live coverage this month. as were public in state control of both chambers of congress and a new chapter begins with the swearing in of the 47th president of the united states on monday from the house chamber, witness vice president kamala harris preside over the certification of the electoral college votes with this historic session officially confirming donald trump as the winner of the presidential election. on january 20 tune in for live coverage of the presidential inauguration as donald trump takes the oath of office becoming the 47th president of the united states. stick with c-span this month for comprehensive unfiltered coverage of the 119th congress and the presidential inauguration. c-span, democracy unfiltered. now, senate majority leader john thune and minority leader chuck schumer offer their first remarks on the senate floor for

the opening day of the 119th congress. >> mr. president, before i begin i want to mention the deadly terrorist attack that took place in new orleans in the early hours of new year's day. this attack took the lives of 14 innocent victims and injured at least 30 others. my prayers today along with the prayers of so many americans are with all of those grieving the loss of a loved one and with the injured and their families. in las vegas law enforcement is working around the clock to understand the motivation of a soldier who blew up a tesla truck in front of a trump hotel on the same day injuring seven others. we expect our federal, state and local law enforcement to pursue every lead so that the american people understand what led to these attacks. i also want to mention the passing of former president carter who died peacefully on

december 29 at his home in georgia at the age of 100. he was governor of georgia, president of the united states but was perhaps even better known for the work he did after leaving office to promote peace and help those in need most notably through his decade-long work with habitat for humanity. i will have much more to say about president carter but today i want to extend my condolences and my prayers to his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren thursday morning their father -- as they mourn their father and grandfather. congratulations to the new secretary of the senate and the new senate sergeant at arms who are assuming their roles today. i am grateful for their service. the words of the oath that we

here at the start of each new congress are a reminder of the sponsor bullet with which we have been trusted to support and defend the constitution of the united states. 237 years ago representatives from philadelphia, pennsylvania produced something unique in human history, a blueprint for our new country founded on history, not on history or conquest but a set of ideas. it is not a perfect document but itbut it was and remains one of the greatest and most important political documents in the history of the world. it has made us as a country, it has made us a country that people around the world looked to as a beacon of freedom, a shining city on a hill. it is the solemn responsibility of those of us here in congress to preserve our constitution, to garner against enemies both foreign and domestic and to ensure that it continues to

stand that our nation continues to stand as a bulwark of freedom and human rights. when it came time to draft the constitution, the founders established checks and balances to ensure the rights of all americans were protected. one of those safeguards was the united states senate. it was a discussion of the senate, "the senate as a second branch of the legislative assembly distinct from and dividing power with a first must be in all cases a salutary check on the government. it doubles the security of the people. by requiring the concurrence of two distinct bodies and usurpation. i quote again that as the improbability of senators -- as sinister combinations will be in proportion to the dissimilarity in the genius of the two bodies, it must be politics to

distinguish them from each other. by every circumstance will -- which will consist with the do harmony and all proper measures and with a genuine principle of republican government. the founders did indeed distinguish the house from the senate. they made the senate smaller, and senators terms of office longer with the intention of creating a more thoughtful, deliberative legislative body to check ill considered or tampered legislation and protect the rights of the american people. in the past 237 years, it is a structure that has served this nation well. unfortunately, today, there are a lot of people out there who would like to see the senate turned into a copy of the house of representatives. and that is not what our founders intended. or what our country needs. one of my priorities as leader will be to ensure the senate stays the senate.

that means preserving the legislative filibuster. the senate rule that today is perhaps the greatest impact on preserving the founder's vision of the united states senate. it also means restoring the senate as a place of discussion and deliberation. that includes empowering committees, restoring regular order and engaging in extended debate on the senate floor where all members should have a chance to make their voices and the voices of their constituents heard. we have a lot to do in this congress. border security, extending the tax relief republicans delivered during the trump administration, lifting burdensome and regulations to help american businesses and families flourish. providing for our nation." 's defense in an increasingly unstable world. bringing appropriations bills to the floors for serious deliberation so we make the best possible use of taxpayer dollars.

