the presiding officer: the senator from connecticut. mr. murphy: every single day that the president doesn't have his team in place to protect this nation, our nation is under more serious threat. i ask that it be in order to make the same request with respect to calendar number 329, mary catherine phee, a career member of the senior foreign service to be a member of the board of directors of the african development foundation for a term expiring september 27, 2026. the presiding officer: is there objection? mr. cruz: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from texas. mr. cruz: reserving the right to object. i would note one of the efforts that the state department has endeavored to do to try to force these nominations through is planning a whole series of articles and papers which they somehow believe would pressure me. the most amausting of -- amusing of which was an article in i believe "politico" if i remember correctly that began ominously the mansions in europe where ambassadors reside are sadly empty due to this one senator

mr. president, you said -- >> the young lady. >> mr. president, i know you said earlier that you were not thinking of revenge toward iran. does that preclude any punishment whatsoever for what they have done? >> well, again, i have to ask your forbearance and wait until we finished our study of this whole situation as to what we're going to do. i don't think any of us have a friendly feeling toward the people that have done what they have done. i think it's too complex for me to answer until we have had time to really study this. >> one follow-up, would you go so far as to encourage american businesses to resume commercial trade with iran? >> at this point, no. >> mr. president -- >> go back there. >> do you intend to follow through with your pledge to abolish the departments of energy and education? >> i have not retreated from that at all. yes, the process, however, that i have asked for is for both the secretary of education and the secretary of energy to reorganize, to produce the most effective streamlining of the department of thei

mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from north dakota. mr. inhofe: i call up my amendment and ask that it be reported by number. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: the senator from north dakota, mr. hoeven, proposes amendment number 3243. mr. hoeven: -- to support policies that make our country and economic powerhouse as well as keeping heating and cooling costs low for americans. that means protecting access -- the presiding officer: the senator -- will the senator withhold. the senate will come to reasonable doubt 0. -- the senate will come to order. mr. hoeven: thank you. the north american reliability corporation recently warned that numerous areas of the country are at elevated or high risk of experiencing blackouts or brownouts. this warning is not limited only to california and texas. it also included most of the west, new england, and the upper midwest. my amendment promotes more baseload power from coal-fired to natural-gas power plants. we should be expanding access to power generation from resources available 2

mr. president. i welcome the presence any -- and the strong messages of the secretary-general and the representative of afghanistan. last week, we highlighted our grave concern that the number of civilians killed and injured in afghanistan had reached the highest on record with taliban responsible for the largest share of casualties. today, having declared control over afghanistan, the taliban bear even greater responsibility and accountability for the safety and security of all people in afghanistan. estonia calls for those in power, those in positions of authority to adhere to international law, in particular internationally communities of -- international humanitarian law, and uphold the norms and standards of human rights. what has not changed is more than half of the population of afghanistan is in need of humanitarian aid. it is of critical importance to ensure that the minute to get -- that administrative access is not hindered and that aid providers can work in safety. we call on all parties

mr. president, mrs.eagan, during the past few weeks over and over again so many members of the white house staff have asked for a chance as a group to say so long and job well-done. so today the staff has gathered for the last time to thank you both for the opportunity and the privilege of helping as you have sought to both change the nation and change the world, you both have succeed in both endeavors. [ cheers and applause ] for most americans, the president and first lady are two people they see on television or read about in the newspapers and magazines, and the white house is a place that is the symbol of american leadership at home and abroad. you have given all of us the honor of being here with you up close to help in the challenges you've faced, you've allowed us to play a role in the history of our great country. we have had a chance to help you frame the options, just as we have helped you promote your policies, schedule your trips, and bring your unique message to the american people. mr. pre

mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from louisiana. mr. cassidy: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that elizabeth kay, an intern in my office, be granted floor privileges today, august 5, 2021. the presiding officer: without exception. mr. cassidy: thank you. mr. durbin: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from illinois. mr. durbin: mr. president, this week the senate will vote on eunice lee's nomination to serve on the second court of appeals. if confirmed, ms. lee would be the only, the only black womannened a the only former public defender to serve on the second circuit. with her nomination the biden administration and senate democrats are continuing our efforts to build a federal judiciary that looks like america. i'd like to take a moment or two to discuss ms. lee's qualifications and what she will bring to the bench. a perspective that is sorely needed. ms. lee has dedicated her entire legal career to public defense work. most recently as an assistant federal public defender with the federal defenders of new york. graduating fr

thanks, mr president. there reports l street journal. thanks, mr i president.here reports that africans are still having trouble getting — africans are still having trouble getting to the airport, us embassy staff who _ getting to the airport, us embassy staff who are afghans haven't been able to _ staff who are afghans haven't been able to make it to the airport, as well _ able to make it to the airport, as well why— able to make it to the airport, as well. why isn't us doing more to allow— well. why isn't us doing more to allow afghans into the airport, to ensure _ allow afghans into the airport, to ensure access to the airport? and are you _ ensure access to the airport? and are you opposed to supporting the nrado— are you opposed to supporting the macro setting up an extended perimeter?— macro setting up an extended erimeter? , ., ~' , ., perimeter? number one, i think you will see they — perimeter? number one, i think you will see they will _ perimeter? number one, i think you will see they will get _ perimeter? number one, i think you will see they will g

mr. president. >> i thank the represent of of afghanistan for the statement. i will now give the floor to those councilmembers who wish to make statements. i give the floor to the represented of of estonia. you have the floor, please. >> thank you, mr. president. i welcome the strong messages from the president and secretary general and represented above afghanistan. last week, we highlighted our great concern that the of civilians killed and injured in afghanistan had reached the highest on record, with the taliban responsible for the largest share of casualties. today, having declared control over afghanistan, the taliban bear an even greater responsibility and accountability for the safety and security of all people in afghanistan. estonia calls for those in power come of those in positions of authority to adhere to international law, in particular, international humanitarian law and uphold the norms and standards of human rights. what has not changed is more than half the population of afghanista

mr. president -- oh sorry. >>. you will be next. >> mr. ident, some administrative officials have promised adherence to the civil rights laws on the books. there has been considerable discussion about dismantling the affirmative action aspect of that -- give those laws to some people greater meaning. i'm wondering, mr. president, if there will be a retreat in the federal government on the government's evocacy of affirmative action policy and in hiring of blacks and hispanics specifically? >> there will be no retreat. this administration is going to be dedicated to equality. i think we have made great progress in the civil rights field. i think there are some things, however, that have -- that may not be as useful as they once were or that may be distorted in the practice. such as some affirmative action programs becoming quota systems. i'm old enough to remember when quotas existed in the united states for the purpose of discrimination. i don't want to see that happen again. >> mr. president, when and how will you seek the de-control of nat

mr. president, i yield mr. sanders: mr. president, let me begin by thanking president biden and majority leader schumer for their leadership in the arduous process whichas

mr. president. today's resolution establishes three clear expectations regarding the future of afghanistan. first, the security council excepts the taliban -- expects the taliban to live up to its commitment to provide safe passage for people who want to leave afghanistan, whether it is today, tomorrow, or after august 31. consistent with the right to leave any country, including one's own, everyone must be allowed to safely leave afghanistan for whatever reason, whenever they want, by air or by land. this is of the utmost importance to us. sadly, the u.s. is grieving the loss of 13 young service members who made the ultimate sacrifice white diligently work -- while diligently working to help people leave in safety. we are also mourning the hundreds of afghans killed or injured during the attacks. they went to the airport in search of a better life. the international community and those in afghanistan must honor their memory by doing everything they can to help those who wish to leave. as of this mo

