Leader. I ask unanimous consent that with. Uorum be dispensed without objection. Well, mr. President , i just turned the republican leader say there is no inconsistency between what republicans are amy coney ith confirmation and garlands. Who would believe that . The contradiction is glaring and sustained on the leaders forehead and on the entire Republican Caucus if it continues. Weve heard, we just heard another warped, distorted and History Lesson from leader mcconnell. Defensive he is bout the blatant 180 degree hypocritical turn hes made on Supreme Court nominations. Distorted warped not remove theon will notHistory Lesson remove the stain. Plain and simple. A rare meet here on saturday session because there is nothing, nothing remotely the republican drive to confirm judge barrett Supreme Court only days before president ial election. Four years ago, four years ago, Republican Senate said it was a principle, that word, principle, that Supreme Court justices should not be confirmed in president ial election years. Mcconnell said, the American People deserve a choice selection of their next Supreme Court justice. That is the principle they follow the senate must and they declared this principle bound them not to consider the garland even judge though it was eight months before the president ial election of 2016. Today. E are another w days from president ial election. More than 50 million americans that number voted will only increase between today nd monday, the date of judge barretts confirmation vote. Americans are waiting in line voting ently at early lotions around the country to cast their ballots. N arizona and north carolina, maine and colorado and iowa, and s, georgia, alaska kentucky, in 26 states, where Voting Centers are open and another 15 states where can be dropped off at election offices. My home state of new york. Which today marks the first day voting. It may look a little different this year. Longer, not just because of enthusiasm but also because they are more socially distant. Should be wearing a mask. But as we speak millions of voicesns are using their to say who they want to serve as Supreme Court justice. The republicane, majority in the senate is ramming through the lifetime judge, of a of a justice, who will make hugely about their isions leader d freedom and mcconnell has says there is no contradiction between garland treated him and Amy Coney Barrett and how they are her. Ting give me a break. Saying to the are American People you get no say. Get no choice. Four years ago, when a amocratic president nominated justice republicans professed to care about giving the American People a voice. Now. O not when a republican nominated justice is on the line. When their own political power is at stake. Highminded of that principle . Epublican senators embraced so fervently in somber tones just four years ago when leader mcconnell and they told the must heed the te voices of American People when vote. Where on earth did that principle go . Govern their s current mad rush to confirm another trump justice eight days this president ial election . Revealed ocess has anything, its the supposed principle was a farce. Naked opportunism, a transparent ditch grab for power. Of course, the continuation of shameful lockstep subservience to principle trump, unprincipled president in american history. This will go down as the most hypocritical and least legitimate Supreme Court confirmation in our nations history. Again, leader mcconnell, when you talk about history, a view, thatsesided all you give. T doesnt erase what you have done. It stares the American People in face. They know it, we all know it. Know it. Ry will its a very dark moment for the senate and im ashamed that going along with this. Will be the most andisan, most hypocritical, least legitimate Supreme Court our nations n history. And now, lets look at the status of our country. Justified in light of that. We had a Record Number of covid infections yesterday. Let me repeat, a Record Number. Senate republicans doing anything about that . No. This is not a regional crisis like before. These spikes are now widespread across the whole country putting our nation at risk. In fact, in per capital terms i believer north dakota and south akota are the highest in the nation. Ad this morning that beds are running out and were not doing a thing. In the past month there has been 35 increase in the number of americans hospitalized with covid. Ovid is now the third leading cause of death in the United States. In countries like germany and covid isntstralia, close to the top 10. Fauci, are e dr. Predicting, unfortunately, are could hit that we 400,000 american deaths this year. And that the darkest and worst this pandemic unfortunately are ahead of us, not behind us. Huge wave in this pandemic is not looming. Here. We cannot afford to wait, but anything icans doing about it . No. There are tens of millions of americans out of work. Businesses are failing every day. Are Senate Republicans doing about that . No. There are foreign powers, particularly russia, trying to elections. Ur are republicans doing anything about that . No. They are too focused on implementing their deeply agenda through the courts. Because they know they could through the senate. Vote f them wouldnt even for it. Today, were going to give the republican majority in the to te the opportunity consider critical legislation thats so far languished in legislative ells graveyard. Many bills that are just sitting ere awaiting action that were passed in the house. Many with bipartisan support are sitting, waiting for senate action. That, not be doing rushing through this nomination voting, and are want their choice listened to, ot their choice, not the Republican Senate choice. So were going to start with that hensive legislation addresses the most Serious Problems facing america right now. Heroes act. Which will deliver urgent and necessary relief to the nation who are suffering. The heroes act will have a for testinge regime and tracing, 75 billion. Money thats needed, that this Administration Never gave. 9 billion re is sitting there from what we approved months ago in the cares they havent even given out yet, so incompetent are they. Donald trump in the debate, he said, oh, it will go away. Hes been saying that since january. Thats why people know hes an thempetent president during most difficult of times. And yet, he still says it. We need that money. We need money to open up our soundly. Afely and that takes extra money. Cant ool districts afford it. Ppe, buses, ventilation, oftentimes more teachers. Hot spots so people can get the dont have it in their own homes and so many more. Thats in the bill. From to prevent people being evicted from their houses. No lost their jobs through fault of their own. They are getting kicked out ither as a renter or as a mortgager. The heroes act deals with that. Oney to help Small Businesses, and not just a few. Restaurants and the stages and venues. Newspapers ters and and nonprofits and rural hospitals all left out in the are in the roposal, heroes bill. Unemployment. The 600 pandemic unemployment people out of poverty and pumps money into the economy as well as giving people at all an wealthy ability to get by. Bill. In the heroes and there is so much more. Money to make sure our elections guarded and safe. Provisions that allow the census counted in a fair way. Ll of that is in the heroes bill. The American People so much want us to pass it. But leader mcconnell will not on the floor for a debate. And his mcconnell republican majority have an ounce of concern for average they would ilies, halt this sham Supreme Court upcess and join us in taking the critical pieces of legislation which my colleagues putting on the floor all afternoon. In each case, were not asking pass it, to send it to pass it. Were simply asking them to it. Te were asking them to overrule put these nnell and bills on the floor and let there be a debate and let there be amendments. All we ask during the most desperate, desperate of times, all we ask is the ability something that really matters to the American People. Instead of rushing though a judge, Supreme Court nominee, want he American People the decision made by them, not senators. Can not when her views only minority of extreme the American People. Issues. Ws on the key so, mr. President , in order to proceed to the consideration of hr25, the heroes 2 bill, i ask nope nsent sorry. Nope. What did i say . Oh. Pardon me. Repeat that. In order to proceed to hr925, heroes 2 i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to legislative session. Mr. President , the majority to reserving the right object, the