and the list goes on. as president -- i have listened to other speeches discussing the agenda for the coming months. i now find myself in the position of delivering that speech. my republican colleagues have trusted me to lead our party and the senate in the next congress, and i will work every day to be worthy of that trust. my philosophy of leadership comes from my dad. he was a basketball coach and our high school and had very strong opinions about the right way to play. sports, to him, was not about personal glory. it was about elevating the team. he hated ball hocks -- hogs. if someone else was in a better position to take the shot, you always made the extra pass. he did not try to pad around statistics. it is an attitude i try to carry with me throughout my life. it is an attitude i tend to lead

with. my job is to be of service. i'm here today addressing the senate because of the confidence my colleagues have placed in me. what i am here first of all because of the confidence placed in me by the people of south dakota. about the trust they have get -- without the trust they have given me, i would not have the opportunity to serve out all, much less have the opportunity to serve as the majority leader of the united states senate. my first priority in congress is always to serve the people of my state. i grew up in a small town in south dakota. population today, roughly around 500 people. we even have -- we don't even have a traffic light when i was growing up. i would not have had it any other way. life in myrtle had a beautiful simplicity. sure, it had one or two drawbacks. with a population that small, we could be sure our parents would have heard all about any of our

misdemeanors before we even made it home. but small town life was wonderful. in myrtle, you know everyone, and everyone knows you. that gave us a sense of community and belonging that we carried to this day. i remember the day i told my mom i was going to run for congress. she was excited, obviously. and confidently told me, i know you will carry myrtle. in myrtle, i learned the character of south dakotans. there were effective -- the work ethic, coupled with up the -- believe in personal responsibility, a sense of responsibility to the broader community. growing up, we knew that if a wind storm came through and wiped out a barn or we lost a friend or family member, the whole community would rally to help. that same attitude is reflected in towns across our state.

the south dakota values i learned growing up help shave -- shape my political philosophy, my belief that government should be limited and it is best when it is closest to the people and if a matter can be handled, at the state or local level, it should be. the legacy of the past is something to be cherished and preserved. while leaving room for change and adaptation when needed. the freedom is a sacred gift and one that must be defended. and that with freedom comes responsibility. finally, the way of government is necessary, it should not you where we look for salvation. none of us gets where we are alone. and i/o thanks to many people. to my parents who gave us kids undying love and commitment. a strong set of values and the most precious gift of all, faith. to my brothers and sister, to my beloved wife who was here with me today.

and let me say, that i married up. i'm grateful every day for kimberly's love and wisdom, her advice and support in her endless patience. it is not an easy thing to be married to a member of congress. it is not a easy thing to have a member of congress for a dad either. i'm grateful not only for my wife's and during support but for the support of my daughters, britney and larissa. they are here today in the senate as well with their husbands, and with all of her grandchildren, john, mark, lucy, henley, hewitt, haven, and one yet to be named little one on the way, who has brought me and kimberly an immense amount of joy. not one of us is here -- not one of us here in congress could last a day without our staffs. i want to thank all of those who spend and have spent long days and long nights in my office serving south dakotans and the

american people. finally, i thank god who has richly blessed me in every way. as it says in the scriptures, from him, through him and for him are all things to him be the glory forever, amen. i yield the floor. [applause] sen. schumer: mr. president -- >> democratic leader. sen. schumer: first let me concur on the remarks my colleague made about the tragedies in new orleans, and on the west coast, and in las vegas. we regret that. i also want to say a word about jimmy carter. last week, america mourned the loss of one of the most decent and humble public servants we have ever seen, president jimmy carter. president carter was a living embodiment of leadership through

service, compassion, and a thirst for justice for all. i will have more to say about our president in the coming days. we will all have more to say about the loss of this wonderful and inspiring american. it is rare that someone leaves the presidency only to continue building his legacy to even higher levels as president carter did. that is a testament to how rare and special a person he was from improving rights to his tireless efforts alongside his wife, rosalind, with habitat for humanity. he inspired millions with his unwavering commitment to justice and equality. we pray for his family, we pray for his loved ones, may his memory be a blessing and a root -- and a enduring reminder of what it means to truly serve. now, mr. president, first, welcome to all of my colleagues to the 119th congress. i hope everyone had a blessed and happy start to the new year full of family and loved ones.

