The authors of the books featured. The u. S. House plans to meet tomorrow at noon eastern till the first floor vote to elect a speaker since congressman Kevin Mccarthy was ousted from the position nearly two weeks ago. Watch our live gavel to gavel coverage of the house on cspan. In the meantime the senate is returning to the after a weeklong recess. Lawmakers will debate the nomination of Jeniffer Hall to be use District Court judge for delaware. A vote to advance her nomination is scheduled for this afternoon at 5 30 p. M. Eastern. And now live to the senate floor here one cspan2. The chaplain let us pray. Eternal lord god, the author of peace, as wars and rumors of wars bombard us, we turn our eyes to you. In the past you have brought order from chaos, light from darkness, truth from falsehood, peace from conflict, and hope from despair. Please do it again. Today, use our lawmakers as instruments of your peace. May they strive to please you in all that they think, say, and do. Lord, use us all as your ambassadors of reconciliation. Let there be peace on earth and permit it to begin with each of us. We pray in your mighty name. Amen. The presiding officer please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the flag. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of america, and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. The clerk will read a communication to the senate. The clerk washington d. C. , october 16, 2023. To the senate under the provisions of rule 1, paragraph 3, of the standing rules of the senate, i hereby appoint the honorable tammy duckworth, a senator from the state of illinois, to perform the duties of the chair. Signed patty murray, president pro tempore. The presiding officer under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved. Morning business is closed. Under the previous order, the senate will proceed to executive session to resume consideration of the following nomination, which the clerk will report. The clerk nomination, the judiciary. Jennifer l. Hall of pennsylvania to be United States district judge for the district of delaware. . Is a lot happening , one of his cases. They are heading to South Carolina and of candidates heading to iowa and at the end of the month heading to las vegas for the Republican Jewish Coalition in the wake of whats going on in israel is increasingly important. They also darted releasing fundraising so we get to see how their numbers are headed for theres a lot going on in the middle of the month your. The fundraising numbers, a lot in those reports, what is the take away from what we know so far . Donald trump raised the most cash on hand. Tim scott has cash on hand as well which is in incredibly surprising given how much hes gotten into the race. Notably he didnt raise as much as some of the other candidates get has cash on hand. In fundraising numbers less than previous quarters and nikki haley we have seen fundraising numbers that speak to her campaign that she has momentum and shes the one coming up ahead in the recent weeks and months as we have seen in the first debate. We talk about the week ahead candidates recently in New Hampshire talking to voters at town halls, what did we find out about that . New hampshire has been interesting because it is an area where a lot of them have not been as focused. All candidates have been baking on iowa where they see its going to every county. On the first side, we see Chris Christie focused on New Hampshire and is opportunity so as we get closer to the primaries we see candidates branch out going to other early voting states that havent been to as much so they talked about freedom which will be important with New Hampshire voters and i will voters but also opportunity to win over dependents in the state so it will be interesting to see the next few weeks how big of an effort they put into a state like New Hampshire versus iowa where they are extremely focused. Talking about independence rfk junior talking about independence and winning over independence in his presidency. A story about his Campaign Trump readying attacks on rfk junior concern over spoiler anxiety for a guy the democrats thought might take away from joe biden and donald trump. The majority outlier rfk junior is are more popular among publicans and he is among democrats so it makes sense trump steam would keep an eye on him. This is person because of the focus on covid vaccines in republican report and at the same time make democrats weary of him so what we are seeing in the weeks after his we are seeing a lot more animosity from the republican side. After starting to launch attacks after kennedy, the press release, 13 reasons its something to keep an eye on and will an independent at this time it looks like trump steam is a little more nervous. November 8, the third Republican Debate miami on november 8, what will you watch for leading into the . Who makes the debate stage. One of the arguments ive been hearing is naturally they are going to win. We have seen them drop out nikki haley and one or two of the other candidates seemed like they might be close to dropping out and who makes the debate stage is really cool but at the same time went to look for