minority leader is to esting to move legislation after having repeatedly this week requested asked for votes to adjourn times. E now all of a sudden, he wants to legislate. I think there is a serious sincerity of the the minority leaders request here, mr. President , and his point, the United States senate has now recently this week, on tuesday, tuesday, this week, voted on legislation that ould do all the things that he says that he wants to do, help people who are unemployed. Had ted on a bill that employment insurance for people who are unemployed. Help Small Businesses. Bipartisan agreement on the Paycheck Protection Program small ide assistance to businesses, and that was blocked y the democrats earlier this week. Everybody in there, resources on a bipartisan agreed upon bjective, and that is more money, for resources for schools to open safely. A hundred billion dollars in open for schools to safely. They blocked it. They objected. It had money in there for farmers, something thats important to the presiding well. R and to me as they blocked it. Had money in there for the postal service. That his side has been saying repeatedly, we need to address. Blocked it. Week. D that vote this weve taken up legislation exactly along the lines of what democrat leader is asking consistently have blocked it. O, and then to say, lets adjourn. Weve had multiple votes on adjourning. This isnt serious and he knows it. This is all about politics. This is a bogus issue to detract the senate from the work at hand, which is to confirm a well judge to the Supreme Court who had a well qualified from the american bar association, which the democrat leader in the past has Gold Standard. The Gold Standard when it comes considering and judicial nominations. So mr. President , lets see this for what it is. Call it out for what it is, and out, by hes calling the way, from the house of representatives, if you look at all the stuff it had in it, and nothing he all or approach that they are cuts, ting right now, tax for manhattan millionaires, they omplain about tax cuts for the rich, this is tax cuts for millionaires in new york and california, blue state bailouts for his state of new york, think about that. That really what the American People think we ought to be now . G on right when they are unemployed, and Small Businesses need help . Thing, the the other bill hes trying to call up right now has no assistance in ppe program, the very program that everybody around the country has said has assistance to us Small Businesses, kept them in business, and there are other business who is need that help. To help about wanting businesses. They are going out of business. Hat bill that hes trying to call up right now doesnt include assistance for Small Businesses. So anyway, mr. President , this is clearly an attempt to detract the senate from the work at hand, which is to consider a qualified nominee to the United StatesSupreme Court, ne of the senates most important constitutional duties and responsibilities, and we focused on that, and if the leader is genuinely interested, he could let us get on the bill that we tried to call up earlier this week. All the s with coronavirus issues that he mentioned earlier, all of which issues. Artisan every single one of them on that list. Isnt what this is about. Its about politics. Mr. President , i object. President. Objection is heard. The democrat leader points. A few quick number one, no one were not talking about, and the american are not about qualifications. Were talking about views on issues. The American People want their healthcare taken away from them . Has said that tt she disagrees with the decision to keep it. Do American People american women want the right to them . E taken away from Amy Coney Barrett in the past has said she would do that. Do the American People want to make it even harder to form a might get some good pay . Amy coney barrett. How about gun safety. Shes to the right of scalia. He issue on Amy Coney Barrett is twofold and nothing they say changes it. Umber one, her views on the issues are so far and so extreme that she does not represent even the views of the people in this on the senate side. Nd number two, if they feel that the American People want t, want her, let them vote and decide the very same thing my friend and everyone ota else said with garland, we know it. Ocrisy when we see we know contradictions when we on the bill, yeah, lets debate it, but its testing. E on inadequate on small business. Inadequate on schools. We went to school dministrators, no money for state and local governments, and to my friend from south dakota, a police officer, a firefighter, someone who picks up the garbage or drives the buses needs help in south its a red state or new york, or a blue state. When the bill goes forral states to say its just for blue states. Kind of divisiveness that donald trump has created in this country. Dont why so many people like him and what our republican colleagues unfortunately since hes become president have followed through on. Our bill is far more comprehensive. It deals with needs. Money for testing. State and money for local governments. Or oney to help restaurants stages or nonprofits or rural hospitals. No money for hospitals in general. So the bottom line is very simple. Ours is a broad expensive bill. Skinny s a that is row bill done to appease 20 republican senators who wanted money. No money. Even debate that either. So i say to my good friend from and he is my view, the have one American People a recent poll they have a 0 , much narrower view based on hard philosophy. To the floor and lets debate it. It passed the house. Its the only thing that has a of getting done and if you want to make amendments, we that debate but dont just block something that has a eal chance of becoming law as opposed to the exercise they engaged in on tuesday in a that got rtisan bill not a single democratic vote. Lets have a debate. Floor. The mr. President. Republican whip. Mr. President , if i could make one quick observation firstoff, the funding that was provided in the republican bill wasnt inconsequential. It was 650 billion. Nd to the Democratic Leaders point about the people in this country want aed which is now 2. 4 trillion bill, i tell ou, i havent seen that anywhere, and maybe there is some polling out there that indicates that but i think if question, would you want to spend 2. 4 trillion if ou knew you were borrowing it from your children and grandchildren, you might get a different answer. Matter is th of the weve done 3. 5 trillion, all all added to the debt already to address Coronavirus Relief that being a bill up d bring that was another 650 billion and the democrats blocked it. Why . Because it didnt spend enough, and they didnt think it spent nough on the things that they thought it ought to spend money on. If thats the debate lets get on a bill. At the 650 billion and they can offer amendments to increase funding, nd by the way, we did have funding in there for testing and vaccines, significant amounts of oney negotiated by lamar alexander, the chairman of the health, education, labor and ensions committee, but if thats what they want to do then lets start there and they can have an opportunity to debate it and offer amendments, but they blocked even getting on the bill. Not the bill itself, even debating it. So when he says he wants to have a debate we could have had a debate. Had to do was let us get on the bill and we could and debated up various amendments that they wanted to offer but i would all the things our bill includes are things that are important to the American People. Bill, it was aed fiscally responsible bill and of 53 got 52 out republicans to vote for it and not a single democrat. Why . The democrats have an all or approach and they want the hold this process hostage to get a left wing agenda of items legislation. He many of which, many of which whatsoever tionship to coronavirus. Point, and by the way, with respect to the judge, yes, judge barrett is, i hink, everything that the American People want to see in a Supreme Court justice. And for him to get up here and that she doesnt have views that are supported by the people, im not i dont understand exactly that argument because my a judge isng of what supposed to do is to take the law, of a case, apply the apply the constitution, in an those al way, and apply as written. Not to try and get some result or utcome or policy preference. Thats not what judges do. What you heard him say is why we have a difference of opinion about the judiciary in this country, because they judiciary as an auxiliary legislature where you go to get outcomes and results hat you cant get