive office building? we have it at the capitol. why do we do that? because it is very clear. this is a country, founding fathers set up a system of checks and balances, three equal branches of government. that's the foundation of our democracy. fortunately, actually there was pushback from this chamber. there was pushback from our side of the aisle at least. and there was pushback when they looked at the law, two federal courts have said, no, that's not how this works. but despite all that, the admini administration, everyone, i believe, in this chamber is ready to work with them for new ideas on reform, but that was not how this was handled. this was handled by a faceless

bureaucrat -- mr. vaeth, who i never met. i look forward to meeting him one day -- who was able with the stroke of a pen to kind of call all grants and loans for all these people and businesses just to a halt, just like that. the result was more confusion, more commotion, and more chaos. but maybe the chaos is the point. this is a moment where i was hopeful we could find common ground on some issues, and of course i knew we'd stand our ground on some. that's how this place works. but we're not going to find common ground if we're in the middle of chaos because then everyone rushes to defend the people in their state, which they have to do because their constituents are like, what is this, instead of very, with the three chambers we have here, with the executive branch, the house and senate, that we try to work these things out. and in fact, given that republicans run all three branches right now, at least

they should be able to work it out in a way that's legal. instead what do we hear about? tax breaks for billionaires, expense for everyone else, d dismantling the health care system. this is a big deal or maybe in his words a big -- deal. what happened here was wrong. i'm glad there was pushback. we're going to continue to lead that fact, but i hope our colleagues on the republican side of the aisle next time will join us. thank you, mr. president. i yield the floor. ms. klobuchar: mr. president, i

note the absence of a quorum. the presiding officer: the clerk will call the roll. quorum call: the clerk: ms. alsobrooks.

thank you mr. president. we aren't in a quorum call? i asked to initiate -- it vitiates a quorum call. >> after 36 hours of public and confusion in our it's the trump white house rescinded the legal and constitutional order to freeze federal funding for every state in the country. it was an obvious attempt to usurp power, designed to hurt people by cutting off access to think that they need the most and when you say federal grants you might think it's just some subcategory non-profits or something. let me list the things that were cut off over that 36 hour period. meals, schools, health care childcare roads and bridges

public safety and so it was no surprise people all across the country were outraged they call their offices and spoke up on line with their frustration be known and it was a little different than a normal political argument. because it was very real. it was do i send my people home through is hey the federal funding portal basically a web site we take a drawdown in those dollars allow us to make the payroll for the domestic violence shelter for the construction project and if it shut down i'm not going to be a flu payroll. this wasn't something to argue about on line. across the country it was people trying to figure out whether society as we knew it was going to continue and this was not

just a review of federal funding or an effort to allow a new administration a new congress to put its stamp on the appropriations process. this was an attempt to take and enacted law and say i'd like to take the parts of this law that i like and implement them and i'd like to take the parts of this law that i don't like and not implement them. and look i would like to be six feet tall and i'd like to dunk a basketball and i'd like to be able to take all of this in the department defends import into the native hawaiian needs around housing and health care. i'm not a monarchy and so i had to do this the old-fashioned way which is argue with my colleagues, cajole my colleagues, work with my colleagues, do a little horse trading with my colleagues and

get a law enacted. there'll be parts of the law that we enact and that's a lot of i'm not going to like it and their parts that i love. once it becomes the law it is not within anyone's discretion, not the president, not the head of the office of management and budget not the majority leader and not the minority leader or an individual member of congress by the federal judge, just take what you like in the slot implemented and take what you don't like in this law and don't implement it. so the judge said in federal court yesterday the administration is acting with that distinction without a difference. that's the rescinded budget memo there sufficient evidence the defendant government collectively are asking for the assistance of that directive so

we won the first battle. look we understand this is probably going to last a thousand days or so. we are ready and we will win this one. i'm not fighting about what happens when you lose the house or lose the senate or you lose the presidency to the other party. you are in for some policy in outcomes that you don't like. but do you know what? do it the old-fashioned way. work within the law because the door to swing both ways in this town. i just want every republican who may be watching this speech, every person who cares about democracy itself that may be watching this speech and every staffer who may be watching this speech, i want you to imagine a president that you didn't vote for with this kind of authority. i want you to assume that

sometimes there'll be a democratic president and sometimes there will be a republican president and that's the way it goes. that's aware system is set up and it's okay to suffer through and try to slow down or thwart bad policy outcomes but it should not be within the authority of the president to say i won, so i'm just going to hand wave away the parts of the federal law that i find objectionable. and i think that's such a high principle for anyone who spends all of this time and frankly money to get to the united states senate, right? it's a great job. senators so much time and they get here and they and kind of about it. i don't do that. love this job but it is a sacrifice. there a lot of talented people who could be elsewhere working less hard in making more money. we came here because we want to get something done and we all swore an oath to uphold the law

and the constitution of the united states of america and the constitution is not unclear. they are places where the constitution is madeleine albright said it's a struggle and in particular on foreign-policy foreign policy the constitution is an invitation intentionally made kind of opaque or even confusing between the article i and article ii branches and it's supposed to be not clear who drives foreign policy so if the foreign relations committee and the preparations committee and the state and foreign subfamily aforetime ranking member but that's the place where will do battle with each other. among the parties and between the two chambers that's all fine and that's how it's set up let's be clear the constitution is not at all unclear about the power of the purse. the power to probe appropriately the obligation to appropriate money is a squarely in the hands

of the legislative branch. and so it's not like a state government and it's not even like a county government. where you go hey you know you want that swimming pool in your district can we talk about how i can get your vote on xyz. that's how it works sometimes fortunately -- unfortunately. but in the federal system once the law is enacted executive branch has discretion within that law and they can't just ignore it. when it's >> they can't ignore it and that's where the federal judge confirms yesterday and they will continue to confirm it and i worry about a lot of things and i think we should all be vigilant but i don't think we should act as though we are powerless. we are out of power but we are not powerless. this president just like any other president, it's not personal, it's constrained by the law, constrained by the

constitution and it's constrained by politics which is to say doing unpopular things is going to make him unpopular. shutting down va home loans is unpopular. telling people who are showing up to work on the highway maintenance project with all their equipment staged, sorry there has been a freeze on grant money and you had to go home, is unpopular. taking medicaid and by the way medicaid comes from the state government had been to hospitals and clinics and two elder care facilities as a grant so when you think grants, i don't want you to think about a $1.2 million grant to non-profit although that's very important too. most of the money that flows through the state and county government, most of the money is the third branch so everybody needs to understand this lesson

this week which is we did not elect a monarchy. and what i mean by that is for my fellow travelers everybody has understand things are scary. we should be vigilant. this is going to be rough and i understand all that but we don't testify so to the point where we think that this man is above the law. he is not above the law. yesterday was a good reminder that nobody in this country is above the law seller am reminded what the former speaker of the hawaii statehouse used to say, who i was friends with and he relegated me to the back bench. he said be like the bamboo. bend but don't break. so why do you democracy is going to be difficult. i do think this institution is going to be tested and i think

we will bend in ways that are super uncomfortable and i am going to it but we had to bend but not break. we have defend but not break and that goes for both political parties because i promise you it's not worth it. this person is not going to be president forever. a lot of people have six-year terms and a lot of people are about to retire and i do think that oath to uphold and defend the constitution and the law of the united states of america is to continue to count for something. there was a lot of good frankly bipartisan push back on what was clearly an executive order in a memo. so, but it's been a rough couple of weeks if you are on my side aisle and i get that. it's been painful and scary and

real bad consequences that happened but we also have the understand that we won one yesterday and federal funds appear to be flowing again for state and county government and a couple of judge is basically said you can't do that. you can't do that. and so whether it was the birthright citizenship law in court the trump administration experience with this about the power of the purse we just need to remember that we are still the democratic system with three cool equal branches of government. mr. president i asked that these remarks appear in a separate part of the record. >> without objection. >> thank you mr. president. we are voting on several