if anyone can really bring out. Even as nikki haley argued she broke out. It hasnt really been shown in the poll numbers so looking to see if anyone can use these debates and get serious momentum not just to get into second place for take it to trump. Number four. Com is where you can go for coverage of campaign 2024 and all things politics. I appreciate your time and we will talk to you again on the road. Test skepticism is what you need to win because you and the way hes going about trying to get more people to his side, about has backfired so theres a great deal of uncertainty and its a critical time to the u. S. Theres no thing on capitol hill when you have the votes, you vote jim jordan doesnt have a vote yet, but the reason to vote for . A lot of quarters in place so there is a great deal of pressure federal exactly how chris is making sure he has 217 but in january times you do just move forward and get eventual election. Is at work going to the narrative he doesnt have a vote, was the most likely path for their hold out using to vote. One idea for this agreement whereby either several republicans have five or six wouldnt support jeffries, minority leader or five or six republicans or democrats to come support republican speakers. That was initially who would do that in a divided government but the more it is starting out more people might take a second look and its quite unlikely but its one scenario. Another possibility is patrick mchenry, unfair exactly what powers he has as pro tem speaker so there different ideas how he could be elected as speaker pro tem which might give mark capability or authority speaker pro tem by mccarthy or to could be privileged revolution for 45, 60 days to get through taking us to the members of the governmentfunded but it is appear on the health, somewhat. The uncertainty around the world, schumer was in israel over the weekend and the resolution this week perhaps expressing support for israel, what more do we know about that . Respecting opposition to a resolution like that in the senate . I think the current environment will be strong support for the on both sides of the aisle in the house with those who cosponsored the resolution they have front of to the forget because of the no package that writing as soon as in the house is able to pass legislation again. From amongst additional and special correspondent phineas honest busy week, if you want to drink the conversation, phone lines are open, republicans 2,027,488,001. Democrats 202 7488000. Independence 202 7488002. The middle east editor and your chief for six years starting between 2009 through midteens, close your reaction when these reports started to come in and what context could you add . I would say have a lot of echoes of the 2014 report which i was there for and covered from the israeli side. However, this is much different. The scale and nature of the attacks are like nothing has ever compared to israel but if you look at the scale of casualties, its up to 1400 killed on the israeli side in a country of 9. 4 million and if you care that two of the United States, 50000 people so thats way more than the 3000 something killed here on 9 11 and you just cant underestimate the shockwaves that send out to the public, Everybody Knows somebody affected, friends or relatives murdered or taken hostage or missing or not sure if they are in gaza somewhere havent been to divide the. It is a really different feeling in the country and israelis ive talked to mike the number one thing that stuck out to me is the way they talk about what they want to see in gaza and was there when in 2014 was so much focus on Israeli Military and doing everything we can to protect civilian lives or sending warnings ahead of time or after people to leave him certain levels of apartment buildings and residents on other and i just heard from so many sources it would be great if they could get but if they cant, i dont care, i just want gaza to be turned into a parking lot and that grief and anger is driving a stronger response obviously there are a number of conflicts between israel and hamas before but they would know the grass so every few years militant getting more and the leadership was too strong or they would know the grass they would cut off that layer of leadership and they do it again and this time it didnt work, we said we were taking out hamas but we didnt really and this time we need to fully demolish them and that is much different. Asking about the places that were affected, one thing important to note is along the border, one person i was talking to, fees are people who believe more than anybody else its possible like they knew we were going to be best friends but they felt it was possible to live sidebyside and willing live there on the border so they are the ones on the front line in this incredibly brutal attack. It has made it his ability difficult. How much interaction with their between those people and the people in gaza . During the 70s and 80s people i talked to one guy whose dad was a Police Officer in gaza and remembers going to the Police Station and people would get their cars fixed and people would come and build houses and find work so there was a lot of