mr. president and thank you secretary, for your briefing. mr. president, what is happening now in afghanistan is a tragedy. we have long believed the only path to a sustainable peace in afghanistan and regional stability by a negotiated political settlement. we have worked hard to breathe -- to breathe life into negotiations with the taliban and the u.s., our leading ally, and other regional powers. the taliban pledged to engage in those talks in good faith. their actions on the ground have betrayed that promise. mr. president, the taliban must immediately do three things. first, they need to cease all hostilities and military action to ensure the protection of civilians and allow a safe and orderly departure for others who wish to leave. second, they must commit unequivocally not to harbor or give safe haven to terrorist groups. third, the taliban must honor promises to protect and uphold human rights, including those of women, girls, and other minorities. we have seen evidence of taliban human rights abuses in areas where they have been in cont

mr. president. first of all, on behalf of the israeli people, i want to extend our condolences and deep sadness for the loss of american lives in kabul. the american service members lost their lives while on a mission to save other people's lives. that is the very definition of courage and sacrifice. may they rest in peace. especially on this day, i want to be crystal clear, israel always stands together with united states of america unequivocally. i also want to thank you for your warm words in our private meeting which is of your support of israel. you have always stood up for us, especially during tough times like a few months ago when thousands of rockets were being shot on israeli towns and cities. that is one friendship is really tested. we trust in your support, mr. president. israel knows that we have no better or more reliable ally in the world than the united states of america. i come here from jerusalem, our eternal capital, and i bring with me a new spirit. a spirit of goodwill. a spirit

mr. president. a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from rhode island is recognized. mr. whitehouse: mr. president, i'd like to ask unanimous consent to speak as if in morning business for let's say 22 minutes. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. whitehouse: thank you, mr. president. speeches on the y dark money interests to seize control of the supreme court are designed to describe it in all its repulsive -- intricassidy. my last speech discussed this scheme within the federalist society. this speech will take you literally down the hall from the federalist society to something called the judicial crisis network or j.c.n. they share the same purpose, the same hallway, and likely the same controlling donors. remember david koch's disastrous bid for vice president on the libertarian party ticket that showed how unappetizing his right-wing extremism was to normal people. and remember the louis powell playbook which advised quote, strength lies in organization and in the political power united

thank you, mr president.— you, mr president. you have spoken owerfull you, mr president.y about _ you, mr president. you have spoken powerfully about your _ you, mr president. you have spoken powerfully about your own _ you, mr president. you have spoken powerfully about your own son - you, mr president. you have spoken powerfully about your own son and l powerfully about your own son and the weight of these decisions. with what you _ the weight of these decisions. with what you have said, but the longer we stay, _ what you have said, but the longer we stay, the more likelihood that there _ we stay, the more likelihood that there would be a major attack. how do you _ there would be a major attack. how do you weigh stink even one more day considering _ do you weigh stink even one more day considering what is happened? -- considering what is happened? staying. i considering what is happened? » staying. i think what america says matters. what we say we are going to do, in the context that we do it. unless something exceptional changes. there are additional american citizens,

mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from missouri. mr. blunt: mr. president, i'm proud to join my friend and colleague, senator klobuchar, as we have introduced and support this amendment. every day when i come to work at the capitol, the first person i see is almost always a u.s. capitol police officer. and no matter how late i leave at night, the last person i see is almost always a u.s. capitol police officer. i was working in this building on 9/11, and one of the last people to leave that morning as the capitol police were encouraging us to get out of the building, but the last person i saw as i left the building, who was still in the building was a capitol police officer. the capitol police have a hard job to do. they not only defend us, but they defend democracy in a way that other police officers are not asked to do. and they always do it at the highest level of professionalism and dedication, never more evident than it was on january 6. it was a difficult and sad day for americans, but especially for law enforcement officers who serve and pro

the presiding officer: without objection. mr. lee: mr. president, infrastructure is the physical backbone of our country. and it's an example of positive, constructive american achievement and accomplishment. unfortunately, this particular bill in its process, content, price tag, and long-term effects simply will not serve the country, americans, and particularly utahans well. it will ultimately be detrimental to our economy, to the daily lives of the american people, and even in some cases to infrastructure itself. now, i'm not saying that i don't appreciate the hard work, goodwill, and excellent intentions of my colleagues who have put many long hours, weeks, and months into crafting it, nor am i suggesting that there aren't good things in the bill, good things that would benefit deserving people in this country. as i have said before, the question is not whether or not infrastructure is a good and a necessary thing, nor is the question whether the bill contains some good things. the question is rather how much should the federal governm

