mr. leahy: mr. president normally we would be going back and forth. i have asked the senator from mississippi if he had any objection if i went -- proceeded for a knew minutes and i would ask consent that he be -- he be recognized immediately upon the conclusion of my comments. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. leahy: mr. president we have been working on the issue of human trafficking on a bipartisan basis for almost a year. we usually do do it bipartisan. i know when we -- they included my amendment on trafficking victims protection reauthorization act most senators voted for it. only 20 republicans voted against that victims act. the rest voted for it. all democrats voted for it. but on this issue today the judiciary committee reported out a comprehensive bill with strong bipartisan support. we did that last year, last fall. now, this year, we reported out a less comprehensive bill with fewer protections for those at risk of human trafficking. despite that setback i agreed to keep wor

mr. leahy: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from vermont. mr. leahy: mr. president i appreciate the courtesy of the distinguished republican leader, senator cornyn, letting me go forward for a few moments here. i just want to note that the executive director of the vermont coalition of the run away and homeless youth programs somebody i know well for their work, wrote to me yesterday to express the concern of the coalition to express their support for the runaway and homeless youth and trafficking prevention act and urges us to put aside differences and work together to support those in need. he wrote differences of opinion and the deliberative role of the senate is part of what makes our democracy strong. sometimes unity of purpose should prevail particularly involving protections of the most vulnerable among us. there should be no doubt the legislation involved in the well-being of individuals who have been victimized by the most base of human behavior should be free from partisan wrangling. i encourage your efforts to remove partisan language of the jus

mr. leahy: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from vermont. mr. leahy: mr. president, i want to completely align myself with the views of the distinguished senior senator from illinois. this isn't a case of who can score political points for that evening's news broadcast. we're talking about potentially the lives of millions of people. we're talking about the possibility of a cataclysmic mistake that could create havoc long after any of us have left in body. i've had the honor of representing vermont in this body beginning at the time when president gerald ford was president. i've had presidents i've agreed with -- in fact, every president there's been things i've agreed with and every president democratic or republican, there's been things that i've disagreed with. but one thing i have always done when there's negotiations going on i'm willing to tuck talk with the president privately but i'm not going to state my position, opposing or changing publicly. we can have only one person n

mr. leahy: madam president? the presiding officer: the senator from. vermont. mr. leahy: madam president i ask unanimous consent the call of the quorum are dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. leahy: last week the majority leader announced we finally schedule a vote this week for the nomination of loretta lynch to be our next attorney general. but today -- as of today there's no date that has been set. instead the majority leader is now saying may further delay a vote on this highly qualified nominee until after the senate is -- concludes its debate on the human trafficking bill. there's really no good reason for senate republicans to continue dragging their feet on scheduling a vote on ms. lynch's nomination. i've been here long enough to know we can debate legislation and vote on nominations at the same time. otherwise urges last thursday we voted on four other executive nominations while we were on the human trafficking bill we're telling going to vote on two more ex

mr. leahy: mr. president, of course i also would like to see the trafficking bill go forward. i'm looking around the floor of the senate. i think i'm the only person standing here on the floor who's actually prosecuted people for molestation or danger of children. i'm not going to repeat what i said yesterday. i talked about some of those horrible cases and i did mention how, having young children of my own at the time, how it hit so much so when i was preparing for trials on some of these things, i -- even before the night most cases when i could just work at home preparing for the trial i wouldn't come home, i'd work in my office. two reasons. i didn't want to take any chance that inadvertently one of my children would see any of the pictures or the exhibits we were going to have in the trials, graphic as they were. but i also, i didn't want them to see their father crying which i did as i'd read these files. and have them ask me why i was crying. i couldn't lie to them. so it was better just

mr. leahy: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from vermont. mr. leahy: mr. president i hope we will do what is right but i hope we will step back from either partisan name-call offing for ascribing -- name-calling or ascribing motives to people. i don't even though my dear friend from texas voted against the violence against women act -- i don't -- i'm never going to say that he's for violence against women. and even though that had a sex trafficking amendment in it. the fact that he and the distinguished majority leader, senator mcconnell senator hatch, senator grassley others voted against the violence against women act, i would not ascribe to them a motive that they believe in violence against women. and even though that had a strong antisex trafficking amendment in it, i don't ascribe their vote against the bill as meaning they are against that. but we have to talk about listening to the voices of the survivors. what they are saying, though, is clear. stop playing politics with our lives. poly apolly put it this way "politics should not govern the option