backandforth and for a time israelis lived in gaza. People have lived there for a while and have personal attractions and were familiar with that territory themselves. Settlements, this discussion about settlements in the west bank and florida is encroaching on territory, could you explain that issue . Israeli settlements in the west bank, the population has grown significantly. More than 600,000, some i dont know exact figures of what has become more influential politically part of the concern about the current government being more likely to prioritizing the criticism Israeli Military was focus on and because of poor that are not justified that is that they have been gaining political influence. One potential area beyond gaza and 30 starting to happen, israelis in the antagonizing neighbors or vice versa they are being cautious. Its hard to overstate the communities and think and it would be difficult, will keep an eye on. Your and in Florida Republican sergio, good morning. Good morning, how are you . Whats your question or comment . Okay. Good morning, how are you . , thank you to mark a couple of things that bothered me. First of all, republicans should not have control of the house because they have the dilemma of the situation. Democrats should have the house that knows how to work with israel, how can we stop this before it goes to israel . What can we do about it . Also, i do have respect for President Biden standing up for israel, how can we solve the problem . Two different questions that, who 20 want to take or in what order . We can start with house, a lot of people are feeling that will. The republican inability to appoint speaker nearly two weeks after Kevin Mccarthy was asked to is embarrassing. Many republicans feel that way so i understand your concerns wanting to see democrats take control. Evenhanded speaker for the current rules are the speaker needs a majority of the house to be elected so we will have to wait to see whether republicans share your view and back jeffries or if they will go around. Twentyfour, 13 months now people will go back in their Congressional District and remember we didnt have a speaker of the house in october of 2023 . Its so hard to say but it feels things can be so different in the year so it depends on impart how the conflict unfold to what extent it becomes a broader regional conflict and marking just providing aid but one thing for sure is a growing desire and urgent desire in the u. S. To express leadership and lack speaker in the house is undermining production of u. S. Leaders and concern around the world to one of the American Government is to say things falling apart, and cant do anything so it is imperative people say it is. The u. S. Government get its act together to prove it does have moral and the ability to help allies so allies know they can count on u. S. Support something they are to demonstrate. The best way to help israel allies in the middle east, what are you telling you about what we can do. The president and congress particularly president and secretary of state to a lot support layer white political the whole mediterranean, it is a stronger signal all over the middle east through this marathon circuit of appearance trying to negotiate americans and gaza. They have come out of the gate a strong unequivocal that is an important step and important to keep tabs on the region and has a lot and lebanon is a bigger missile and obviously they are backed by iran has left opened a second come before the senate with a heart full of grief. I come shaken by anger and fear, but with a resolve to act. I come with my spirit moved down to its core by the terrible things i saw these past few days. This morning i returned to the United States after leading a bipartisan delegation to israel along with senators rosen and kelly and romney and cassidy. As the first jewish majority leader, as the highestranking jewish elected official ever in america, i wanted to be there, and i felt an obligation to be there. It was a trip ill remember for the rest of my life, a visit to the only jewish state on earth facing one of the darkest hours of its 75year history. Probably the darkest hour. We traveled to deliver a simple and unmistakable message we, the american people, stand with the people of israel in this moment of need. We said to the people of israel, we have your back. We feel your pain. You. And in the coming weeks the United States senate will do Everything Possible to help israel eliminate the threat that hamas presents and help israel in every way we can. I thank my colleagues who joined me on this important trip. I thank everyone who will be traveling there this coming weekend. Right now our presence means the world to israel. They were so gratified that american senators came to stand with them in their moments of grief and sorrow. It was clear that just being there made a tremendous difference and boosted their resolve. We had very productive meetings with a whole range of israeli leaders, including Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu, National UnitParty Minister gantz, defense minister gallant, Opposition Leader lapede. But the most memorable meeting was with 12 families of the