mr. president just -- put together a budget mr. president it doesn't have any increase in spending on defense spending doesn't have any increase in spending for to the homeland security, and i'm wondering if he is going to be able to get his economic plans through given the -- disaster that has taken place in afghanistan. your thoughts on -- really bernie sanders' budget much spending on green economy but no increases in defense inspecting or on the homeland. >> we are spending on a ridiculous green newly deal china is not spending on that china is opening up their -- burning coal burning plants all over the place one a week. china is not doing it russia is not doing it india is not doing it india must have a lot of -- great relationship with the president 37 great, great. but i tell you india not doing it none of them -- look, we are cleaning america but no other country is doing it. you know you have a big planet out there we are one little small piece of land, if it is clean good but if china is still convincedians russia all oth

mr. president. the presiding officer: the majority leader. mr. schumer: i ask unanimous consent the quorum be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. schumer: now, mr. president, yesterday evening, as everyone knows, the group of bipartisan senators working on infrastructure finished the text of the bill. i immediately moved to make that text the base of the bill here on the floor, as promised. last night, democrats offered to begin the amendment process right away. there are three bipartisan amendments to the bill we're ready to consider. two are led by republicans. a round-smith amendment, and a thune-tester amendment. and another from senators padilla and moran. let me be clear. these three amendments will constitute only the first tranche of potential amendments. the senate can and should consider more amendments, more afterwards. i would encourage senators from both sides of the aisle to submit potential amendments to the bill, and, as we have already done several times this year, on the anti-asian hate crimes bill, the

mr. president, i gild the floor. sen.ornyn: listening to the comments of my friend from illinois about the contributions made by immigrants to our country that i wholeheartedly agree with him. when i think about immigration, i think it is a secret sauce to american success. it's the notion you can come from

mr. president. the presiding officer: the majority whip is recognized. mr. durbin: are we in a quorum call? the presiding officer: we are. mr. durbin: i ask unanimous consent the quorum call be suspended. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: mr. president, this past saturday at 9:00 p.m., chicago police officer ella french was shot and killed during a traffic stop on the chicago south side. her death is devastating. officer french was 29 years old. she had served as a member of the chicago police department since 2018. her brother described her as the epitome of a good samaritan. a fellow officer said of her, and i quote, she truly showed the community that she loved them and would do anything for them. officer french's partner was also shot and critically wounded. we pray for his recovery. two men have beening charged by the cook county state's attorneys office in the shooting of these officers. a third man has been charged by the u.s. attorney's office for the northern district of illinois for conspiracy to violate federal firearms laws. i

mr. president. >> mr. president. >> the republican whip is recognized. >> thank you, mr. president. mr. good to see the senate taking up a genuinely bipartisan bill this week. wa group of members from both parties havepa spent weeks developing this legislation, and we saw the result of their work in the bipartisan support for proceeding to this bill. .. what is partisan legislation and that's a $3.5 trillion tax and spending spree, but that's not a good reason, mr. president, for rushing this infrastructure bill through the senate. this is an enormous bill. it's more than 2700 pages long and the legislative text was just released last night. to start with members need time to digest this legislation and then members need the opportunity to offer amendments. the bill before us today is a genuinely i partisan bill and i am very grateful for the tireless efforts of the members who put in so many long days and nights and weekends i might add to get us to this point. like a lot of our colleagues i spent the weekend here in washington as the bipartisan group worked through many final drafting

mr. president. i hate to bring this up, but i think i but he's going to but i am going to i believe it is true that mrs. reagan standing in the polls is even higher than yours is right now and i can understand that and i didn't vote for me i voted for her and some people said after the trip to europe that she was the star. how do you feel about occasionally taking second billing? as long as it is to her. i'm very happy. no that well. no. i mean that's nice and everything. but but he had all the hard work. see we're disagreeing but that's certainly isn't a fight by the way that i see most of wise fight. during the economic summit. i think it was the first dinner much of that dinner apparently was spent talking about your wife's drug efforts and the first ladies conference. and out of that summit came a decision that there's going to be an international crackdown on drugs. what did that mean to both of you to see mrs. reagan's work being taken so seriously on an international level. meant a lot to me.