nominees who will be in charge of executing donald trump environmental and including doug burgum secretary of interior and the trump climate and energy policies are not a mystery. it is to exacerbate the climate crisis. i think there's a healthy debate to be had and i think some of my republican colleagues know that i've been shockingly reasonable and the policy space around energy and the reason is even though i have devoted my entire political career to climate action i also come from a state that's highly dependent on low so -- low sulfur fuel oil for electricity so pragmatism has a kick in because as much as i want to see 100% renewable and i think we'll eventually get there, in the meantime i have no interest in turning off the lights. in the meantime we have tourism industry to support in the

meantime pacom is located in island of oahu so the closer you get to operationalizing the clean energy transformation a more reasonable i think you become because you understand that we are currently using electrons that are derived and electricity transmission distributes and the site is derived from fossil energy. some people wanted to seize all fuel generation and some people want to go more slowly in the direction of the transition. most of us are probably in this band where we are arguing about how fast you can make this transition. i want everybody to understand the trump administration's position is not we are making this this transition to fast but that we should never make it. and one of his first executive orders was to shut down a bunch of offshore wind and so we have

gone from energy abundance, energy dominance and all of the above, to actually we don't want energy dominance or energy abundance we only want one category of energy. a lot of these optional wind projects which by the way is a very exciting thing, we are coming in really low than the current power grid meant that the utilities on the east coast were under. this was about and abundant energy so to the extent their folks who are moving too fast in the direction of the clean energy transformation and maybe we should slow down and maybe we should do natural gas if we can get the methane part under control all of that i might not agree with it. depending on your geography under politics but that's not what happened. what just happened is they said

wind is dead from offshore and they are trying to do as much of this is possible to create a demand for coal. for fossil gas so i am deeply worried about mr. write and mr. burgum. i was inclined to be open-minded to mr. burgum who has a good relationship with his tribes and is the ranking member of the senate committee on affairs i have come to take seriously the idea that is to work with mark mullen and senator murkowski and john hoeven people who i don't necessarily vote the same way with we have common cause like when it comes to protecting the tree and the trust obligations and rights. i was complimenting you

mr. moran of native hawaiians native alaskans and native american. i was inclined to have a good conversation with a mr. burgum d consider voting for it and let me tell you why i'm voting no. two reasons. one is i do believe what happened this week is and i think it's unconstitutional and i think it was presenting us with a constitutional crisis so in a moment of a close call i'm going to err on the side of expressing my opposition. mr. cassidy. ms. collins. mr. coons. the clerk: mr. cornyn. ms. cortez masto.

mr. cotton. snl mr. cramer. mr. crapo. mr. cruz. mr. curtis. mr. daines. ms. duckworth. mr. durbin. ms. ernst. mr. fetterman. mrs. fischer. mr. gallego. mrs. gillibrand. mr. graham. mr. grassley. mr. hagerty. ms. hassan.

mr. hawley. mr. heinrich. mr. hickenlooper. ms. hirono. mr. hoeven. mr. husted. mrs. hyde-smith. mr. johnson. mr. justice. mr. kaine. mr. kelly. mr. kennedy. mr. kim. mr. king.

it's an honor to be serving as the 55th secretary of the interior. this is a tiny town of 40 people. the streets were not paper maker of all gravel. my father was a world war ii navy. officer who served in the pacific. my dad died when i was a freshman high school and my mom went back. to work in higher education. i was blessed to have learned from them about service and about leadership and sacrifice and certainly from both of them the love of the outdoors. growing up i worked in her family's grain elevator. every job i had all the way through junior high to the end of college is one that required showering at the end of the day and not the beginning of the day and i worked my way through undergrad at north dakota state as a chimney sweep which i loved that job because it was one that you could move up fast and stay

in the. i thought it was the perfect career. after grad school as john mentioned i have been opportunity to go from undergrad to standard for an nba and later working in chicago missed on my first apple computer and that was the moment literally where he said i need to get into the software business and i inherited 160 acres of found from my -- farm for my dad and i bet the farm on that. with the dream and hard-working members with crew to local public company with 2000 member serving 140,000 businesses in over 100 countries around the world but i my entire professional career in the private-sector until i was elected governor in 2016 and for the last eight years i've been blessed with the privilege of serving the citizens of the great state of north dakota. my time as governor has been at the oval preparation for the opportunity to service the role

of secretary of interior as their stay to my duties specifically as governor put me in contact with many inside the department. north dakota we shared geography with five sovereign tribal nation-state tribal relationships and north dakota that sometimes a challenge for the current partnership is historically strong and prioritizes tribal engagement through mutual respect open communication collaboration and a sincere willingness to listen. i'm grateful for the many tribal nations in and outside of north dakota for expressing their support for my nomination. as governor because i served as chairman of the north dakota land board which manages the state's land and minerals is the goal of killing return for the state endowment fund to fund public education. he chaired the north dakota industrial commission which oversees 16 agencies related to a variety of things including energy research and the state's

geologic resources energy production and transmission. the governor of north dakota serves as the chair of the state water commission overseeing billions of dollars of water resources and projects. all of these are parallel responsibilities to interior and often interacted with interior agencies. north dakota courses blessed with a rugged natural beauty including the majesty of the beautiful national parks which is home to theater roosevelts rant is considered by many to be modern conservation. we have beautiful badlands and i'd like to note on the record that our badlands are significantly battered in self dakotas that lands. tremendously battered and not even close. addition of that we have great ground agriculture and an amazing hunting and fishing horses and outdoor recreation and much, much more. north dakota we created a prosperous economy by sustainably developing our natural resources along with a

respect for the land and the wildlife and at the same time having among the cleanest air in the cleanest water in the country. during our tenure nd experience among the lowest unemployment in the nation in the highest real gdp growth. demographically or state went from one of the oldest dates to one of the youngest. we tracked record levels of talent and investment capital. i say this because their success was underpinned by the understanding that we have been in a time of tremendous, tremendous abundance and we can can ask is that abundance as americans by prurient icing innovation over regulation. if given the opportunity to serve as secretary of interior will bring those experiences and those lessons learned to the leadership of the tens of thousands of dedicatedhu professionals within the department of the interior which brings us to president trump's vision for a vibrant future we can achieve together. the american people have clearly placed their confidence in president trump to achieve

energy dominance and by energy dominance that the foundation of american prosperity affordability for american families and unrivaled national security. today america produces energy cleaner smarter and safer than anywhere in the world. energy production is restricted in america it doesn't reduce demand it just shifts production to countries of russia and iran whose autocratic leaners don't not only care about the environment but they use their revenues for raminucci cells to fund wars against us and our allies. president trump's energy dominance vision will end those wars abroad and make life more affordable for every family in america by driving down inflation. president trump will achieve those goals with clean air clean water protecting our beautiful lands. next to tear national park we are building the theater roosevelts presidential library and museum to honor the leader who advised america to walk

softly, speak softly and carry a big stick. in our time president trump's energy dominance would be leveraged to achieve historic prosperity and world peace. the department interior incorporation of the u.s. congress, this committee and the states will play a pivotal role in achieving the outcomes to make the world safer and america even better for our children our grandchildren for generations to come. i thank you for inviting me here today and i look forward to your questions in our discussion. >> thank you governor burgum and we will begin our first round of five-minute questions and we will alternate back and forth between republicans and democrats. i will go first and then senator hyry can -- heinrich and so on and so forth. i want to start by talking about a law passed over a century ago by congress that gives the

president power unilaterally to declare national monuments in a restriction that requires national monuments to occupy no more land than is compatible to the smallest area compatible with the interests to be protected. these have become something of a political football in parts of the country especially my state of utah. president clinton designated the grand staircase is a national monument in 1996 president obama added the national monument in 2016 shortly before he left office. both these objections were made in both these designations were made over the objection of the people of utah and their elected representatives. president trump were later reduced the size of both monuments in 2017 after elected to bring them into conformity with the requirement for boundaries and then in 2021 president biden for expanded

them exceeding the scope of the law and disregarded global input. as i explained to president biden at the time it the size of two delawares within my state that have been moved into this very respected classification for the point is not that there aren't beautiful things to protect in the state of the line was drawn so big that monument was made so expansive in part because local leaders were consulted and to the extent that they were heahe ignored so govem when you visit utah i urge you to meet with those voices who were ignored during the bye demonstration during the monument re-expansions. will you work with me to try to fix that figure out how best to proceed and make sure the designated monuments don't exceed the restriction that the statute itself.