mr. leahy: mr. president i've listened very carefully to my good friend from texas and we've worked together on many pieces of legislation over the years. in fact, i hoped that we could have done this trafficking bill up during the last congress, as he knows. unfortunately, there were objections raised; we couldn't. i hope we're not going to get into a question where we compare apples with oranges and forget what we're supposed to be doing. the distinguished senator says on the one hand during the debate on the affordable care act, according to him and i'll take him at his word, that this language was in there and every democrat voted for it, which meant of course that every republican voted against it. if you're going to use and if you're going to follow his argument that the language in the affordable care act was voted on, voted for by democrats, it was voted against by republicans. i'm not suggesting that they don't care about the hyde amendment because they voted against it, according to the se

mr. leahy: mr. president nobody else is seeking the floor. i ask for beyond the ten minutes allotted up to three extra minutes. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. leahy: in january ms. lynch testified before the senate judiciary committee for nearly eight hours. she's now responded to nearly 900 questions for the record. i've been here 40 years. i have a hard time remembering somebody that's answered so many questions. and witnesses were invited by republicans to speak on this, but not a single one of them opposed her nomination. all the outside witnesses i asked if anybody here opposes her nomination, would you please raise your hand. nobody did. and despite this, some voted "no." some republican senators voted "no" on her nomination in committee. some of these senators oppose her because she would not renounce the president's executive action to keep immigrant families together. of course they're attacking her for this and they blame this on her, but they fail to acknowledge that if the republican leadership in the house had just

leahy: mr. affleck, in the congo, i have numbers -- i have read numbers about things that you say about. he said that you had seen things that pleasantly surprise you. suppose using your experience, we said, we're going to make you the czar of that $5 billion, how would you spend it? mr. affleck: first thing i would do is surrender that title. [laughter] sen. leahy: you are a wise man. mr. affleck: first, you hear it's too dangerous, can't work on the ground. we want to support community organizations. i know i'm the little guy on the panel, the grassroots guy, so i can speak for the little guy. we saw a lot of grassroots organizations. these coffee and cocoa collectors are perfect example of that we saw with the economic development fund alone is expandable and scalable. all across this part of the country, you have many, many many n.g.o.'s, local congolese groups that are in want only of money. we can submit to the record a survey of what we did, but it's not a question of where the money coul

mr. affleck: first thing i would do is surrender that title. [laughter] sen. leahy: you are a wise man. mr. affleck: first, you hear it's too dangerous, can't work on the ground. we want to support community organizations. i know i'm the little guy on the panel, the grassroots guy, so i can speak for the little guy. we saw a lot of grassroots organizations. these coffee and cocoa collectors are perfect example of that, we saw with the economic development fund alone is expandable and scalable. all across this part of the country, you have many, many many n.g.o.'s, local congolese groups that are in want only of money. we can submit to the record a survey of what we did, but it's not a question of where the money could go but of need. i will say that i take that your real point is around sequestration and cutting the budget and there's two ways to go. as i said, this is a nascent partnership. it is about having people to commit to it and believe it. it's not like you have a line of people ready to sort of sign up to this exact way of doing things. we asked them to change their practice an

senator leahy: mr.leck, in the congo i read a number of things and there you see things and you are seeing things that work. suppose suppose using your experience, we said, weerp going to make you the czar of that $5 billion, how would you spend it? mr. afleck: first thing i would do is surrender that title. first, you hear it's too dangerous, can't work on the ground. we want to support community organizations. i know i'm the little guy on the panel, the grassroots guy, so i can speak for the little guy. we saw a rot of grassroots organizations. these coffee and cocoa collectors are perfect example of that we saw with the economic development fund alone is expandable and scaleable. all across this part of the country, you have many many, many n.g.o.'s, local con fwmbings olese groups that are in want only of money. it's not a question of where the money could go but of need. i will say that i take that your real point is around sequestration and cutting the budget and there's two ways to go. this is a

mr. netanyahu's speech today. among them, senators frank and leahy, cain. is the far left appeasing the iranian mullahs with us here in new york city monica crowley and from washington kirsten powers. if you were a congresswoman from alaska, your home state would have you boycotted? >> yeah, i think i probably would have. >> because i think this is inappropriate. i think it was inappropriate the way the republicans handled it, that they didn't coordinate with the white house. there is no way you need to sit and listen to bibi netanyahu try to below up the iran negotiations which is essentially what he is doing. i also think it's too political so close to the elections in israel. >> why do you think netanyahu is trying to blow up the negotiations that are going none that geneva switzerland,. >> i think he we need to be quote tougher on iran even though there really is no alternative that has been put forth that all these people complaining. >> what do you mean there is no alternative. he wants stronger terms. petaluma. >> they are in the plutonium. >> the ta