i was lucky enough to have just that. today, the senate begins a new chapter in its distinguished history. we begin our at a moment of. crossroads for our country we convened at a time of uncertainty, for american democracy, for america's economy. and for the future leadership of america on the world stage. these challenges that we face as a nation are great, and so must be our resolve. when we first begin by acknowledging my friend and colleague, the former republican leader senator mcconnell. for as long as i have served as democratic leader, he has sat opposite of me across the aisle. as he transitions away from leadership, it was nice seeing him in the seat over there where he did not have to get up all the time, i would like to thank him for those important occasions when we worked together despite our mentor -- are many fierce disagreements.

let me also congratulate our new republican leader, john thing. leader thune and i have served in this chamber for a long time. i know he is a good and decent american. someone who loves his country as we all do. i know he just became leader a moment ago. so i hope he doesn't mind if i offer some unsolicited advice. the majority leader sets the tone. cat tone determines to a large extent how successfully will be moving forward. if we look back at all of the bills we passed in 2021 and 2022, most of them originated in the senate, because both parties found ways to reach across the aisle. i want to work with the new republican. to keep that bipartisan streak going in the new year. i don't expect we will agree on if it -- anything or even many things. there. the opportunities to improve the lives of the american people if we are willing to work together. today, i congratulate leader

thune and look forward to working alongside him in the 119th congress. we also congratulate all of our returning colleagues, who have just taken their oaths of office. it is a great honor to serve in this chamber with you. work we do in this chamber has the potential to create enormous prosperity for millions of american people. if we do our jobs right. i challenge our new members, ask my new colleagues to make the most of the next six years. it will go by faster than you would think. on the democratic side, it brings me great joy and excitement to welcome in our six new colleagues to the democratic caller -- caucus. i spent the last year or so getting to know every single one of them as candidates, and seeing them finally raise their hands, take the oath and walk amongst us as colleagues fills us all with pride. now every time democrats welcome new members to our caucus, it is an exciting day. but i am particularly excited to

get to work with this uniquely talented new class. i expect we will accomplish many good things for the american people, and prevent bad things from being done to them. this year's class is distinct in two ways. they are not only unusually experienced, but many of them are making history by taking the oath of office. first i would like to welcome senator ruben vega from the state of arizona. he arrives to the sun as a veteran legislature both literally and figuratively. he served our country as a member of the u.s. marine corps, served the people of arizona as a member of the house. now that he has taken the oath of office, the people at anna's -- of errors on a have a hispanic senator representing them for the first time ever. from the state of delaware, i would like to welcome lisa blunt rochester. many of us know senator blunt rochester well because like many of our new colleagues, she was a longtime member of the house.

and when she climbed up the ranks of leadership to become assistant with while serving on the influential committee on energy and congress. like other history making members of our class, senator blunt rochester is the first woman and first person of color at her to represent nowhere in the senate. let me welcome our new colleague from maryland, born and raised in prince georges county, she is the youngest person and first woman ever elected at the top law enforcement office of the county she grew up in. she has immense experience in fighting crime, standing up for victims of abuse and violence, and helping with class americans as county executive. she now becomes the first african-american senator ever to serve in the state of maryland. from the state of michigan, we are excited to welcome senator melissa slotkin, and other deeply experienced public servant. d is another long-time veteran of the house and one of america's top national security experts.

at a time when americans demand bipartisanship, senator slotkin knows how to do it. she served in the cia under president bush, and is a department of defense under president obama. and finally, i would like to acknowledge two more colleagues who have taken their oaths that deserve special recognition on the special day. senator adam schiff from california, senator andy kim from new jersey. a longtime member of the house, senator schiff is a well-known leader to many of us, admired for his thoughtfulness, eloquence, and fierce love of democracy. finally, last but not least, i would like to congratulate our newest colleague from new jersey, senator andy kim. he posted an impressive record as longtime leader in the house, a top national security expert and diplomat, and is the first korean-american from any state to serve in the senate. to our new colleagues, we say, welcome. we are excited to work with you. . we are ready to help you. as you find your bearings, we

urge you never to lose sight of the great responsibility you carry as a member of this body. now, the election is behind us. it's time to look to the future. now begins the hard work, the important work, the solid work, of rewarding the trust of -- the trust the people have placed in us. very soon, a new administration will be sworn into office alongside the new majorities in congress. for the first time in a long time, the next president will be someone we have seen before. president elect trump will return to the oval office. in the first day in the 119th congress, i would like to take a moment to talk about how senate democrats will approach the next two years. it can be summarized like this, democrats stand united, not because of who we fight against, but because of who we are fighting for. the american people. we are here ready to fight for the american people.