>> thank you senator lee for that important question. the 1905 antiquities act signed into law by president roosevelt himself and as you stated multiple times states very clearly smallest possible area to protect those objects and the original intention was to protect as it says antiquities areas like i would say indiana jones type archaeological productions. these are essential that we protect these areas of the country and that's what the law was intended but i look forward to working with you and particularly in the area of local consultation because when the federal government overreaches into a state like yours which already has over 60% of its land and public lands it's got tremendous impact on tribes on the local communities and think it's important we strike the right balance and i look forward to working with you on this issue. >> thank you. i appreciate that.

housing is another area code like to discuss briefly. particularly there's an acute housing shortage in the west where the presence of federal land not just the presence but the predominance of federal lands available for housing frequently results in shortages and makes a lot of things difficult. it's not as though we have one part of the state that's all federal and another part of the state that's non-federal. they all intermingle and it impacts all kinds of things. many of our communities and states like utah and nevada among others find ourselves feeling like we are island, floating islands within a sea of federal land and that's constraining growth and makes our constraints on our housing supply that much more dire. i would love to work with you on a bill that i've introduced that

i've worked on for several years called the houses act. in addition to looking to developing creative ways to address the housing affordability crisis in the west. in your view how can the department of the interior help address the housing crisis in areas like in the case my state where the presence of federal land often inhibits community needs understand what the great challenges we are facing in this nation right now is housing affordability in my discussion and frien with governor spencer cox of your state knows it's a high priority for him and that the state. there opportunities for us to accomplish both. like i said we are in a time of the fund that's where we have federal land abutting urban areas and we maybe have other areas that may be need to be protected like we have done in north dakota's governor.

.. like the national parks absolutely we need to support and protect every single inch of those. but, in other case multiple use scenario for our lands. i believe their pathways we can find particularly in states like yourselves and others that 50 or 60% more of your plans held by the federal government that we can find appropriate solutions to help address the housing bright looking for to work with on that >> thank you governor. see is expired i will turn the time over. cook's governor, i want to actually continue on that same vein. i had a very long and detailed question here written by my staff i'm going to depart from and just go to the heart of the issue. i think what people are concerned about and this was a

very hot issue this year because of legal action, is the idea we would somehow in a wholesale way the best of our public lands. so, talk a little bit about that how we can stay true to our conservation history. make sure the things we do on our public land, especially the economically, recreationally and they play such an essential cultural role in states like mine could be supported on making smart decisions about individual parcels. >> thank you, senator. i think we have to look no further than new mexico for the answer to the fact we can find the balance. as i know senator hoeven and i, i hate to acknowledge but new mexico past north dakota is a number two oil and gas producer in the state. the states got a tremendous

record cultural and historical lands and providing that balance. there is certainly the opportunity for us to find that balance and protect the land we need to protect but also solve issues. whether it's housing or resource development that may be of interest to the tribe in the local communities. >> i'm something we pride ourselves on a new mexico. we have been able to strike a balance we've been able to be an energy leader on many fronts. we've created number of national monuments are not controversial that are deeply supported by local leaders, by veterans groups, by tribes but hunters and fishermen alike.

before the make wholesale changes to conservation in the state of new mexico at least you would meet with myself and any local leaders. >> yes, absolutely. with discussions on you and those that you describe the key to this is the local consultation as senator lee and other states have experienced there have been incidents complete and total opposition and no local consultation. again my experience as governor, working with tribes and local communities in north dakota whether it's raising associations, county commissioners, mayors, rural residents i think the consultation is key. >> part of that consultation those tribes that have both current and historic connections to those places as well, right?

>> absolutely. as a former outfitter guide i am really quite excited this senate, this body passed the explorer act. it's the first major piece of outdoor recreation legislation senator was incredibly involved in that so as senator manchin permitting reform was something i worked on in that piece of legislation. it's kind of a recognition of the big economic driver of our public lands that often does not get the same attention that energy and other aces get. outdoor recreation in new mexico is responsible for something like 29000 jobs and billions of dollars and impact on a national scale it's over a trillion dollar economy. so, talk again a little bit about how balances can be competing issues as you did as governor and support that

outdoor recreation economy. it is a growing it's particularly critical to our rural gateway communities. >> first, i would just like to say this is a really important topic. it's also a passion of mine is someone who spent my life as an avid outdoorsman. i was please get the full endorsement of the outdoor recreation roundtable for this job which represents the trillion dollar industry. >> think that is are we first meant. >> it represents all these different aspects. i think the opportunity in most states outdoor recreation will i was governor and continue to whether that's access to fishing and hunting public access and public lands. there were things gonna north dakota we've done there that are been really helpful.

including using technology. we've taken all the requirements of interstate we got all the land owners, the pheasant hunters, all of the waterfowl hunters got everybody to agree on that. even hunting you can look on your phone and find out whether land is posted are not posted. it might be posted no for deer hunting, yes or pheasant hunting. and it includes the phone number it's posted but if you call me and talk to me, i might let you on but the landowner's name and phone numbers right there. we've been able to find tools to bring together land owners and sportsmen on roof private lands and public lands to make sure we can get that outdoor economy rolling. click senator daines? >> chairman thank you. welcome. we'll welcome the first lead north dakota. good to have you here. if confirmed to be eight in line to secession of the present of the united states, governor.

that goes when these departments became part of the night states government interior it's like 1849. the oldest agency within interior is the bureau of indian affairs is bia. it's only fitting before i get into my questions and remarks if i might submit a letter for the record from the coalition of large tribes of which some of my, three of mike 12 federal recognized tribes in montana our partnership five it fell at recognized tribes and members. if i just read the letter they wrote in your support, it says it's being incredible for cult tribes have a close supporter nominated to the secretary's office. he is someone whom we have a deep trust and confidence. we have gone to him with our most complex difficult issues over many years. he is exactly the kind of leader tribes need at the interior

department. they close in the letter by saying this, governor has highest recommendation and endorsement to serve as the next secretary of the interior. mr. chairman i like to submit this letter for record for the letter for the record. >> of that objection. >> lastly fish and wildlife service denied to delist the greater yellowstone ecosystem and northern continental divide ecosystem grizzly bears because the two populations have exceeded recovery targets by so much the service no longer believes the two populations are even distinct. we should be celebrating the fact the grizzly bear has recovered as an example of a great species that has not recovered and is prolific across ecosystems. but sadly this really coming out

punishes montana successful grizzly bear recovery efforts. it's completely backwards. we should be celebrating the recovery. but instead we are now having to sacrifice to living with the bears by livestock producers as well as human safety. sadly, many montanans have been killed, badly mauled by grizzly bears. the people back home take this very, very seriously. it's literally gotten to the point along the rocky mountain front, west of great falls are playgrounds and one of our schools they have hyphens there to protect the children from grizzly bears they got for recess. the service keeps moving the goalpost for delisting returning these barriers to state management were absolute belongs like we don't the wolves. the service set recovery numbers at 50800 respectively for the

greater yellowstone ecosystem and the northern continental divide ecosystem. the most recent estimate is now nobest science 2100 bears in the two ecosystems. governor would you acknowledge the data shows the two populations and commit to working with me too delist them? >> senator i am aware of the data. this is a super important issue preach it to montanans and people in wyoming and idaho. i am with you we should be celebrating when species come off the endangered species list as opposed to fighting everywhere we can to try to keep them on that list. because as you say the complication the other thing you mentioned your remarks is also the state. having been a governor i understand how dedicated the state fish and while

representatives are from montana, wyoming, north dakota, south dakota is the chair of western governors i came to understand how dedicated the state officials are. i think there's a belief when they come off federal protection are unprotected. no they are managed as they are all the other species in the state by the locals who got the closest data. so i pledge to work with you on this issue for. >> thank you governor. the biden administration has been slow walking three critical permits for coal mines in montana. the boat mountain south of round of the rosebud mind that has call for coal strictly spring creek mine in southeast monkey and are in desperate need to finalize permits. the boat mountain mine has had to laugh hard-working montanans the biden office of surface mining has refused to finish the reviews. my question is, when confirmed will you prioritize completing these permits so montana families do not lose their jobs? click senator, this is part of a

larger crisis our nation is facing around electricity. we have a shortage of electricity. especially a shortage of baseload. we know we have the technology to deliver clean coal. we are doing that in north dakota part senator holden and others began these efforts over two decades ago. but, we have an opportunity to d car race produce clean coal without produce reliable baseload for this country. and so again, we absolutely would want to work with you on this issue. this is something that's critical to our national security. without baseload, we will use the arms race to china. if we lose the ai arms race to china that's direct impact on national securing the future of this country for. >> one final statement and i will complete my questions. one should quickly close by highlighting the importance of a bill on work with senator king of maine. we cochair and national parks subcommittee.