through the two political branches of our government. Thats not what the judiciary is. To be independent. Its supposed to be a fair at calls balls and strikes and doesnt try and step on the scales or write the game. Of the thats when a judge is supposed to be. So they dont like this justice this judge, i should say, justice, soon to be because they think shes going to rule a certain way on they have cases and no idea about that. I mean, think about it. Same arguments have been made against republican nominees to the Supreme Court literally years. E last 30 or 40 every single time a republican president nominates an to the Supreme Court, the democrats and the left get up and say, they are going to cut healthcare. Going to destroy healthcare. They were saying that about on the Supreme Court that vote with their wing more than anybody else. They said that about chief Justice Roberts. He was going to kill healthcare. Going to destroy healthcare for millions of americans. He cast the deciding vote to uphold the Affordable Care act. Known as obama care. So they dont know what a judge do, but i know what shes going to do because shes proven it. A judge on the appellate circuit, the seventh circuit, as academic, in her writings, that she believes the role of judge is to take the facts of the case, apply the law, constitution, as written, impartially, and to render a decision. To me is what i think every merican beliefs we ought to have in a Supreme Court justice. So, yeah, this may be, you know, its fair game for them to come down here and offer up all these were going to hear, none of which have anything to do with the issue that they are to talk say they want about. But everything to do with the were considering an incredibly well qualified, not by my opinion but by everybody has ever worked with her including the dean of the Notre Dame Law School who hired her, aba, the american bar association, which passed a judgment on all of these colleagues, on the seventh circuit, staff, has ever this person interacted with, stellar recommendations. This is an incredibly qualified somebody, by the way, who i think can be relatable to the American People same,e she deals with the i that all americans do. Trying to raise seven kids. Imagine that. Organize your to schedule around seven kids. Be a professional. Exceptional work. Highly qualified. Towering intellect, shes been colleagues. Y her so, mr. President , thats what this is about. A s about trying to block well qualified judge to the Supreme Court simply because process, andke the i understand that, but this is a constitutional process. Vacancy. The constitution doesnt follow he political calendar when it comes to filling vacancies and as you heard leader mcconnell point out earlier today this issue, on confirming a nominee by a president to a vacancy created an election year, the precedent falls all one way, if back throughout history. O this is about so just so people know, every time they get up and offer a unanimous consent piece of all up a legislation, it has nothing to do with the legislation because they have already moved to multiple times this week. Meaning they want to get out of town. They dont want to have anything to do with the Supreme Court, so these they are going to get are d say republicans blocking this or that. As pointed out the first one to was offered was a bill deal with the coronavirus and provide relief to people across this country, which, by the way, we just voted on two days ago. In the ys ago, here United States senate. They blocked even getting on the bill. Of considering the substance it, which, by the way, as i said, includes a lot of bipartisan objectives and priorities, they blocked even considering it. About, s what this is and i expect thats what were going to hear today, tomorrow, wont next day but it deter us from the important work that we have at hand. President mr. President . Democrat whip. Mr. President , listen carefully the senator from kentucky came forward. His statement on the floor this morning. Defense of the procedure thats being followed, of erms of the nomination Amy Coney Barrett to the Supreme Court. Its not the first time hes historic defense and clearly hes going to continue. Feels that hes on the defense when it comes to explaining it. He is. I think everyone remembers garland, pronouncement by mcconnell and all of the barack an senators that obama did not have the authority in his last year in office to vacancy on the Supreme Court. Garland to the hill and senator mcconnell let the word go out that he would in even meet with the man his office. E would not show him the respect of meeting with him. Two or three senators broke from but most went right along, it was a very low moment. Ts one that we havent forgotten and i dont believe the American People have forgotten it because weve now when the rules and it comes to you plan president says, of cconnell course, he can fill the vacantcy. He can even fill it white votes cast in his reelection campaign. Its an enormous departure from years ago and senator mcconnell comes to the floor egularly to try to explain t away and it just doesnt work. If most americans tuned into his hearing, this session this morning, and afternoon, im not sure that they would dwell on the rules of the senate or the Senate Judiciary committee. They would probably be asking hemselves and members of their family a very basic question. Whats wrong with the senate . Doesnt the United States senate whats going on across america . Mornings New York Times front page, new peak for u. S. 82,000 in a single day. 13 states endure their worst yet. Warnings of a cold weather surge. He article, of course, referring to covid19 says, the United States is in the midst of surges of most severe the coronavirus to date, with across cases reported the country on friday than on the ther single day since pandemic began. We sit here arguing about the rules of the committee and the of the senate and who came first and who shot who, the us toan people would like focus on something that has real relevance to their life. Listed are some of the things in the this morning newspaper about whats going on comes to rica when it this coronavirus. Thursday, the same day that President Trump said the oronavirus was going away, closed quote, and joseph biden warned of a dark winter ahead, quote, the United States recorded one of its highest cases. Otals of new 75,064. By friday evening, a new peak in pandemic had been reached when more than 82,000 cases in a reported were nationwide. Breaking the daily record set on by more than 3,000 cases. 3 states have had more new infections in the past week than in any other sevenday stretch. Emerging across the country. Kentucky,in kentucky, announced more than 1,470 cases on thursday. Biggest oneday jump in that state. Cases reported in colorado. Another single day record. State of washington, governor jay ensley tweeted that the state had passed a hundred case mark adding we all need to commit to having fewer, shorter, safer interactions, especially as the weather keeps us inside more often. President , thats whats happening in america. On thet whats happening floor of the senate. Were embroiled in a political controversy over a Supreme Court of focusing on the deadly situation thats nation. Across our i have spoken to the governor of llinois regularly about his battle to try to find equipment and treatment for the people in state. Its a lonely, unpopular battle fights. This governor in illinois, as governors across the nation have to stand up, if they are responsible, have to stand up and say to the people, the residents of their states, they dont want to hear. I dont like wearing these masks. Ost people dont but its a simple effective way to dramatically increase the spread of this virus. Like the notion of social distancing. I certainly dont like the idea of being away from my grandkids rest of my family but if it means keeping them alive im going to do it. May be. Ul as it these are the simple basic hings that were now debating from one end of america to the other. Has coronavirus situation reached such a terrible state. Yesterday, when the director of health for the state of gave her daily briefing, doctor is her name, wonderful africanamerican doctor who has been steadfast against this whole battle during pandemic, during the presentation she spoke down crying. Too. Ld have, she turned her back for a moment andtried to compose herself could barely finish her press conference. She begged the people of my please, if for no other reason, for the sake of the Healthcare Professionals who lives to treat these eople, please help us, put an end to this virus. I said, mr. President , a week go today, one of my dear friends for years and years, was feeling sick, called her doctor need to go tonk i the hospital. Majorctor talk her to the hospital, not far from their home, for admission because of problems. The hospital would not accept her. Full. He rooms were she then went to the secretary largest hospital in the area, admitted she could be and treated. They would not accept her, all full. Oms were she finally made it into the third hospital. Survived until tuesday away. Ng when she passed in the United States of america, someone who had health pay, nce, was prepared to could not even be admitted to this hospitals because of coronavirus pandemic, and were sitting here on the floor was appointed ho by which president a hundred years ago . Do you wonder why people look at the senate and say, youre irrelevant. Addressing the issues we care about. Procedural play here means nothing. Ive offered amendment, you no. Ed people, bottom line say, grow up and do something to help america. To reach at it takes an agreement as we found on when we passed the cares act. Passed it in the senate with a 960. Of a bipartisan strong vote. Not a single dissenting vote. 3. 