mr. president, on another subject. in the last congress legislation combating human trafficking was a bipartisan matter. senators klobuchar, leahy, long leaders on this issue but this year and we can talk about how it got in the bill -- many believe it was a slight of hand -- sleight of hand but it's in the bill. an abortion provision in this bill before the body for more than 25 years i had the pressure of serving with henry hyde in the house of representatives who is famous because he has penned the hyde language which deal with abortion. all of these 25 plus yearses that matter has been put over a year at a time. now, we've never chosen to make that permanent law. this year republicans have south to injection in this bill one of the most controversial issues over the last 40 years. a woman's right to choose. and don't take my word for it. leading republicans acknowledge that abortion politics -- gentlemen senator john cornyn said quote, this bill is being hijacked and used to debate something it doesn't have anything to do about and that is the subject of abortion. ... orrin hatch said -- quote -- "i can't believe the senate

tuesday democratic senators nelson stabenow, durbin and leahy took to the floor to criticize the litter. this is 25 minutes. >> mr president. is it my understanding it is time for the minority? >> senator is correct, 24 minutes remaining. >> thank you, mr. president. mr. president when 47 senators republican senators, signed a letter sent to the ayatollah khamenei it was a letter that called also supposedly instructive of constitutional provisions of the separation of government in the united states, in effect it was up litter to e rode the negotiating position of the president of the united states and his administration in trying to reach an agreement to not have a nuclear weapon capability of building a bomb in iran. the strength of american foreign policy, i think, history will show, mr. president, that we have always been bipartisan when it comes to the interests of america as we look out and have to defend ourselves against our enemies. in deep, iran with a nuclear bomb, would, iran, with a nuclear bomb, would gravest threats. it saddens me we have come to the deck of the we are so divided that nearly half o

mr. chairman. at the outset i'd like to ask permission to include in the record a statement from senator patrick leahy, our colleague from vermont, in support of ms. yates' nomination. >> without objection. >> and i'd also like to include a number of letters, i referred to them earlier, from colleagues, law enforcement officials, officials in georgia, in support of that nomination. >> without objection those are included. >> thank you, mr. chairman. let me just ask you about olc opinions, ms. yates. it's been a tradition common to, i think, most recent administrations that olc opinions generally are not released, is that true? >> that's certainly my understanding, senator, yes. >> thank you. let me ask you about the bureau of prisons and mandatory minimums. my understanding is also that the policies on this issue have gone back and forth. i can remember a time when everybody was against mandatory minimums. then they were adopted by many states. my own feeling is that we really need to do more research and study on what is effective in deterring wrongdoers and law breakers in this area and just use the

mr. reid: the longest sesqui member of this body -- the longest serving member of this body patrick leahyof vermont he came to this body in january of 1975, 40 years and two months ago. but nipping at his heels an individual well-known in this chamber, ruby paone has been working in the senate for decades, four decades, in fact. today marks ruby's 40th anniversary of working in the senate. she isshe has worked through seven presidential administrations 16 different sergeant at arms. after working were that many senators one would think that maybe she couldn't remember these names an faces. but nays not ruby. -- but that's not ruby. she remembers everyone and everything. during these 40 years in the senate a lot has happened. not the least of which is meeting her husband whom we all know marty. marty also worked in the senate for many, many years. and we all depended on him so much. in fact, ruby and marty were both here in the capitol working on their wedding day. the senate was in session until 12:00 p.m. that day. marty and ruby decided they'd get married three hours later and they did.

mr. president, on another subject, in the last congress legislation to combat human trafficking was a bipartisan matter. senators klobuchar leahyave long been leaders on this issue. but this year, and we can talk about how it got in the bill, many believe it was a sleight of hand but it's in the bill. there is an abortion provision in this bill that's now before this body. for well more than 25 years i've had the pleasure of serving with henry hyde in the house of representatives who was famous for a number of reasons but one is he has penned the hyde language which deals with abortion. in all these 25-plus years that matter has been put over a year at a time. now we've never chosen to make that permanent law. this year republicans have sought to inject in this legislation one of the most controversial issues, a woman's right to choose. don't take my word for it. yesterday senator john cornyn said -- quote -- "this bill is being hijacked and being used in debate for something it doesn't have much to do about and that is the subject of abortion." orrin hatch said -- quote -- "i can't believe the senate has become so political th

mr. chairman. at the outset, i'd like to ask permission to include in the record a statement from senator patrick leahy, our colleague from vermont in support of ms. yates' nomination. >> without objection. >> and i'd also like to include a number of letters, i referred to them earlier, from colleagues, law enforcement officials, in georgia in support of that nomination. >> without objection. they will be included. >> thank you. thank you, mr. chairman. let me just ask you about olc opinions, ms. yates. it's been a tradition common to i think most recent administrations that olc opinions generally are not released, is that true? >> that's certainly my understanding, senator, yes. >> thank you. let me ask you about the bureau of prisons and mandatory minimums. my understanding is also that the policies on this issue have gone back and forth. i can remember a time when everybody was against mandatory minimums. then they were adopted by many states. my own feeling is that we really need to do more research and study on what is effective in deterring wrongdoers and lawbreakers in this area and just use the