we are proud of the fact no matter which way the gavel goes, it goes back and forth over time in the u.s. senate. angus king and i are always cochairs we work together on behalf of the national parks. i am working with him to reauthorize national parks and public land legacy run is critical for the deferred maintenance of challenge we face with a great public lands. president trump sighed the greatest conservation in 50 years when he signed the great american outdoors act. i think vice chairman heinrich for helping get that across the finish line he signed in 2020 i hope i and kenneth your support for this program for. >> you can absolutely. great american outdoors act by president trump was a great step forward. i know, for my own personal experience as a governor and work with a national park the amount of deferred maintenance we have is probably even greater today across the park system then it was from that bill was

passed until we have to continue to invest in our national parks. >> great, thank you governor per click senator coronel? >> think it mr. chairman. welcome.ye to ensure the fitness of nominees before any of the committees which i said as the following two initial questions first is, since you became a legal adult have you ever made unwanted requests for sexual favors? or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of such a sexual nature? wexner center i've not progressed to face discipline are entered into this kind of conduct? >> i have not. >> we receive your testimony late yesterday. you noted and i quote president trump energy dominance vision will end wars abroad." president trump is directed you to expand oil and gas drilling on a massive scale which will lead to increased burning of

fossil fuels. now the scientific consensus is burning fossil fuels is. in 2017 then secretary of defense james mattis told the armed services committee that quote climate change is impacting stability and heirs of the world were our troops are operating." climate change is a critical national security threat and a threat multiplier. now these are two secretaries of defense. they know something about war. were you aware it they testified before the senate armed services committee on a number of times burning more fossil fuel will not result in the end of wars

but could very well exacerbate and cause wars. were you aware of this testimony? >> senator, no i'm not aware that specific testimony. but i do know within a fossil fuels the concern has been about admissions. within admissions we have the technology to do things like carbon capture to eliminate harmful omissions. >> the fact of the matter is, you have military leaders who acknowledge climate change is a major issue. and, for you to take the position you are going to engage in actions that will result in the burning of more fossil fuel sounds troubling. as the secretary of the interior, it is your duty to see the department carries out its mission to protect and manage our national-art natural

resources and cultural heritage. if you are ordered by the president to act in a manner that is counter to the department's mission, or to the constitution such as drilling and the national monuments, will you do as a president asks because he wants to drill in that. >> senator, of course as part of my sworn duty i will follow the law and follow the constitution. and so you can count on that. i have not heard of any, anything about president trump wanting to do anything other than advancing energy production for the benefit of the american people. >> we all of the president was to drill baby drill. in your testimony you say he has

an energy dominance vision. so, i would ask you should you be confirmed you will have these kinds of matters he will have to decide are you going to drill in a monument? are you going to protect our natural resources? or are you going to drill baby drill. i raise that as a concern with you going forward. compact association, last year congress renewed our compact of free association. in the purview of the interior in the marshall islands. i would like to your commitment to implement the new compact of free association in accordance with the bipartisan law that was enacted last year. >> senator, the pacific islands in addition to three you mentioned in a part of the compact but also the others that are under the interior are

critically important to national security for the united states of america. all of them have important military implications. all of these are places where u.s. failures fought and died during world war ii. with the aggression that china is showing in the pacific it's more important that we support them more than ever. i know hawaii plays an important role including things with medical care for those residents of those islands. i think it's important the federal government has its share as opposed to bring the load. >> it thank you it sounds you have some of the compacts which i'm gratified. thank you, mr. chairman. >> thank you. [inaudible] my questions are going to be short and sweet. but i can tell you this, i think

we share in the fact that energy, energy is the key. oh gosh i don't have my my gun. okay good enough for them him tg loud enough anyway. never the less energy is such a key. such a key that opens every door in my opinion. every single door. the world is starving for us, america to lead the way. i believe we share that thought. i believe we share the thought that electricity 79, the nos, 18. the nomination is confirmed. under the previous order, the motion to reconsider is considered made and laid upon the table, and the president will be immediately notified of the senate's action. 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 christopher wright, of colorado, to be secretary of energy, 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 christopher wright, of colorado, to be secretary of energy 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. alsobrooks. ms. baldwin. mr. banks. mr. barrasso. mr. bennet.

mrs. blackburn. mr. blumenthal. ms. blunt rochester. mr. booker. mr. boozman. thank you for joining us at. my name is jennifer i am that chairwoman of the national transportation safety board. the national transportation safety board is an independent federal agency that's charged by congress with investigating every civil aviation series accident serious incident in the united states and significant events and other modes of transportation. i want to start breaks pressing our deepest condolences, our sympathy on behalf of the entire board for those who lost loved ones in this terrible tragedy.

our thoughts, our prayers are with you. entire communities were affected and we are thinking of you. with me today is a price banning. bryce is a senior aircraft in that accident investigation without national transportation safety board is going to serve as our investigator in charge of this investigation. also with me today is the entire board we have taught is going to serve as the board member on scene. the spokesperson for this investigation all of the board numbers will be here. vice chairman brown, member mike graham who lived in wichita for 20 years west of member tom ntsb headquarters is just a mile

from here. and so we are all here because this is all hands on jack event. we are here to assure the american people we are going to leave no stone unturned in this investigation. we are going to conduct a thorough investigation of this entire tragedy looking at the facts. now, with that would we go to the scene, we were here last night, we allow the responders to their important safety admission which in this case was search and rescue and recovery. we stand back to allow them to do their important safety mission. and so this, for us is the first full day on scene with our entire crew coming together.

with nearly 50 people on scene in addition to resources back at headquarters in our labs and throughout the agency. so, with that said we are not going to get into specific facts this press conference. i want to level set here. we are going to get into investigative process as we are able to confirm factual information we will provide that. i do want to say that the whole of government effort is able to brief along with other the president of the united states and the vice president this afternoon. i went to thank them for their leadership. their tremendous support of the ntsb. for our investigators and further responders that are on scene doing in important

mission. i also want to thank secretary shaun donovan for who i was communicating with early on after he first got word of this tragedy. we've been working together throughout the day along with his team within the faa. i want to thank secretary pete hegseth who was also integral and work with us today. the acting administrator of the federal aviation administration, we have heard from many members of congress on both sides of the aisle. i hope will say this is a tremendous, i will say one more time, a whole of government effort. i also want to take a moment and thank the many, many responders that have been on scene. it has been an incredible effort pray will have a full list i will provide, we will provide tomorrow.

i don't to thank them for all the work compared with that i'm going to turn over to member andaman for additional remarks. >> so, today is the first full day on scene. investigative team will be on scene as long as it takes in order to obtain all of the perishable evidence of the fact-finding that is needed to bring us to a conclusion of probable cause. our mission is to understand not just what happen, but why. it happened. and to recommend changes to prevent this from happening again. since were just beginning our investigation we do not have a great deal of information to share right now. we will keep you informed by giving regular updates as we learn more our intentions have preliminary report within 30 days in the final report will be issued once we have completed

all of our fact-finding investigation. we will not be be dirt determining probable cause of the accident while on scene. know what was speculate about what may have caused the accident. to date will be having an organizational meeting establishing a party store investigation. we currently have the following parties that are already identified pts eight airlines. ge aerospace. faa, represents air traffic controllers, all thought represents the pilots army represents the flight attendants. transportation safety board of canada and accredited representative under annex 13. supplemented as a technical advisor they were previously known.

