mr. inhofe: mr. president, we have an amend that, i ask that the two leaders and ranking member be allowed to speak for such time as they shall consumer. mr. durbin: i will be happy to accept that as a friendly amendment. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. durbin: mr. president, it pains me to say this on the floor of the united united stats senate but there is no other way to describe it. by every objective standard the policies of our government constitutes child abuse when it comes to the treatment of these children at our border. hardly a day goes by that we don't hear another horror story involving these migrants, and particularly their children and babies. now, i will concede, having been there and seen it and read the numbers, we're being overwhelmed, and for that there should be some understanding and perhaps even forgiveness if we don't respond as quickly as possible, but this has dragged on and on and on for months. there are children who are being held in detention under circums

mr. inhofe: madam president. the presiding officer: the senator from oklahoma. mr. inhofe: i ask unanimous consent that the quorum call be vitiated. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. inhofe: madam president, i thought there would be people in here speaking. we are right now in consideration of the most significant bill of the bill, the national defense authorization act. it's not just the biggest bill, but the most significant one and we know it's going to pass because it passed for 50 -- 59 years in a row, and so obviously it's going to pass. but the problem is we have many amendments to be discussed because we've -- yesterday alone we adopted 93 amendments, and they are equally divided between democrats and republicans, and so i've -- i encourage all of the members who have amendments that are in the list of 93 amendments to come down to the floor and talk about the amendments. i have a list of those individuals who have requested to be here in conjunction with that. and he are not down here. let me appeal to the members, democrats and republicans alike

mr. chairman. chair inhofe: thank you, senator kaine. senator cramer. sen.mer: i wanted to discuss the difference between space command and space force. specifically on the chain of command, as we laid it out in the markup for the ndaa. as you may know, i worked with the chairman and members of the committee in sponsoring specific provisions as it relates to the command of space force. what i tried to lay out as an incremental approach that allows for the space force to be another big but bureaucracy, at least over time, while we work wit through this, and hopefully it says it up for success. that was my goal and i think the committee's goal. as you understand, the ndaa mark, should that eventually become life, and we know that it go, but there will be a dual hat commander of space force and space command for a year. after that year, of course, each would have their own commander-. i do not know at that point if you can draw straws or how that worked work, but that is what we will be working through. and then answers up the change chain of command. my reques

inhofe and ranking member read for accommodating intelligence committee and tell authorization for 2022b in the nda. i think lederman, one senator schumer for their understanding of why this was important to do. mr. president, i yield my time as much time as i may con

mr. inhofe proposes an amendment numbered 764 as modified. mr. mcconnell: i ask the reading be dispensed with. the presiding officer: is there objection? mr. mcconnell: i ask for the yeas and nays on my amendment. the presiding officer: without objection. is there sufficient second? there appears to be. the yeas and nays are ordered. mr. mcconnell: i send a cloture motion to the desk for the substitute amendment. the presiding officer: the clerk will report the 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 amendment number 764 as modified to s. 1790, a bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2020 and so forth and for other purposes signed by 17 senators. mr. mcconnell: i ask consent the reading of the names be waived. the presiding officer: is there objection? without objection. mr. mcconnell: i have an amendment at the desk and i ask the clerk to report. the presiding officer: the clerk will repo

inhofe and ranking member read for accommodating intelligence committee and tell authorization for 2022b in the nda. i think lederman, one senator schumer for their understanding of why this was important to do. mr. president, i yield my time as much time as i may consume. the committee is a unique committee. we uphold the secrecy and the confidentiality of intelligence programs to keep our nation safe every day. when sure that our intelligence committee has the tools and resources to protect america both at home and abroad. so, i am pleased that the senate is considering our intelligence authorization bill as part of the nda. our bill is a three year fiscal year in the making. in may the senate intelligence committee unanimously passed the bill with the voter 15 - zero when we see that one more time. we unanimously passed the authorization bill 15 - zero. i appreciate vice chairman warner's work the collaboration to achieve that unanimous support of all 15 members of the intelligence committee the bill is genuinely bipartisan and protects united states strengthens our national security supports the activities of men and women who are serving in uniform around the world and around the globe. i w