mrs. capito: i ask unanimous consent that the preamble be agreed to, the leahy amendment to the title be agreed to and the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. capito: mr. president i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of s. res. 110 submitted earlier today. the presiding officer: the clerk will report. the clerk: senate resolution 110, expressing the sense of the senate about a strategy for the internet of things to promote economic growth and consumer empowerment. the presiding officer: without objection, the senate will proceed to the measure. mrs. capito: i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to the preamble be agreed to, the motion to reconsider be laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. the presiding officer: without objection. mrs. capito: mr. president i ask unanimous consent that the president of the senate be authorized to appoint a committee on the part of the senate to join with a like committee on the part of the house of representatives to escort his excellency muhammad a

mr. chairman. at the outset i'd like to ask permission to include in the record a statement from senator patrick leahy, our colleague from vermont, in support of ms. yates' nomination. >> without objection. >> and i'd also like to include a number of letters, i referred to them earlier, from colleagues, law enforcement officials, officials in georgia, in support of that nomination. >> without objection those are included. >> thank you, mr. chairman. let me just ask you about olc opinions, ms. yates. it's been a tradition common to, i think, most recent administration's that olc opinions generally are not released, is that true? >> that's certainly my understanding, senator, yes. >> thank you. let me ask you about the bureau of prisons and mandatory minimums. my understanding is also that the policies on this issue have gone back and forth. i can remember a time when everybody was against mandatory minimums. then they were adopted by many states. my own feeling is that we really need to do more research and study on what is effective in deterring wrongdoers and law breakers in this area and just use th

mr. leahy: mr. president earlier -- or a few minutes ago i was talking about why i had hoped that after 115 days we could finally have a vote on the confirmation of loretta lynch to be attorney general. she's been supported by leading republicans and democrats from -- she's been supported by republicans and democrats in law enforcement especially in light of her very tough enforcement of terrorist laws. she has on -- on abuse of public trust, she has prosecuted both democrats and republicans. but i mentioned a few minutes ago that when george w. bush was in the last two years of his term, he was a lame-duck president democrats had just taken over the control of the senate and he nominated judge mukasey to be attorney general. now, because i disagreed with judge mukasey on the question of torture, i told him i would vote against him but i also told the president that any president has a right to at least have votes on their nominees. and i moved him forward in 53 days. that's from the time he was ann

mr. leahy: and mr. president i yield the floor and suggest the -- i see my friend from idaho on the floor and i would yield the floor. mr. barrasso: mr. president? the presiding officer: the senator from wyoming. mr. barrasso: next tuesday we will reach a deal with iran on the illicit nuclear program. that is the day the obama administration said it would have a framework for a final agreement with iran. so far it seems like the administration is willing to make a deal at any cost. america cannot afford that, and congress should not allow it. an overwhelming majority of americans believe that we should not accept a bad deal with the iranians. in one poll earlier this month 84% of americans said that it's a bad idea to accept the kinds of concessions that this administration seems to be making. the obama administration started negotiating with iran more than five years ago. it has mishandled these talks from the very beginning by conceding iran's right to enriched uranium. this deal was supposed to be ab

mr. leahy: madam president i ask consent the call of the quorum be dispensed with. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. leahy: madam president i wish to proceed as if in morning business. the presiding officer: without objection. mr. leahy: madam president the united states will mark the 50th anniversary of the march from selma to montgomery, alabama. those of us who are not old enough to remember 50 years ago have read the history. those of us who are old enough at that time saw what happened. that historic march across the edmund pettus bridge five decades ago. scores of courageous americans refused to be stopped by the need for equal protection under the law. this is a case where our blood sweat and tears helped move our nation toward a more perfect union. one of those who actually shed blood, in fact nearly died on that march the march for freedom and equality, is one of my closest friends in the congress congressman john lewis of georgia. last thursday i was so proud when congress

mr. president in that regard i ask unanimous consent that when the senate resumes consideration of s. 178 that it be in order for senator leahy or his designee to offer an amendment to strike the limitations language, that there be up to one hour of debate on the amendment equally divided between the managers or their designees and that following the use or yielding back of the time the senate vote on the amendment. further that following disposition of this amendment the managers or their designees be allowed to offer amendments in alternating fashion. mr. reid: mr. president? the presiding officer: is there objection? mr. reid: reserving the right to object. the presiding officer: the democratic leader. mr. reid: mr. president my friend the senior senator from texas, could write a book on how the senate has been dysfunctional. that chapter which would be a huge part of what he would writing about would be what's happened the last six years. talk about dysfunction the republicans basically filibustered everything, and i mean everything. everything. a decision was made after obama was elected that they weren't going to suppor