hostages. There they were sitting there, wondering what was happening to their mother, their sister, their brother, their baby in the hands of these brutal terrorists. Nothing prepared us for the overwhelming grief we felt talking to the families of the hostages and sharing their deep pain. There was not a dry eye in the room. Many of these people didnt know if their relatives were dead or alive. Some of them said i wonder which is better. They just knew that they were missing and taken by wretched hamas fighters. It breaks your heart. We saw footage they showed us of their loved ones being led away by the Hamas Terrorists. An elderly woman being dragged away from her family, a 12yearold boy being pushed along by these terrorists. Families in sheer agony, wondering what was happening to their loved ones in the captivity of these brutal terrorists. Today we now know that the number of hostages has exceeded 199. It is of the utmost importance that israel and the United States do everything it can to bring every single one of these hostages to safety. During our visit, we also experienced in flashes what the israelis experience on a daily basis. We were having lunch at our hotel when the sirens went off, meaning rockets were only seven to nine minutes away, rockets fired by hamas. We all rushed into a shelter and waited with bated breath until they told us the coast was clear. It happened again in the evening, moments before a press conference that had to be delayed that we held on sunday. For us, the danger was momentary, thank god, but its harrowing to think that israelis are going through this and much greater horrors every single day. So again, as the first jewish majority leader, the highestranking jewish official in america, someone who has knowledge of the persecutions and ravages that have affected the jewish people through the decades, the centuries, the millenia, i felt an be obligation to travel this weekend to israel and deliver a message of partnership. And i believe our trip went a significant way in pushing back against the dangerous false equivalency between what hamas is doing and the response against them. Let us be clear, hamas is an evil organization that wants to see israel wiped off the face of the map. They dont believe in a twostate solution. They want no israel and no jews living between the jordan and the mediterranean. Eliminating israel is part of their charter. So is the killing of jews. If left though their own devices, hamas would do to the jewish people and the rest of israel what they did to them on the gaza border. So israel cant just shrug its shoulders and say let hamas lets not try to end the threat from hamas. They have an obligation to do it because hamas attack against israel was an act of unspeakable evil. It was their goal to kill as many civilians as possible, children brutalized, the elderly slaughtered, young people in the prime of their life at a peace festival being tion gunned down as they red away. As they ran away. I was told at one of the dwutsee were rounded up and herded into the recreation room and then hamas machine gunned every one of them down until they were dead. Every one of them. It reminded me of a story of my own family, my greatgrandmother was the wife of a wellknown rabbi, when the nazis came into ukraine, it was then part of poland. In 1941 they told my grandmother to gather her family, her Greater Family on her porch. She did. About 35 people, according toou, her daughter who had come to america, told me there were about 35 people from ages 88 to 3 months. The nazis said youre coming with us. She said, were not moving. They machine gunned every one of them down. History is repeating itself in an evil and awful way. So the bottom line is simple. Hamas must be defeated. Israel must ensure they are permanently stopped. Because if the world moves on and acts as if this were just some unfortunate episode, you can be sure this will happen again. And it is essential that the entire world unite in condemning the evils of hamas. I first learned of the attacks against israel during my delegation trip to china when i met with president xi. I pointed out to president xi that their initial statement on the conflagration in the mideast didnt even mention terrorism or the deaths of these innocent civilians. I respectfully requested that he change his statement, and they did strengthen their initial statement relating to the attacks. The rest of the world must do the same. Must acknowledge and condemn the attacks, the brutal attacks that occurred this week. Now, madam president , as the senate gavels back in for a full work period, supporting israel must be at the top, at the front, at the center of our attention. To that end, i urge every Single Member of the senate, democrat and republican, independent, to unanimously support the resolution championed by chairman cardin, Ranking Member risch, leader mcconnell and myself condemning hamas and affirming that we stand with israel and their right to defend themselves. The resolution matters because the senate needs to declare in one voice that we stand with israel and against hamas. In the coming days i will be working with the administration on putting