3 trillion to address the pandemic and the economy, we rose to the occasion, i went were amazed. Le you mean you actually did something in the senate . Yes, we did. Reach that point . It wasnt through the regular order. Honest, serious negotiation that took place between the white house and the congress. But since then, since then, weve not seen that. Has been one group thats stayed away from all of the around the table. The white house is there. Secretary mnuchin is there, pelosi is there. Chuck schumer, democratic leader of the senate is there. Have refused to sit down and negotiate at the table. Around ow it gets done here. People sit down and work out their differences, put a bill on 960, but nd pass it senator mcconnell has steadfastly refused to attend negotiating sessions. They boycott the sessions and come to the floor with a take it partisan amendment in order to cover some political home. Ns back what a shame. What a waste. When senator mcconnell announced just a few days ago to the white house, stop negotiating, there will be no bill before the election, there will be no covid relief before the election people back in illinois said to he thinking . Doesnt he understand the reality of whats going on . Illinois and wisconsin and michigan . And across the nation . Infection rate, death rate, hospitals being pushed to the nope. , clearly thats not a priority for senator mcconnell and Senate Republicans. The priority is not the millions who are at risk. Hundredsity is not the who are dying. The priority is one supreme and so were bound to spend five straight not a that issue and minute of that time dealing with covid19. How do you explain that to the American People . I dont believe you can. Lengthy through the history. Ill put it in the record about the barrett nomination. Just tell you, when it comes right down to it, we how were going to leave here monday night voting on one nominee but when it comes to covid19. Excuse, no excuse, no for that, and thats where we find ourselves. Story of why a the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett directly links up with about the pandemic. 220,000 american lives, my concern and the concern of everyone is to keep and the first fe question which we ask one another is, you do have Health Insurance, dont you . Obvious question. I remember a time in my own ife, newly married, law student, my wife and i blessed with a little girl who came quickly, and she was pretty sick. No Health Insurance. No Health Insurance. She was treated by a local here in washington where i was going to law school and they called me in one day nd said, since you dont have any Health Insurance, you have three options. Declare bankruptcy, with all these medical bills. And i said, doesnt sound right me. I havent even taken the Bankruptcy Court in law school. Or what else . You can file we think you medicaid, r welfare, that doesnt sound right either, im training to be lawyer. Im supposed to end up with a paying job at some point in my life. Going on welfare in law school. Option . Se is an the only other option is well total up all your bills and you over a it back to us period of years. It took us 10 years. 10 years to pay those bills had no Health Insurance. Di remember that moment . I remembered it for the rest of life, to be a father and a husband without Health Insurance baby, thinking, my goodness, is this going to keep away . Od doctors will she get the treatment she to survive . Thats what were up against now because the Affordable Care act hich i voted 10 years ago on the floor extended hell insurance to 23 million americans, 600,000 in the state illinois, and it changed Health Insurance for everybody, the Health Insurance companies lost some of their trade. Of the they can no longer put a lifetime limit on how much they pay out. Discriminate nger against a person because it happens to be a woman. Hey can no longer discriminate based on preexisting conditions. They have got to provide family ealth insurance, the option of keeping kids on the policy until they reach the age of 26. That affects all policies. So what has been the approach of the republicans, particularly this president . Eliminate that. What ive just described he wants to eliminate. It. t take my word for its been filed in the case across the street, texas versus california. Of republican attorneys general came forward and said we want to eliminate the affordable the president said im going to join you. Lets get rid of it. Senate ed it on the floor in 2017. Its one of those moments etched n my memory sitting down at my desk and i looked at that door over there and it opened at 1 30 and john mccain, republican senator from arizona, walked through the door, stood in the well, could barely lift that right arm that had been shattered when he was a prisoner lifted it just enough to say no. That no saved the affordable eliminated m being by the senate. And so where do they turn if cant get it done in congress . Off to the courts. Nd why is that important in terms of this nomination of Amy Coney Barrett . Because they are bound and fill that vacancy on the court before november 10. 10 . November because thats the day the court takes up the oral arguments on he future of the Affordable Care act and if shes not in her to that e listening argument, by tradition she cant vote on whether to eliminate it or not. Shes sent plenty of signals in the past about what she feels about the Affordable Care act nd my friends in south dakota who says you dont know how shes going to rule, there is some truth to that, she could tell you, mind but i if you were a betting person you would say the statements that criticizing chief Justice Roberts for saving the Affordable Care act, other shes made about the law itself, suggests she not be a friend when she has an opportunity to vote. Do we take that seriously, on 600,000 people in illinois . You bet i do. T directly relates to this pandemic and the opportunity for people across this country to have the coverage they need. A quick story ll about one of them. Here and ioto of her share with people the situation that she faces. Have that at i dont in front of me but im going to tell the story anyway because i it. Mber her last name is dallenburger from illinois. Amazing young woman. Battling breast cancer. There it is. Thank you. When we cut corners when it comes to the Affordable Care act, susan is one of the victims. Farmer fifth generation and wine maker. Shes got a great little vineyard and a great little out urant and ive been there. Two time cancer fighter with stage four metastatic breast cancer. The gauntlet ough of medical procedures, treatments and complications, a radiation, ctomy, pulmonary embolism, more. Ctions and the chemo cost her thousands of dollars every month even with insurance. As a business owner, susan offers insurance to her employees. Learn when eved to opening her new Health Policy withshe gets Coverage Even that medical history. It also allows her 23 year old family plan. N the heres what she says to me. Most of the time i feel driven, wine, running a winery is more than just a job, its my purpose. Than i pretend to be and thats how i make it through. I pretend that everything is year, its harder to pretend that everything is going to be okay. Im worried about the future. Im worried about money. Wont be ableat i to afford to fight cancer. Taxes. Ried about Health Insurance changes. Mercy of at the insurance companies. For americans like susan, with business, preexisting