offers party's status government agencies and associations have employees, activities or equipment involved in accident. we offer that they will provide technical expertise and relevant information supporting the develop of the best possible factual record. once they join the investigation, there are not permitted to release documents for publicly about the investigation without the consent. i want to stress this, it's on the ntsb that will provide information related to this investigation with one exception regarding the fatalities that occurred, that notification will be hannah by the d.c. medical examiner. we will not be discussing fatalities or names. that will be handle by them in the proper authorities. we want to talk a little bit about her process. we will analyze the facts and determine the probable cause an

issue a report of those determinations. alsobr want to talk about additional people are here with us they're very important to us that's our family assistance group. later today we will be briefing the families. we normally try to do this with this case are still arriving. our family assistance specialist are already working closely with local officials and others to help assist them and their efforts to support everyone that's affected by this >> there's not be working today. actually and accurately.

will stand up specific working groups be operations, and improve members and determine people force and in altitude. power plant growth enabling the examination of the engines. we will have a systems group. and it will be reconstruction in the systems provided to the acquisition of information which

might typically think of radar and long with communications. also survival factors group. the documentation of impact community emergency and all crash fire rescue efforts sit and also, and this crash, helicopter group as well. leslie levy human performance it will actually be part of the operations aircraft helicopter groups they will study the true performance and factors that might be involved including fatigue, medications training equipment design and work environment, the recorded take questions.

background sounds background sounds >> and fourthly come i do not hear the vermont remarks predict summa part of any investigation, look at the human, the machine and the environment so we will look at all of the humans, that were involved in this accident, again we will look at the aircraft helicopter and the environment in which they were operating in and that is standard in any part of our investigation.

>> has a recorder been recovered yet. >> in water disaster like this. [inaudible]. >> the question was on the flighter data recorder and we he not recovered the flight data recorders yet and we know that they are there. they are underwater this is not unusual for the dsp we have many times recovered flight data recorders and water we have our lab right here that is about a mile from the ntsb so it is not unusual and once we get those, we will be able to get those red and information from them to be able to invite further information with you. and i'm going to turn back over. >> earlier today.

[inaudible]. >> based off of you all. [inaudible]. >> the question was it was a human error or mechanical error we just do not know in effect to rule in or out human factor mechanical factors, that is part of the ntsb investigative process that were they come together. the reason why is a standard will take the time necessary i would also like to reiterate that we find something, they are issues that warrant immediate action, we will not hesitate make recommendations and recommendations make themfi public. we will continue to do this. >> the investigative process. [inaudible].

>> as you try to keep an open mind and begin this investigation. >> tom come up with all due respect, i think the press also like to save a probable causes before we get to the probable causes and so when am going to say is that you need to give us time given ts while it is not that we don't have information we do have information we have data and substantial amounts of information, we needed to verify information. i need to take your time to make sure it is accurate that is best for you and important for the families coming is important for legislatures who are seeking answers to try to figure out what they're going to do about this and so it will take time and we do have a lot of information we need some time to verify that. [inaudible].

[inaudible]. >> the questions about controller scott the groups union representations, with the party system conducting interviews and transcribed another teams. 35, and the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report the nomination. 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 douglas collins of georgia to be secretary of veterans affairs, signed by 17 senators.

the clerk: nomination, department of veterans affairs. nomination, department energy, christopher wright to be secretary. the presiding officer: the cloture motion having been reported, 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 douglas collins of georgia to be secretary of veterans affairs 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. alsobrooks. ms. baldwin.

>> sing with people ever put before both sides of the aisle. the modern to be sitting here to be the nominee secretary of the va and i like to say my friend kind introduction appreciate is working your work as well and he did it perfectly. i think you for that and i would also like to think president trump conference nomination for his willingness to have confidence in me but also the veterans. and privilege to do and appreciate chairman and ranking member missing my family because i would not be here without them in my mom and her why the six

years lisa, is here and i have my son and his wife and my son cameron and his fiancée mattie, and when the clues is altogether. and also one probably watching right now it's been 31 years georgia state trooper and dad i am here. i love you. you know america's the greatest nation on earth, greatest nation i believe because men and women who serve as the men women serving willing to take a step up to protect the freedoms that we hold so dearly throwing two decades of service i have witnessed this first hand as men and women it go at the best even when they did not want to they serve the senate for our freedoms rated the earned the benefit of being in our gate great veteran is in the va is there for them. in addition to be a navy veteran for a while united states air

force for over 23 years eternal survey air force base and i've been able to watch for the years leadership with leadership is about listening, but also about leading also about taking the men and women you serve with and making sure that you putting their needs first. when in the military, it is about the mission pretty for me, i'm confirmed by the spotting of the va will be my mission to mission take care of our veterans and make sure they get the benefits they deserve freedom going to write were veterans and i understand this because i slept next to one for many months, i understand this generation for time and time again deployment after deployment in a different way that we have seen many times before our passwords and need to say have been assuming a veteran i think that i also bring something to unique to this position almost as you can kevin the positional be the first member of this deal, house and

senate third if confirmed, by this body was of the brings a different perspective to my service here pretty because of the years, we've all had our differences in this body and working member appreciate you mentioning that we do have differences that we can great because i work process i'll pass major listed legislation things to present from his body recast of her step at getting real criminal justice reform in my partner keep jeffries in the house you modernization apps which cinerama mentioned in christine's many others is a kind of things make big differences when you cross and you give good ideas from eight to having respect to the members committee is what i believe this committee has when must bipartisan here and i worked bipartisan way to make things happen in this country because you know i believe that we also have a lot in common with them both sides of this committee believe we believe family access to care for veterans and

i believe they were supposed to reach out of the mission act provided that template that we passed here is part of passing va accountability and whistleblower protection act passed by the winds body unanimously levels investments workers workers to the highest standard as possible and i will to you right now the veterans yet not have a stronger for the poison force in the secretary of confirmed the month and also ones who will make sure held accountable for the good work's good work another needs to be held accountable and we will do that to make sure to be the best for our veterans back act mentioned by the regular think were still developing, and sure everybody gets treatment and just past, the delectable something right if look at next and looking forward to pretty but as we look at this, but everyone thing and it will require help. entering to you today to things that will be the forefront of my service of these are my dolls heck of a reminder just like

every other veteran his service, the report of the bigger unit also bring this bracelet, is made for me young and rent she was keeping watch each night it would going think her as a flowing chaplain and she said one night, have something for you to mid back into her project came out of his and since you're always bringing us something. and here's something. when she did not know was know about 15 years later, if confirmed by the spotting this bracelet will be sitting at the secretary of the va's office writing me every day of the men and women that we serve. without mr. chairman, i yield back. cement thank you for your testimony and will have around the question all start and that i will yielded to the ranking member. it. would be unexpected if i did not open my questioning of you in regards to mission act. and i was involved in the creation of voice apt then

attempted to improve in the make it more certain the mission act and my views are highly framed by my days as a member of the house of representatives in which i represented the congressional district says that the state of illinois with no va hospital and so i care about world and the distance that that's rural veterans face. and so i wanted to ask if confirmed, we make certain the letter and spirit mission act is followed by every employee va and that the veterans are aware of the right advocate themselves and receive care when they need it. where they want. >> mr. chairman, okay as we have spoken the officers no greater asset and really you who the very issue of the va does not