mr. president i object. the presiding officer: the objection is heard. a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from delaware. mr. carper: mr. president, i ask unanimous consent that notwithstanding the option of substitute amendment number 2137 the toomey amendment 2656 be considered and agreed to. the presiding officer: is there objection? mr. shelby: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from alabama. mr. shelby: reserving the right to object again i ask that the senator modify his request to include my amendment number 2535 and that it be agreed to. the presiding officer: does the senator from delaware so amend? mr. carper: i do not. the presiding officer: is there objection to the original request by the senator from delaware? mr. shelby: i object. the presiding officer: the objection is heard. a senator: mr. president. the presiding officer: the senator from pennsylvania. mr. toomey: so for people who have been watching this and aren't familiar with the bizarre practices in this body, i want to just explain briefly what just happened here. bec

mr. president, i yield the floor.cer: the senator from maine. ms. collins: thank you, mr. president. mr. president, at long last, tomorrow morning, i expect that the senate will approve the bipartisan infrastructure investment and jobs act. for far too long, any discussion of transportation infrastructure in this country has been accompanied by the adjective crumbling. the backlog of needed repairs and upgrades and replacements in my state of maine and throughout our cup is simply enormous. americans know far too well the consequences of the chronic underinvestment in our infrastructure. poor road conditions cost them on average hundreds of dollars each year in vehicle repairs and wasted gasoline due to congestion. structurally deficient bridges often require lengthy detours when they have to be posted. slow or nonexistent internet connections create barriers to work, health care, and education. the recent pandemic has certainly laid bare the inequities and access to high-speed internet in our country. every administration in recent memory has identified improving our infrastructure

mr. president? >> senator from minnesota. >> mr. president, i thank senator schumer for his leadership, the fact that we in the senate were able to come unanimously behind this important, important resolution, which i will describe, in a minute, and i also thank senator mcconnell, and i certainly thank my friend senator blount for his leadership. we must pass this legislation honoring the capitol police and other heroes who protecteded the capitol on january 6th, by awarding them this congressional gold medal. senator blount joined me from the beginning in sponsoring the senate version of this legislation and worked with me on the rules committee and thank you to the presiding officer senator padilla for his great service on that committee, to continue the work of getting to the bottom of the security planning and response failures that we saw on january 6th. while that work goes on, it is important that we recognize the bravery and patriotism of those who defended our democracy and our lives with congress's highest honor. the insurr

mr. president. jack keane, general jack keane, on fox, a senior strategic analyst, talked about what will now be the reality. joe biden confirmed today that our military will be gone no later than next tuesday. it is thursday night. that is not long away, and that there will be possibly hundreds if not thousands of americans hostage is caught behind enemy . i never thought in my lifetime i would ever report that, sir. >> mr. trump: well, first of all, jack is great. i gave him the presidential medal of freedom at the white house, he is a fantastic man. was stronger on staying there than a lot of other people were coming to be honest with you, but he is a fantastic guy and a great patriot. he loves our country. he cannot believe what is happening here nobody can believe what is happening. and you know who he looked so bad in front of his russia and china and kim jong un, north korea, and the european union, they are laughing at us. they had a horrible meeting with the g7 the other day. they went out

thank l you, mr president. i want to follow up you, mr president.stance were american citizens— no circumstance were american citizens cannot get to the airport. that does— citizens cannot get to the airport. that does not with a square with the images _ that does not with a square with the images were sitting around the airport— images were sitting around the airport with reporting on the ground of their— airport with reporting on the ground of their colleagues were describing chaos— of their colleagues were describing chaos and — of their colleagues were describing chaos and violence. pricing unequivocally that any american that wants— unequivocally that any american that wants to _ unequivocally that any american that wants to get to the airport is getting — wants to get to the airport is getting in there and getting past the security barricade? how getting in there and getting past the security barricade?— getting in there and getting past the security barricade? how can they aet throu . h the security barricade? how can they get through to _ th