conditions, there is so much at take with this case pending before the Supreme Court, and willudges and justices who vote on it. Susan she just cant afford for this court to strike down Affordable Care act. Where will she turn . Oh, you must conclude, youre not telling the whole story, tell us about the republican affordable of the care act . Tell us about their substitute, the one thats going to save everybody so much money and all the same coverage. Toll us about that. I sure would like to but i cant been written ever down on paper ever. Here is no republican alternative. They are bound and determined to kill obama care with no substitute. Thats why john mccain voted no. He said we owe it to the to give them an alternative. Unfortunately, there is still no alternative. Schumer dent, senator earlier in the day noted that there are a lot of other things e should be taking up at this moment in time. Im going to mention a few here this morning. Measures which passed the house of representatives ago, sometimes over a year ago, sent to the cconnell. Enator m they were never taken up. They have been sitting there little or done nothing on the floor of the senate except entertain his nominations. The first one was personal to me. Ot that it affects me personally legally, but its relating to a bill that i ago. Oduced a long time on june 4, 2019 the house of representatives passed hr6, the promise act, strong bipartisan vote giving a path to dreamers. P to mr. President , i introduced the first dream act 19 years ago. This ever orking on since. These are immigrants brought to the United States as toddlers, children. Nd the dream and promise act has now been sitting on senator more than adesk for year. More than a year. Letter 22, i sent a signed by all the democratic senators, calling on senator it upell to finally bring for a vote. Four months later senator has not even responded. We sent a letter after the president urt rejected trumps effort to end deportation for dreamers, and he opinion by chief Justice Roberts, heres what he said about the actions of the trump daca. Istration on heres what he said. Capricious. D that was the description. I joined with senator luger, the years ago asking for the president to create daca. President obama responded by executive order. Sadly, President Trump eliminated it. Literally hundreds of have nds of young people their doubt because of it. The same thing is true when it comes to temporary protective people in the United States. This administration has been a courge when it comes to the issue of immigration. Particularly inspired by steven miller, a person i could never understand. Hey decided to be as mean as possible and cruel when it comes to people who are in this left horrible circumstances at home. Now is the time for us to take measure, to start the debate. If we have so much else to do. What we should be doing is to we do this. Mr. President , in order to proceed with the consideration American Dream and promise act, i ask that the enate proceed to legislative session. Any objection . Mr. President . Indiana. R from im reserving the right to object. Ive only been here a little years, and in the time that ive been here, its been that, when it comes to real attempts to make progress, so often i see that were far apart in want to go about it. State like from a indiana, where serving in our a te legislature, running business for 37 years, we seemed to get things done. Even though we were divided, of course, like most legislative are, we came together and did things that made a constituents. Our in the time before the along, ent saga came covid, civil unrest, i thought of us were putting our shoulders to the grind stone, nd im committees like health, education, labor and pension, talking o weigh in on about some of the things the have brought up about healthcare. And i think it brings in front differences in approach certainly. Im a believer that rather than to get government even more involved in certain things hat we might look at what actually works in the real world, what works in many states, including healthcare, i agree is probably the number one issue we face as a country. One issue when i was running a business. Nd i think there is so much commonality in the sense that broken healthcare system. Conservatives are slow to maneuver, may not be interested in doing things that done, but i think there is a time and a place for that, and i was pleased to see, think, 70 or 80 senators to fix in on trying healthcare. But what interrupted that months of s several an impeachment saga that proved and weve been confronted with the biggest crisis certainly in a century. Ther issues, but in this case, i think to me, trying to cut to clearly a this is maneuvers that is trying to interject in a process getting one of the most qualified judges across the become a Supreme Court justice. I think the American People are watching, too. Goes on here. We see year after year, seem not to deliver results, and when it comes to stuff that simple, when its clear based upon the credentials, especially of Amy Coney Barrett, who comes from my state, thats outstanding job as impeccable judge, credentials, and to where now litigated, not on who she is, and how she will handle herself as a Supreme Court justice, its i think thattisan, really does turn people off. This is more a sequence of maybe were both guilty of, o where we do not roll up our sleeves, get to the heart of the matter. First appy to be the republican to come across and climate is an t issue. Form a climate caucus. I got six other republicans to do it. Weve got to be engaged in the key issues of the day, earlier, wes i said sometimes are slow to come to the discussion. In the time im going to that were, i would hope do legislation in the time thats there to do it, and not a to interject it into process like this. Im so happy that weve got this situation where were going voted in on monday, and in the meantime, i think that any of the attempts that by the other side to just shows thent American Public whats wrong with this institution. So that being said, i do think qualified nominee to the Supreme Court. Its of the upmost importance not belabor the rocess, and i object to proceeding to the legislative session. Objection is heard. Mr. President . Illinois. From mr. President , i would say to the senator from indiana, i this ize that hes new to body, and what hes seen in the senate is not the senate that i elected to. There was a time, the senate may believe, we to actually brought bills to the floor. We allowed amendments, and course, hen, of committee had done its work. We loud amendments on the floor up r down, and we ended deliberating and voting, and passed here hey would those conference and miraculously at some point they would become law. Here for a appened long, long time. And i dont think youve seen it. Defense authorization bill is as close as it gets but we dont have active amendments there. On this ircumstance, bill which i brought before the committee 18 ry ears ago, 18 years ago, its passed the house of representatives and sitting on senator mcconnells desk for a year. To the senaterred Judiciary Committee and i ochair the immigration subcommittee with your colleague standing to your right from in the eve met twice last two years. Twice, and never taken this up. O for the sake of the people affected by it, asking that it come to the floor is not an unusual request. Tied up in it. So i would love to see it. It in so long most people wouldnt recognize it but i understand your objection. I want to make one more request making to ee members speak. This one is very relevant, very timely. Mr. President , we know that foreign election interference to be a real threat in america. Just this week, we learned a campaign fluence carried out by iran in which fake menacing emails were sent were ocratic voters who told to vote for trump or well come after you. Origin, were told by intelligence agencies, iran. F. B. I. Director ray has said that russia has been very to ve in its efforts influence the election, and eeks to denigrate democratic nominee joe biden. Two countries up to their elbows of our o make a mess election campaign. Its well pastime to address this threat. We spend a lot of time talking it. T we can do it by passing the house shield act. Its a bill passed in the house would esentatives that establish a duty to report election interference from foreign entities so the f. B. I. Election deral commission are aware when foreign powers are offering nlawful, unlawful election assistance to campaigns and other political committees. This bill would restrict the Campaign Information making eign entities by it illegal to offer