exist in and of itself in excess the veterans in excess that is why were the past ten — 15 years in the spotting of mission act passed in the intended that was make sure that to the delivery services to the veterans is first and foremost and look, services being delivered in her va system and we also as you mentioning creamer, va benefits three for caregiver community care program at the end of the they're getting taken of the va care is going to happen and it will always be the va healthcare system for the veterans freedom of the way that we express that is just like in this body, there's difference especially how we make it better we don't do the same things four years ago that we still do today were still wanting to stay current with what is going on in her new newark veterans deserve every access to finding care for the get on your case if they have a long way toun go that he define care they want to but always have va backup and for me the intent of the mission act at the

end of the night was about how do we make that veteran care available to the veterans in need and not have the battles over how they get a bit they won't be able to do that will continue to do that following the commerce been which i passed as well. >> and represent is the commitment to an answer to an asu. >> yes it is him i willju be following the mission of the intent follow that up is going to be day one understand that's why we are there and nothing's going to let up to be highlight why this i mentioned this geography and it is, there's a lot of other concerns veterans act care. i would highlight the importance and we should ask play high risk mental health and addiction issues we do not have enough care and the va were outside of the va we need to make certain and certain where the care comes up is available when needed true. >> yes, i think that is key in your seeing thissm all across

senegal sweetheart, mental health aspect of this. as you can see we talked about this a lot of jordan has a physical disability no walking people look at jordan no immediate sympathy bit of some of the coming same have been trouble thinking clearly my bit ranges not working right and windy condition with the va in our community caregivers are going near is a suicide prevention is whatever biggest issues and we have to be able to draw the best means you boys not just in va but also in our communities as well as want to make sure getting the opportunities as you just said mr. chairman, they can eat it and they can find him pretty quickly and efficiently it is met when we talk about permitted under moment transition to civilian life. one of the most dangerous circumstances involving a member of our military who is soon to become veteran occurs at appointed transition. >> is a time in which there is a sense up most of belonging

camaraderie and mission and purpose time in which suicide ideation is more prevalent rated we have the requirements of the department of veterans affairs the department of defense and cooperate in a program the properly assessed military men and women as they depart active duty. and whether here how much you value this process headed back to much you value the requirements because the department of defense and the department of veterans affairs have failed to appropriately and adequately that caregiving time and to provide the necessary transition to port and usually important, and certainly important to the life of the servicemember also important to our retention of you for future members of military. >> you to quickly and this is

not just to hear from military interventions coming out and then transitioning to va care as they do but if you go back even third further to me that's in recruiting issue more of the lifecycle veteran and you have good experiences in the deity about experiences for some reason that a va or vice versa having people to serve the and telling their children another that i don't want you to serve in this to me as an all-encompassing issue that we have to work on. somebody especially as you talked about earlier, transitioning becomes a time in which for some they do not have that grounding anymore and they needed that the connection would not done a good job of connecting •-ellipsis thanks to serve all this in this room today, is the 17 ever often used it 70 veterans. he died by suicide pretty when we understand that, here's what we have found that over 40 percent of the mid- never connected with the va so mr. chairman you have my complete assurances that not only will we be a priority is

going to be an extra priority for me because i believe that we can use all assess not just the dod the va, but state veterans associations as well and willing to look anyway that we can make a connection to make those transitions as easy as possible. >> now recognize the senate fell. >> thank you mr. chairman and i know that you are exceedingly generous and aligning to ask questions but i'm going to try to stay within the five minutes. >> were you suggesting that i did not affect. [laughter] >> i would never suggest anything of the sort. i hope will have a second questioning. >> i anticipate that. >> thank you let me these he questions congressman collins, will you commit to respond promptly to any inquiry for members of his committee to request information and be fully transparent with this committee. >> that is my intention and i

will do this committee to make sure you all of the information you need. >> and we committed to working with the veteran service organization and other stakeholders that making decisions at the va. >> i look forward to working this committee members about health organizations other willing to help our veterans. >> and inputting me office of inspector general been entered accountability office and office of special counsel. >> i think that you played out the very essence of accountability going to the spot a bit of theirs to give us insight into what we're doing and how we are doing and so, yes, i look forward to those making sure that we as recommendations for the. >> thank you pretty in class we get a hearing the homeland security i gave russell about nominee for not be director the opportunity to know the proposal that he made including project 2025 to impose means aca

disability compensation out also asked about the proposal to québec the benefits and service that disabled veterans has advod that anybody less than 30 percent disability received no benefits. he refused to pronounce either proposal and i need from you, i commitment that you will oppose any such efforts by the administration. >> me to have the peer whatever answer for some of the elsner question was asked of him i would say this, i am going to having ready, my issues that i'm going to take care of the veterans this means not quite balanced budget on the backs of the benefits are going to do that one of the veterans first intermediate with a decision comes to the secretary oversight and this will be coming to you for return about in your office, there issues anybody can with you the issue of solving it there's issues i say you want to see but it is not that i will

say here's where we change the law because that's what we've done before slime commitment is making sure the river budget is officially funded so that veterans receive the benefits that all interpret that as a yes. >> yes and interpreters. >> is version president trump attempt by trying to eliminate individual employability benefits for terminate veterans in my view a very ill-conceived proposal and i hope that you will oppose the proposal during this administration. >> definitely without discussion but a boy i am familiar split president trump did advocate for doing this for four years that was the mission act and the things up for the veterans first is more strongly take care of the veterans as we look forward to this i look forward to carrying out his vision of taking care of our veterans including an them first asian va in a situation where it's actually doing that and having the resources it needs but also having the efficiencies that it

needs to make a better solo back to what is already dead and i know that was putting veterans first and i will be doing the same. >> thank you and as you know, far too long across the administrations of both parties, frankly, the va made major and minor construction projects for hospitals nursing homes and other critical infrastructure priority the nuts and bolts of the facilities printed dependent upon by our veterans for care have been dramatically underfunded braided years i had a fight for funding modernize the va facility in west haven and finally it is underway, there are thousands of other projects it that i would bet that in every one of my colleagues the district that needed that kind of funding, the bipartisan issue good for veterans and local economies in red states and blue states printed the longer that we wait, the more expensive construction

becomes pretty confirmed, we are committed to me that you will work with us to make those kinds of investments a priority i think what you just said is bigger than buildings, hit is about the future of the va and about how we actually take care of our veterans of any frame the question funding a project i look at it smi funding project that helps a veteran this one to be in every district as you said so yes the money forward using the limited dollars coming from the congress and la spent this to make sure we are prioritizing those native areas such as you mentioned talk about your help state as well but these areas willing to look forward to make sure the construction projects that efficiently and on time also have the proper oversight that we do not see them drag on for years or so many times of your offices that i met with almost 60 plus senators on both parties, this is been an issue that comes up consistently we have to be better stewards of our building projects so theme today is the veterans who served.

>> thank you, mr. chairman. >> forty-three seconds ago, just make sure you have the order think. >> i knew that was coming yes. >> okay the next sender next one of her colleagues was kind enough to allow him to go is because he presided at 11 clock and senator welcome to this committee and think you for your service to the country and you are recognized. >> thank you chairman houseman think you for being here thinking for bringing family as we see them all here as we know the military family pretty we really for most that carries the weight. and you know, i come from a very large state not a lot of people a lot of our veterans have to travel many many hours to get to va care printed to that end i think curious to hear your thoughts on how you will expand access to community care. because of senator blumenthal others discuss, hit is been press release and talked about

think that we know from exclusives actually been very hard for veterans to effectively manage their veterans health care benefits with able to seamlessly go to the community care view from montana, euboea five and half hour drive to va care facility so i want to make sure that we actually take action to ensure the veterans can go into the community i get here than it so they do not have to drive many many hours away by thank you and welcome to the senate is good to see you. i may be from north georgia but issues of rural this is not new to my district i have the foothills of the apalachee mountains. so the trail so i get the fact is sometimes the distance may be deceiving even the shorter distances on how to get there could be a problem for the veterans especially the older veterans. ...