we are here to fight for the working class of this country. we are here to build ladders of opportunity to the middle class. democrats are not a monolith, we come from many different states, have many different opinions. but, we grew up in places as varied as brooklyn, new york and atlanta, georgia. we are from the west coast, the east coast, the industrial midwest and everywhere in between. and we sometimes disagree. but democrats are united, fiercely united, when it comes to fighting for working americans, for working families. in the months and years to come, democrats will show where our values live through our actions and words and through the policies we push in this chamber. democrats are here to tackle the biggest problems that face our country.

democrats are here because we need to make housing more affordable, for the millions struggling to keep a roof over their heads. we need to make sure americans are earning higher paychecks, keep more of their paychecks too. democrats are here because we want to lower the cost of childcare, an outrageously high expense for too many american families who struggle to give the best lives for themselves and their children. democrats are here to defend a woman's right to choose, to defend our fundamental liberties, to defend the wellspring of democracy. we want to help our small business owners thrive and function as the engines of our economy. we want to help americans save more money when they go to the grocery store. when they go to the pharmacy. when they pay their cable and internet bill. we want to make sure americans are not ripped off by giant corporations through hidden fees and predatory behavior. democrats stand ready to make

lives better for the american people. we want to work with anybody and hold the line when necessary to achieve that goal. mr. president, the time to get to work is now. it's a new day. a new congress. and democrats stand united and ready to fight and deliver to the american people. i yield the floor, note the absence of a quorum. announcer: coming up, president biden will speak at a reception for new democratic members of congress. watch live coverage starting at 7:00 p.m. eastern on c-span, c-span now, our free mobile video app, or online at c-span.org. >> democracy, it is always an unfinished creation. >> democracy belongs to us all.

>> we are here in the sanctuary of democracy. >> great responsibilities fall once again to the great democracies. >> american democracy is bigger than any one person. >> freight nine democracy must -- freedom and democracy must be protected. >> we are still at error core a democracy. >> this is also a massive victory for democracy. >> they live look from the carter center in atlanta where the 39th u.s. president, jimmy carter, is lying in repose. he passed away on december 29 at eight 100. the public will be allowed to pay their respects to him until tuesday morning. former president carter will then be transferred to washington, d.c. where he will lie in state at the u.s. capitol until thursday morning. live coverage here on c-span.

>> a live look from the carter center in atlanta where the 39th u.s. president, jimmy carter, is lying in repose. he passed away on december 29 at

age 100. . the public will be allowed to pay their respects to him until tuesday morning. former president kong -- carter will be transferred to washington, d.c., where he will lie in state at the u.s. capitol until thursday morning. live coverage here on c-span.

announcer: president jimmy carter, the 30 night president of the united states, and the nation's long-lived leader, passed away last month at the age of 100.

joint c-span for live coverage of the state funeral on monday. the public will have the opportunity to pay their respects as president carter lies in repose at the carter center. on tuesday, his journey continues to washington, d.c., where he will lie in state at the u.s. capitol rotunda for a service attended by members of congress. the public will have the chance to honor him on wednesday as his body remains in stay at the u.s. capitol. on thursday, the national funeral service will take place at washington national cathedral, followed by his final road citing ceremony in plains, georgia. watch these fans live coverage of the funeral services for former president jimmy carter on the c-span network, c-span now, our free mobile video app, or online at c-span.org. democracy unfiltered with c-span, experience history as it unfolds with c-span's live coverage this month, as republicans take control of both chambers of congress, and a new

chapter begins with the swearing in of the 47th president of the united states. on monday, live from the house chamber, witness kamala harris preside over the certification of the electoral college vote, with a historic session will confirm donald trump as the winner of the 2024 residential election. on january 20, tune in for our live coverage of the presidential inauguration as donald trump takes the oath of office, becoming the 47th president of the united states. stay with c-span this month for comprehensive, live unfiltered coverage of the 119th congress and the presidential inauguration. c-span, democracy unfiltered. now from the c-span archives, we hear from president elect trump's nominees in their own words as they speak in favor of his candidacy from the campaign trail. so one of the most respected governors is one of the most respected governors in the

country. br