Foreign Campaign material to foreign governments. He bill would improved transparency by applying existing Campaign Advertising to online s advertisements, and it would close critical loop holes in the further limit political spending by foreign nationals and foreign governments to try to influence the outcull of a election. Finally, the bill would prohibit voting tices about procedures to stop individuals from providing false information about voting rules and for voting. Ns in light of these ongoing to both president ial candidates, President Trump as ell as Vice President biden, this is a bipartisan attack. They are not just going after democrats or republicans. They are going after all of us isnt it about time we say were up with it and its got to stop. Thats all this bill does. Its bipartisan. Proceed to consideration of this bill and time for it to affect the election this perhaps, hr4617 shield act, i that we proceed to consideration of it, to prevent interference in elections. I ask unanimous consent that we proceed to legislative session. Is there an objection . Mr. President . Senator from indiana. Preserving the right to object, earlier, the senate is currently considering the highly qualified nominee to be an associate to Supreme Court. This request is another belabor l move to just the process. They voted to adjourn until four times ection this week, so obviously, this bill, even though it may have that we need to discuss, should not be done in this format. Continuing to consider this to the ualified nominee Supreme Court is the upmost, most important thing we should do here. Therefore, i object proceeding to legislative session. Objection . Mr. President . Senator from illinois. Mr. President , im going to put my statements into the to the other three bills and make a general request to all of them, on the bank, say. Ey in order to proceed to to the and improvement act, helping moms act of 2020 hr1585 violence against women reauthorization act i ask to the senate proceed legislative session. Is there objection . Mr. President. Senator from indiana. Object to podestaing to everything. Objection is heard. President . Senator from texas. Mr. President , on thursday, Judiciary Committee dvanced a nomination of judge Amy Coney Barrett unanimously. It was unanimous because our democratic colleagues sought to the meeting but what expedite ally did is consideration of her nomination. Puzzling to see the hairs that were set aside for our democratic colleagues filled with large blown up pictures, sort of get to that in a moment. Narrative that weve colleaguesecause our cannot successfully attack the haracter or the qualifications of this incredible nominee to Supreme Court, he discussed judge barrett discussed everything from the separation of powers to the Free Expression clause of the first us dment, and many of arveled at her knowledge and her ability to recall facts and egal decisions without so much as even a note in front of her. Surprise that the american bar association, which the minority leader is called he Gold Standard, gave her their highest rating. The chair of the standing said,tee on the judiciary in interviews with individuals in the Legal Profession and know judge o barrett, whether for a few years r decades, not one person uttered a negative word about her character. The assessment is in line with the glowing letters of support eve seen from her former colleagues and students, whose political philosophies and fall across the entire political spectrum. Hat we repeatedly heard is about judge barretts brilliance, her strong great temperament and her impressive humility. Barrett, im convinced, will serve our nation well on court. Preme its clear that the mountains of evidence stand in sharp contrast that our trait colleagues across the aisle have this ted to paint of nominee. Democrats have tried to claim that shes somehow too radical that in her act three years on the seventh Circuit Court of appeals shes with her colleagues 95 cases they in 600 have decided. Back in 2017, when she was circuitd to the seventh she was attacked explicitly because of her catholic faith, know hough her colleagues that under the constitution, no eligious test is permissible, and really, suggesting that because of her faith, she oath to follow her decide cases on the facts and her. Law that come before truly insulting and completely personcharacter with the that we saw in judge barrett, in judiciary e committee. Our colleagues even went so far as to hold up a chart with more a hundred cases listed, and claimed that judge barrett would single one of those precedents. There is certainly no evidence that. Nothing in her record that would suggest it. Fidelity to the law, you think she would be so reckless . Well, of course not. No evidence to support it. They couldnt attack her on the merits, they use fear mongering instead. Through innuendo, isinformation, and intellectually dishonest arguments they have been trying about how she may rule on a case which she has not yet. Heard this is sort of a sky is falling little , a chicken argument but it really has to do more with the way our democratic olleagues view the judicial branch. They view it as another branch as opposed to an apolitical branch thats to interpret the law own ecide cases on their merits. Instead of addressing her philosophy, our democratic colleagues eagerly plan, should she be confirmed, to pack the Supreme Court with additional justices give them the political results that they cannot achieve the current composition of the court. This is something that Ruth Ginsberg explicitly condemned saying this would turn Supreme Court into just another political body, because you can imagine, if democrats, power, decide n to add additional judges who may decide cases in a way they would decided, e them temptation would be great for side of the aisle to add judges to the Supreme Court. Completely destroy the s been rightly called crown jewels of our constitution our independent judiciary. For many americans, the idea of apolitical only branch of government is terrifying. So not surprisingly, our colleagues across the aisle have rebrand and call this rebalancing the court. We would callwhat back home putting lipstick on a pig. Rebalance, is a way to obscure really what their goal is. They want to seize what they iew as an unaccountable body and use it to secure wins they cant win in the roughandtumble of the process. Ve if you cant win an election, if you cant win a vote in well, get the Supreme Court. Get the judiciary to bail you out. Thats not the appropriate role of judges or the judiciary under our constitution. Our democratic colleagues seem absolutely fearful about judges actually apply the law as written. Want somebody to impose a was t, that they wish written, was required. They want judges who evaluate the letter of the law, but through the same lens of personal and political biases. Short, they dont really want a fair and impartial judge like judge barrett. A guaranteed result. Our democratic colleagues judge barrett ed to say how she would rule on cases. They asked her to share her personal views. They demanded a commitment from recuse herself from specific cases, but once again, shes arrett proved why the right person for this job. She followed the precedents set by former and current justices and respectfully refrained from those sort of provocative questions. Contrary to what our democratic belief Supreme Court justices are not life tenured super legislators. To apply the ated law as written. No favors. Biases. No predetermined outcomes. Ginsberg said ge when she was confirmed. And thats why its so important Amy Coney Barrett. Shes artfully demonstrated her understanding of the rule of the judiciary, shes shown she has the temperament and the the experience to serve on the nations highest court. Impose her personal beliefs. She said that time and again and to suggest that she somehow violate her judicial oath in a future case is inconsistent everything weve come to know about Amy Coney Barrett. Impose her personal beliefs. She wont try to favor one side she wont her and legislate from the bench. Thats exactly the kind of knee hat republicans and democrats should want on the high court. So i look forward to supporting barretts nomination on monday when we finally vote to confirm her. On another matter, mr. President , on thursdays vicedential debate, former President Joe Biden said he transition the u. S. From the oil industry. Actually, Governor Abbott said, no, joe biden really wants to transition texans of thousands of from their paycheck. Biden is sending a not he subtle coded message, wants to end our industry as we know it. His is an