mr. president. you could not have picked a better person -- we look forward to working with him. let me thank you for signing our request for pre-lim for request for a declaration. hurricane ida came on shore with everything advertised. the surge, the rain, the wind. the good news first, all of our levee systems, particularly our federal levee systems and flood reduction systems worked. they were not overtopped, a number were breached. even some paid for with state and local funding performed extremely well. it will be a different story altogether had any of those levee systems fail. having said that, damage is still catastrophic. it was primarily wind driven, we know there are some areas that received tremendous rainfall as well. we are going to be dealing with this damage for quite a while. you mentioned the power outage, that is portable for us. -- critical for us. it is a million -- closer to 2 million people without electricity right now. we are trying to prioritize the restoration so that our

mr. president? >> one more question, mr. president. >> well, obviously leaving a trail of reporters still thirsty for more answers. the president nonetheless taking questions and offering answers after an opening statement. tried to put the focus now back on what he says completing the mission, getting u.s. troops out. but before that getting americans out and afghan citizens helped the military. the president making a bit of distinction saying we will do everything we can for the afghans. for americans he says we will get you home. i want to go to richard engel right now who made his way out on one of the evacuation flights in doha. richard what happens when folks get there? what is the next step in their transit. >> reporter: so president biden described an orderly process. discussions with taliban. it may be difficult but afghans can get to the airport and then get on these flights and then come to places like doha. it is far more chaotic than that. there are taliban checkpoints all across the city. some of them are more a

the president, who recalled mr. ersonal guests. [cheers and applause] the next day there were more of those chance meetings with ordinary people, a brief chat with a young turkish news boy brought out his deep interest in america and his affection for president eisenhower. these were feelings that mr. nixon noticed everywhere he went and in people from widely different backgrounds and national arcs. ♪ ♪ >> one of the most impressive moments of vice president nixon's day in the turkish capital was his laying a wreath at the tomb of the found per of modern turkey. founder of modern turkey. the second highest official of the united states government paid a solemn salute to the memory of one of the most extraordinary leaders of this century. ♪ ♪ >> driving back through the city enroute to the airport, the american vice president's motorcade stopped in the center of an ancient, historic part of an car a. this gave -- ankara. this gave mr. nixon once again the opportunity to meet the people. he stepped out to shake hands w

mr. president, we have your back, and you have ours. thank you, president biden.plause] president biden: please, everybody sit down. please, please. good afternoon. before i begin, let me start with something -- i apologize -- more somber. i learned a couple hours ago , when my staff came in that a , close friend of mine and i think many of you as well richard trumka died of a heart , attack. the reason i was late coming out , and i apologize for that. i was talking to his wife and his son who called. , he wasn't just a great labor leader. he was a friend. he was a friend of yours too, debbie. and he was someone i could confide in and he knew whatever , he said he would do he would do. it was simple. and tom you knew him well as , well. he was always there. he was an american worker, always fighting for working people, protecting their wages, their safety, their pensions and their ability to build a middle-class life. i've also believed that the middle class built america, but i know who built the middle class -- unions. unions built the middle class. there is no

mr. president. [inaudible] you also promised to bring out those who helped america in its war effort. we have seen what happened at the kabul airport and people who cannot get to that airport. he made the commitment to get american citizens out. will you make the same commitment to those who assisted in the american war effort over the last 20 years? two, what is your message to those around the world who could assize the conduct of the withdrawal, making it question america' credibility on the world stage? pres. biden: i have not seen any question about our credibility from allies. our national security advisor has been in contact with counterparts throughout the world and our allies, as has the general -- excuse me, i keep calling him general, but my secretary of defense. the effect of the matter is, i have not seen that. matter of fact, the exact opposite. that we are acting commiserate to what we said we would do. look, let's put this thing in the perspective. what interests do we have in afghan