i start and it ends. rural estates and urban settings, we have got to make sure the axis is there. in saying that, it also needs to make sure than va itself is not standing in the way. there are conditions met at preconditions but they are eligible for community care they need. that could come through call

centers, preclearance and everything else we will be working with that. >> great. as a wounded vet who transitioned out my wife is also active duty was served together at the same time. most of my peers active duty healthcare the and off unfortunately, i was fortunate enough at a fantastic handoff. very, very few veterans how was you eight va secretary have smooth seamless handoff medical record series are poured over and it happens seamlessly for the veteran? click centers we just discussed as previously discussed in this in the transition with the chairman. it is the most important for that family itself. you understand of your transition and your wife's transition. there is the unsettled sort of a

go? how to get carefully need care special this pre-existing or something had been treated in dod how do we get by? there are several things when you make sure our touches are much better but there's been programs to make sure we touch, the va touches occasions making sure the getting the transition care. that's not happening we need to do it better. there is an issue we have not discussed yet i'm sure it's going to come up many more times at the medical healthcare records issue of the ba. that's a program that has went to many years custom to billions of dollars without finding a solution my commitment is one of the very first priorities if confirmed is to get in and figure out why put this on a bigger time frames at the medical health records issue solved. i said this i'll say it now price it again. that va is a special but it's not unique. hear me when i say that. it is specially who we keep, who we trust we take care of. it's not unique in the sense that we do healthcare. healthcare is that in this country every day outside the va

as well as the largest system which is the ba. we've got to get her health records of straights who have an easy handoff. what should be simple click of the button is many times taken i've had in my office one is in congress up to almost a year to get the records transfer that leaves and certainty for the veteran that leaves uncertainty for the family it makes a very unhealthy experience for those who are serving. >> think it congressman print thank you for your service the country in the war but thank you for your family serves and thank you for stepping up to serve again. >> thank you very much mr. chairman. congressman, very good to see you here. thank you for me too meet with me in my office i appreciate that discussion i'm going to start with question in reference to a just talked about. back in 2018 under president trump's first administration that va which is now oracle signed a no bid contract to roll out the electronic health record to all va facilities. the first site went live in my home state in 2020.

it was a disastrous break than va and oracle endangered patients by rushing the deployment not making sure the system was technically sound. not working with the clinicians on the ground and not providing sufficient training. veterans and providers in my own home state are still paying the price for that. last month the va announced it would be moving preemployment activities. you referenced it here once what that means are you going to prioritize by getting the system rewrites and focusing on veteran safety and clinical productivity issue as you move forward? >> thank you, senator i did enjoy our time together in your office. the old sink there's never a more perilous issue than to be in the tip of a new idea. that goes back a long ways it's

true what happens here. when i say we are going to make this a priority it means we are going to see for me taking it as a full, i've taken the first step i'm going to look out for fresh eyes. i've not been there for what this committee would have to say too long and cost too much money. we'll talk about the vendor from oracle. her listen to our hospitals there's no reason the world this about eight yuan partake of it in such a great job with appropriations of making sure we are funding a system we are now sitting here at six -- eight years away and nothing has happened. that causes the issue the centers hung but knowing the transition but the patients internally. got to get better health record so not only have the issue one on one doctor interaction we can

move faster things to the information ahead it safer for the patient. for me as soon as possible very early stages if confirmed i'm going to gather together members of my staff that will be specifically tasks to as soon as possible in the first days of this administration to see what is the issue. why is it waiting why did the previous demonstrates that just left mate try to start back in 2026? i'm not sure why it takes year we could get properly not rush there's enough information i believe we can get it done quicker. what is going to take a looking at. >> the first step would bring into with your staff. please make sure you talk with those people on the ground there been dealing with this to understand what has gone wrong print why it has been such a problem as you take on the next steps bret also ask you please stay in touch with me this committee knows my top priority

i've been so frustrated with it. quick center you would be amazed how many conversations i have had and we have had as well i cannot over emphasize why it needs to get done. being on the hill impositions is also an understanding this has become too normal for projects that come out of the hill to normal we appropriate billions of dollars in seat no results in six -- eight years. i think president trump we started this have the right idea were going to contain that want to have to work together. at this point, the finger-pointing is done it is time to get it done for one reason one reason only as i said earlier the mission is the vet buried if the veteran has earned the benefit were not given the right tools for that the doctor clinician nurses are not able to mash. i will not accept we can't do it. i will not except i don't know, i will not accept we do not have enough money for eight years and billions of dollars. i'm with you on this will work together brick works quickly at

my last 30 seconds, reference something something that senator blumenthal mentioned. i care deeply about her women veterans they have the services they need. i just want to ask you, do you believe veteran who lives in texas, who has been raped and pat becomes pregnant should be able to get an abortion care at a local va? >> that's an issue very sensitive in this body part is something that is been looked at of what the law actually says that from 90 to the va does not do abortions. two years ago that was a decision looked at will be looking at that issue to confirm that va is actually following the law. >> you plan to modify that law? >> just what i just said but when we get in will look that the laws being followed from the 1992 lowered said they couldn't. because of what you to be notably following this very closely. i want to make sure women veterans get the healthcare they need. >> thank you.

quick center at sullivan. >> thank you congratulations to you in the ranking member i knew her new position but looking forward to working with you and congressman collins, congratulations to you. thank you to your wonderful beautiful family there behind you. it is great you're doing this pretty certainly agree with my good friend kevin cramer in his opening remarks. you are eminently qualified, eminently qualified for veteran yourself and as a chaplin i agree senator cramer that brings really unique insights. i think it's going to be great. i look forward to strongly supporting your confirmation. i'm a big fan i certainly hope we have bipartisan support for your confirmation will given your qualifications. so, thanks for your willingness to serve. i appreciate your meeting. as you know i focus a lot on alaska for really important reasons. my state has more veterans per capita than any state in the

country. a real patriotic place way up north. we are big, talking up big states boo-boo knocking to the size of alaska do not want to embarrass anybody but it's really, really, really, really big. i think we are five or six i'm bigger than montana we do not have one full service veteran hospital. not one. we have really big challenges. yosemite veterans challenging because we are big and we do not in one full-service hospital. who have edit many disasters in my view with the va for you and i've talked about some of them. in 2015 right when it came to the senate that va system and alaska collapsed. the first big thing i dealt with as a brand-new senator. it collapsed because they realign these visions. in the call center out of alaska. we had people making

appointments for alaska veterans on the lower 48 who did not have a clue about our state. this system collapsed herd we had a giant backlog. last year, believe it or not the backlog was up to 12000 veterans, which is a lot for my state. we still have call center space in the lower 48. the veteran and alaska says i need to get the anchorage hospital the call center says okay driveway to its and i only do not even know it's an island. so i need to get a commitment from you for the mission act i was able to get legislation that said if you do not have a full-service hospital by the way only us in new hampshire, then you can go immediately to community care. why wouldn't you? the call centers do not allow that. they don't know about alaska but they do not know the bill, they do not know the law. it is still kind of a disaster for my veterans.

the call center issue but we need a call center back in my state for people who understand the state is all about and to help bring down this very big backlog. can i get your commitment on that, congressman, to help our veterans get your commitment to come up to alaska and bring the whole family customer, the summer if you want to go fishing after printer cup in the winter maybe see what it's like to be in a state that's dark and 50 below, your choice. [laughter] you pick august as opposed to february. >> is an air force travel bazaar chaplains up in your beautiful state. that's the issue is always a long winter. look, you brought out a point when you're talking about this and that uniqueness of alaska, new hampshire not having the hot

full-service hospital. very much of it user of community care. it is really disturbing to me as we talk about you had 5000 i believe it was last time we talked. this is not a benefit backlog this is a healthcare backlog. 5000 souls that are there not getting the help. >> last summer was up to 12000 i believe the secretary was trying but 12000 just waiting to get an appointment with someone in the lower 40 never been to alaska trying to make an appointment for an alaska veteran it's a disaster. >> i agree. lee told me that it surprised me. sometimes thing gets lost the bureaucracy you think it looks good but when you look in the real-world application have to go back i'll commit to you to look at that make it better to the under sand that's an island and they cannot drive. >> on me ask one final question very quickly.