industry that according to one study directly or indirectly supports one out my state. Ix jobs in and as a pillar of our states economy. Through tax revenue, highpaying jobs and downstream economic communities across texas reap substantial benefits from our thriving oil and gas every day. And those benefits reach beyond or the borders of Energy Producing state. Thats because of the hard working men and women on rigs, field, and refineries, because of their work, the merican people have access to reliable and Affordable Energy places like california and ew york, people cant fill up their tanks or hop on an airplane without ever thinking and women who made that simple task possible and now were seeing our democrat fighting to leave these Energy Sources in the dust. They are talking about switching if it were as s simple as turning on a light switch. Literally believe in all of the above energy policy. More electricity from wind energy, from Wind Turbines in the other state nation. But we know what the reality of the kind of transition that vice has talked about would mean. Weve got a taste of how would be earlier this year, when the coronavirus andemic hit the need for texass greatest Natural Resource plummeted. And fewer cars on the roads fewer planes in the sky, falling Gas Producers were left with a supply and not much demand. When the layoffs began. A new report found that between this year ugust of about 107,000 Energy Workers in laid off. And that doesnt include the countless workers when had their cut or who were temporarily furloughed. To make matters worse, the study as much as 70 of those jobs may not even come 2021. By the end of and thats if we continue, if we business as usual. If the Vice President s plan was enacted these workers would have no jobs to come back to, and it beginning of the he cascading negative economic consequences. Many americans arent old enough to remember the 1970s energy which put our Energy Dependence in this country in the spotlight. Situation was so bad that gas stations were serving customers by appointment only. Some states banned neon signs to and a n on energy use number of towns asked their citizens not to even put up lights. As it was a hard, cold dose of reality that brought americas and y dependence to light underscored the need to increase weanomestic resources, and ourselves off the dependency of exactly il and thats what we did. We placed a ban on the export of grow oil at that time to our reserves here at home. Ith the shale revolution and Technological Advancements in the Energy Sector in recent ears, though, production has skyrocketed. Then it became abundantly clear t was time to lift the export ban which we did. Almost five years ago, i voted that n the senate to lift 40yearold export ban, and hit, we were 9 seeing major gains. Last november, for the first the u. S. Cord, exported more crude oil and fuel imported. And now that weve reached call what you could energy selfsufficiency, our democratic colleagues are eager would se policies that send us right back to the 1970s, orwellian Energy Crisis and wreak economic havoc in the process. You know, really, i think avent biden has succeeded in alienating all sides on this topic. Ecause hes been flipping and flopping back and forth about fracking bans, whether it would the board or just to federal lands. But Kamala Harris has been completely lear and consistent. She said last year, there is no of banningm in favor fracking. Whether democrats are talking bout a transition, a fracking ban or the Green New Deal these proposals will kill the goose the golden egg. Our oil and gas industry, and into a tail omy spin. They would bankrupt my state, the best economy in the country. A steady by the u. S. Chamber of ommerce estimates that a fracking ban would cost our 3. 2 million jobs by 2025. The annual cost of living would 7,000. Ore than unemployment would sky rocket. Tax revenue would plummet. And the prepandemic economy of the e us the envy world might never recover. The only thing to this socalled transition, the only thing it would lead to is a dire economic and i believexas, the rest of the country as well. Unaffordable or Unreliable Energy resources, i want to be clear, i support efforts to down emissions. Thats why this shalegas revolution has been so be for by reducing nt, emissions dramatically. He United Nations energyrelated emissions dropped by almost 3 last year. Due to the increased use of natural gas for power generation. I also support renewable energy. Number d, texas is the one producer of electricity from wind. Ut even the strongest supporters of renewable sources of energy can tell you right not capable es are of providing the energy that our nation needs. All know the sun does not always shine and the wind does not always blow. Turbines and solar panels cant fill the need about 270 plusth million cars on the road, and an industry, not to mention our national defense, that to run n fossil fuels their engines. Ast year renewables accounted for only 17. 5 of our total electricity generation. Comparison, natural gas alone accounts for more than double that. The development and expansion of renewable sources is important and something that support, we simply cant cut our nose off despite our face. By denying ourselves access to really whats a gift, which is resources and fossil fuels. Now, we have hope that once daily commutes and resumes, al travel more texas Energy Workers will e back on the job and our economy will rebound, but if our country were to implement the by leading ocated democrats particularly their president ial and vice nominee, that hope would altogether disappear. If ever ot the time there was a time, to implement shortsighted like that. Policies our country is still impacting from the coronavirus and our disastrous policies would not make it better. It would make it worse. President , you have the floor. Tennessee. Tor from im glad i was here to hear the wise words of the senator texas. I look at our region, the tennessee valley, compared to california is moving like with a policy a lot Vice President biden. Powering that whole state on and closing their nuclear plants, whats happening in california, rates are going the roof and they are having rolling blackouts. Whats happening in tennessee tennessee valley, tva has wisely expanded nuclear so its more than 40 of our electricity. Course, Nuclear Power is totally emissionfree. Carbon. Zero carbon, and its reliable, nd its by far most of the carbon free electricity we produce in this country and the ombination of that Nuclear Power and hydro power and natural gas in tennessee has one of the cleanest areas in the east tennessee area where i live, i can see the ountains clearly now because all the control is on coal plants. We need a realistic policy, not an offensive one. We dont want rolling blackouts hroughout the california, because they have adopted exactly the policy Vice President bide isnt advocating. Came to the floor to speak on another subject. I want to talk about science and vaccines. Of new york and california have announced they are creating their own state panels to review covid19 vaccine data as it becomes available. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo going tonkly, im not trust the federal governments opinion. California, Governor Newsom has stated the vaccine wont be istributed in california until it is reviewed by a state panel of experts. California said course, we 20, of wont take anyones word for it. Mr. President , every day the word of food and Drug Administrations career cientists, and the safety and effectiveness of the prescriptions they approve when purchase 3. 3 billion prescriptions a day. Let me say that again. E take the word of the f. D. A. Career scientists every day when 3. 