our native communities incredibly patriotic. alaska natives serve at higher rates of the military than any other ethnic group in the country. so, super patriotic. live and a lot of our rural communities and our native healthcare organizations have reached into the rural parts of the state that no other place does. the va has a long history of work with her alaska native health organizations to extend the reach of care into very rural parts of america. very rural parts of alaska and partner to get alaska native veterans and also non- natives that live in rural communities to go to an alaskan native healthcare organization to get care because they partner with the ba. can i get your commitment to continue that good relationship question work sometimes is a little contentious on negotiating the agreement. they're really worth it to expand and extend va health care for native alaskans, non- native alaskans in the most rural parts

of our state. quick senator, yes. we are willing to commit to do that. and also any other district across this country. we'll make sure they get the healthcare they need especially in the unique situation like that, of course. >> think you congressman look forward to supporting you have outmore questions for the recor. >> thank you, mr. chairman. it is nice to see you. congratulations on your nomination. as part of my responsibility to ensure the fitness of any nominee comes before any of my committees, i ask the following to initial questions. since you became a legal adult, have you ever made unwanted request for sexual favors or committed any verbal or physical harassment or assault of special nature? >> know i have not because of your face discipline or entered into settlement related to this kind of conduct? >> know i have not. >> it like to note how why does

not have a full-service va hospital. and like alaska has access issues with seven inhabited islands and veterans being on all them. those are issues we are going to need to continue to address. congressman, you are very close to president trump both as a member of the house and since that time. under what circumstances would you say no to a request or order from president trump? >> senator, we are dealing in hypotheticals the same suppressant asked me too do something illegal but i'm not going to into hypothetical because the presidents put veterans first he's not going to ask me too do anything illegal or outside of the law. the question implies something that has not happened. i don't want to have a hypothetical part. >> excuse me i think we need to make sure what your priorities are and you are saying you will not say it yes to what you consider an illegal order. next question.

during your time in public life, he will been very outspoken against pregnant peoples life to their own reproductive choices. the role of the secretary, you'll be overseeing care for veterans and their loved ones across the entire ideological spectrum. would you resend the final rule enacted under the biden administration that allows the va to provide abortion counseling and abortions in the case of rape, incest over the life or health of the veteran would be endangered? >> thank you, senator chris we just discussed a moment ago, the va and they take to it specifically for bids. i plan on, i plan on. >> you referred to a law that's being pretty much clarified by this interim final rule.

as you know a debate regarding what the law allows for i believe the law allows this to be enacted. my question to you is whether you would resent this interim rule that would love the providing of abortions. and senator. >> and to a hundred of rape or incest are aware their life is his name would you resend the rule? >> send her i was answering your question we will look at this rule and see if it complies with the law. as you just said in your own answer is a debatable issue. we are going to look at it and make sure the va is following the law the. >> of course he could provide these kinds of services you are providing all the veterans the full level -- make the full range of care for reproductive services as needed. regardless of your ideological position. quick senator kump my ideological position is based on the law i will follow the law in this regard. your question i would love to have set down to before this year we.

i am always clear too. >> i am asking under oath. to have world-class care, quoting you, includes a full range of reproductive services. >> i believe the range of care provided at the va is a following the law and the intent of this body as it is set forth in the law. >> it's the way you interpret the law will disallow services to 2 million women veterans in the u.s. including 13000 in hawaii you would do so? >> is i've just said that you just testified. and looking at this i will take a look at where the law stands as you also testified in your questioning you said it's debatable it was just changed two years ago. we will look at that. >> there is a rule that interprets the law in a particular what you. [inaudible] >> i understand the rule. >> you are not responding to whether or not you will rescind that rule which provides care

for thousands of female veterans. the va has over 4,050,000 employees. contracts with hundreds of thousands of private providers across the country can you explain what rules you've held for preparing for such a large organization question. >> i would love to i've been a part of this body in which i've overseen working through votes and working through bills that affect the va operation for x in the policy of the va intimately by being a member just like you. i've also spent time in the military working the clerk: department of veterans affairs, douglas collins of georgia to be secretary. mr. thune: madam president, i move to proceed to legislative ses session. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. all opposed no.

the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. mr. thune: madam president, i move to proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 12. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. those opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report the nomination. the clerk: nomination, department of justice, pam bondi of florida to be attorney general. mr. thune: madam president, i send a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the cloture motion. 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 pamela bondi of florida to be attorney general signed by 17 senators as follows. mr. thune: madam president, i ask consent the reading of the names be waived.

the presiding officer: without objection. mr. thune: madam president, i move to proceed to legislative session. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. those opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is approved. mr. thune: madam president, i move to proceed to executive session to consider calendar number 11. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. those opposed no. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. the clerk will report the nomination. the clerk: department of housing and urban development, eric turner of texas to be secretary. mr. thune: madam president, i send a cloture motion to the desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the cloture motion. 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 eric turner of texas to be secretary of housing and urban development signed by 17 senators as follows. mr. thune: madam president, i

ask consent the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. thune: i move to proceed to legislative session. the presiding officer: the question is on the motion. all in favor say aye. all opposed nay. the ayes appear to have it. the ayes do have it. the motion is agreed to. mr. thune: madam president, i have six requests for committees to meet during today's session of the senate. they have the approval of the majority and minority leaders. the presiding officer: duly no noted. mr. thune: madam president, i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to consideration of senate res. 48 which is the at desk. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: senate resolution 48 congratulating the ohio state university football team for winning the 2025 college football playoff national championship.

the presiding officer: this gator asks if there's an objection to proceeding to the measure. without objection, the senate will proceed. mr. thune: madam president, i ask unanimous consent the rouges be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. thune: madam president, i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to consideration of s. res. 49 which was submitted earlier today. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: senate resolution 49 designating the week beginning february 3, 2025, as national tribal colleges and university week. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. the senate will proceed. mr. thune: i ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection.

mr. thune: i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of s. res. 51, which was submitted earlier today. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: senate resolution 51, designating the week of february 3-7, 2025 as national school counseling week. the presiding officer: is there objection to proceeding to the measure? without objection. the senate will proceed. mr. thune: i ask unanimous consent that the resolution be agreed to , the preamble be agreed to, and that the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. thune: i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today it stand adjourned until 3:00 p.m. on monday, february 3, that following the prayer and pledge the journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and that the senate be in a period of morning business for debate only with senators permitted to speak for up to ten minutes each until 5:30 p.m. and that at 5:30 p.m. i be recognized. further that at 6:30 p.m. the

senate vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the bondi nomination. finally, that if any nominations are confirmed during monday's session the motions it reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the president be immediately notified of the senate's action. the presiding officer: without objection. so ordered. mr. thune: for the information of all senators, senators should expect three votes starting at 5:30 p.m. on monday. a procedural vote in relation to the vought nomination, a confirmation vote on the wright nomination under the order of january 30 and cloture on the bondi nomination. if there is no further business to come before the senate, i ask that it stand adjourned under the previous order. the presiding officer: the senate will stand adjourned until 3:00 p.m. on monday.

>> assent is gaveled out for the saturday. confirm doug turn for the advance and nomination of christopher wright to the u.s. energy secretary doug collins ahead of the department of veterans affairs. final votes on those nominees are expected sometime next week. watch live coach of the senate here in cspan2 when members return. ♪ c-span's "washington journal" for a live form involving you to discuss the latest issues in government, politics and public policy. from washington to across the country. coming up friday morning americans for prosperity reviews his organization's recent national tax-cut campaign legislative agenda during his second trump administration. doctor georges and benjamin executive director of the american public health association discusses the trump administration public health action alex white house reporter for the help talks about the

latest in the federal response to wednesday's deadly midair collision in d.c. other white house news of the jvc spent "washington journal" joint in the conversation live at 7:00 a.m. easter friday morning on c-span, c-span now or online at c-span.org. ♪ c-span, democracy unfiltered. funded by these television companies and more including cox. >> went connection cox is there to help. bringing affordable internet to families in need. tech to boys and girls club and support. whenever and wherever it matters the most we will be there. >> cox support c-span as a public service along with these other television providers. giving you a front row seat to democracy. >> members the national transportation safety board gave an update on the investigation of the deadly midair collision