8 billion year. Iptions each i asked the food and Drug Administration commissioner on september 23 about the safety of potential covid19 vaccine. He was testifying on covid19 in Health Committee, which i chair, and of which the valued from indiana is a member. Makesd him, dr. Hahn, who the decisions about safety and efficacy at the f. D. A. . You do it . Do career scientists do it . R. Hahn replied, career scientists at the f. D. A. Do it. Very clear. Im briefed on all Major Medical hahn t decisions, dr. Said, overruling a centers decision is a very rare event. Expressed on multiple occasions my intention and ive one so during this covid19 pandemic, to make sure that by e decisions are made career scientists in the centers. Followed up by asking dr. Ahns confidence in taking a covid19 vaccine, himself. I said you referred to this once f. D. A. Approves a vaccine as we said today well ave tens of millions of doses ready, this year, none can be istributed until the f. D. A. Approvers it. Will you be willing to take that vaccine and will you recommend family . Our i asked dr. Hahn. E replied, absolutely, mr. Chairman. I have complete and absolute faith in the expertise of the are terrific at f. D. A. If they were to make a determination that a vaccine effective, i and would do that. And i would encourage my family vaccine. The those are the words of the man it is to finally approve any covid19 vaccine. The beginning of this month, as the f. D. A. Was preparing to guidance on the data needed from Vaccine Developers who demonstrate and efficacy for an authorization, there were serious questions about whether the white house as politicizing the f. D. A. s approval of vaccines for covid19. The food and Drug Administration committed its guidance. That gains was written by career scientists. Decades of ists had experience, and what they wrote was the standards that were used for the approval of vaccines against covid19. News reports of white house interference came out. Uggesting the white house was going to change the f. D. A. Guidance or that the white house to allow the f. D. A. To release its own guidance. That ere concerned about including me, mr. President , the New York Times on october 5 big headline, white house blocks new coronavirus guidelines, and it went on to f. D. A. Proposed stricter guidelines for mergency approval of a Coronavirus Vaccine but the white house chiefofstaff provisions that would push it past election day. Ox news, Trump Administration to block f. D. A. Guidelines, that could delay Coronavirus Vaccine. Fox news. The f. D. A. Proposed stricter guidance last month that could for a the timeline vaccine. Fox news said. There were many stories to this effect. Barely leave my Office Without some reporter asking me this. Was concerned about about the politicalization of the vaccine review process. O i telephoned white house chiefofstaff martin meadows and i asked him about it. Him, please do not interfere with the standards set scientists at fda of a covid19 l vaccine. Mr. President , white house did the white t i urged house to do. The white house respected the ecisions of the career scientists. They did not change one word of career dards set by the scientists for the approval of covid19 vaccines. Suggest that the governors of new york and california do the same. They should show the same espect to the f. D. A. Career scientists that the white house did. Undermining the f. D. A. s gold efficacy f safety and by setting up state review anels could delay approval, discourage americans from taking cost lives. And there is a reason why we rely on the federal overnments f. D. A. For the safety and efficacy of vaccines. Decided when ess it passed the ill be logics control act that the federal overnment should regulate dents s after tragic ins f children dying from contaminated diphtheria and smallpox vaccines. T would later become the National Institute of health in 1930, with ensuring the safety potency of biological product such as vaccines. The regulation of vaccines moved to the f. D. A. In called the center for biologic evaluation and research. Has almost 50 e years of experience to refine reviewing safety and efficacy for vaccines including what data to look at, to design Clinical Trials, to prove that the vaccines work, safe. At the vaccines are earlier this week, the f. D. A. Independent scientific and medical experts to discuss this. They talked about the authorization, and approval of vaccines for covid19. New process for assessing vaccines. Routinely convenes these ype of independent panels to help inform its review. Pete marks, head of research at the f. D. A. Wrote this about role onsory committees the f. D. A. Website. The committee will hear from experts in covid19 disease and vaccine development, as well as from career f. D. A. By career scientists with not a word changed by the white house that will review the data and then make a decision. Now, because of the work of congress and the administration, tens of millions of doses are being manufactured. So when that approval comes, whether its november, december, january, there will be tens of millions of doses of vaccine ready to distribute to the American People. But that approval wont come until the career scientists rules are followed. The f. D. A. Is considered the Gold Standard in the world, in part because it is one of the few regulatory agencies in the world that looks at detailed Clinical Trial data as part of its review rather than summaries of Clinical Trial data. The f. D. A. Division making the decision to approve or authorize a vaccine for covid19 is led by experts with decades of experience, including dr. Peter marks, whom i mentioned, the head of the center for biologics evaluation research. He has been at the center since 012. Number two, after demonstrating safety and efficacy based on Clinical Trials, the vaccine manufacturer submits an application to the f. D. A. And number three, f. D. A. Experts conduct their review and make the final determination whether or not it is safe and that it works. So, mr. President , in other words, no one knows when the vaccine will be ready to distribute. No one knows that. Even dr. Hahn. And why does he not know it . Because there is this elaborate, independent process established by career scientists with not a word changed by the white house that will review the data and then make a decision. Ow, because of the work of congress and the administration, tens of millions of doses are being manufactured. So when that approval comes, whether its november, december, january, there will be tens of millions of doses of vaccine ready to distribute to the American People. But that approval wont come until the career scientists rules are followed. The f. D. A. Is considered the Gold Standard in the world, in part because it is one of the few regulatory agencies in the world that looks at detailed Clinical Trial data as part of its review rather than summaries f Clinical Trial data. The f. D. A. Division making the decision to approve or authorize a vaccine for covid19 is led by experts with decades of experience, including dr. Peter marks, whom i mentioned, the head of the center for biologics evaluation research. He has been at the center since 012. Dr. Celia whiton, the Deputy Director, has been at the f. D. A. Since 1996. The center is led by dr. Marian kruber who has over 20 years of experience in regulatory review and approval of vaccines and biologics. The Deputy Director of the vaccine division, dr. Phillip kraus, has ten years of experience in the. D. A. Working on vaccines. The f. D. A. Will also have the advice of independent advisory committees. Mr. President california and new york, no state will be able too assemble a to assemble a Scientific Panel of experts with the same high level of acknowledge and experience, reviewing safety and efficacy information as exists at the food and Drug Administration. Democratic governors in those two states should not both be telling President Trump that he ought to follow the advice of scientists like dr. Fauci, which he should do, but at the same time undermine the review and the work of similar career scientists at the food and Drug Administration. Vaccines save lives. We have heard testimony in our Health Committee demonstrating that. Undermining Public Confidence in vaccine risks not only our ability to combat soafd but acceptance of other vaccines as well. If california and new york can override the f. D. A. On vaccines, what would prevent republican governors from banning ru486, the abortion drug, in their states . If that were to happen, im sure my democratic colleagues would cry politics and suggest that if f. D. A. Has reviewed and approved a drug and said it is safe and effective, then states should not be able to say that it is unsafe. F. D. A. Is the right agency to review and approve vaccines and drugs and medical devices. I would urge the governors of california and new york not to set up their state review panels, but instead focus their time and resources on planning to distribute the vaccine and improving testing and contract tracing. Using the resources that congress has given to states rather than secondguessing the efforts of scientists at the food and Drug Administration. Thank you, mr. President. I yield the floor. Ms. Murkowski mr. President . The presiding officer the senator from mr. President. Senator from alaska . I want to start with a thank you to you as the presiding officer for indulging me in the e nomination of judge Amy Coney Barrett to be an associate justice of the u. S. Supreme court. And while i