together an emergency supplemental that will give israel the tools it needs to defend itself. That means military assistance, intelligence assistance, diplomatic assistance, and humanitarian assistance to care for innocent civilians. We want to move this package quickly. The senate must go first. I know that the house is in disarray, but we cannot wait for them. The needs are too great. And if we pass a strong package with strong bipartisan support, it will importune the house somehow or other to act despite the morass they are in. Its also very important, madam president , that we not only provide the military and intelligence support israel needs, but that we provide humanitarian assistance to aid civilians impacted by the violence. During my meetings with israeli officials, my colleagues and i strongly echoed the administrations urging that israel follow the rule of law and do everything to minimize civilian deaths. Israel has a very difficult task to eliminate hamas, save the hostages, but also minimize civilian casualties, which is a difficult task but one that israel must and does strive to live up to. We are not like the evil militants of hamas. Israel is not. In america and in israel, the countries must hold themselves to a higher standard. Its part of who we are as democracies. So this package must move quickly, a package of military aid, the necessities that israel needs. We talked to the leadership of israel about what they need, and it will be in this package. Intelligence aid to make sure we share intelligence in the best way possible. Diplomatic aid to make sure that the nations of the world stand with israel. And humanitarian aid to make sure that civilians are given the help that they need. We must move this package quickly. We must also move to confirm an ambassador to israel as quickly as possible. The president has already sent us a capable and strong nominee in jack lew who will come before the Senate ForeignRelations Committee on wednesday. I urge the committee to approve him as soon as so we can bring him to the floor. We dealt very closely in our trip with so many people in the embassy, including a wonderful person, but its obvious they need an ambassador more than ever now. Mr. Lew has proven himself, a strong Public Servant and we must move his quickly, and i hope we will. Finally, as the conflict evolves in the coming days and weeks, my office will work with the administration to ensure that the Senate Remains fully updated about the situation at all times. For the information of the senate, we will hold an allsenators classified meeting this wednesday october 178 at 3 30 p. M. , provided by the secretary of defense, secretary of state, the chairman of the joint chiefs and chairman of national intelligence. It is essential that we hear what is going on with our top leaders. Madam president , the coming weeks will be an immense challenge, not just for the people of israel, but for all of us in congress as well. Now, more than ever, we must work with the spirit of bipartisanship to ensure we can govern and protect americans here at home and abroad and stand with our friends in israel. The moment is a test for all of us. A test for our ability to Work Together. A test for our resolve to stand with our friends. A test of our resolve to fulfill our fundamental duties to the world. Let us not squander this conventional moment. It on the people of israel a land of milk and honey. Let me close with this. We will be by your side. Your we will not let allow you to bear this burden alone. Your burden will be our burden. Your grief is our grief. Your cause is our cause. May the memories of the dead be a blessing and a source of strength to all of us as we navigate the road ahead. I yield the floor. I note the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call mr. Mcconnell madam president. The presiding officer the republican leader. Mr. Mcconnell i ask consent that further proceedings under the quorum call be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Mcconnell since the senate last convened, terrorists have sent shock waves through the civilized world with savage, coldblooded violence. On october 7, hamas and Palestinian Islamic jihad desecrated israel soil and tore apart israeli families with utterly medieval brutality. Like isis, terrorists from gaza turned peaceful homes and neighborhoods in israel into bloodsoaked war zones. It was the deadliest attack on israelis and on american citizens overseas in decades. But now reports and images of these horrific scenes have spread widely. Accounts of israeli women tortured and raped, of elders kidnapped, of charred corpses, beheadings and children shot dead in their homes have shaken peaceful people to their cores. N one in one area, a paramedic named ahmed was working to save the lives of victims pouring into a local clinic when she documented what would be the last moments of her own life in messages to her sister. Heres what she said. Theyre here. I dont think ill get out of here alive. Be strong if something happens to me. A few minutes later, in a call from her phone, all her sister could hear were gunshots and screams. The people of the community were slaughtered by the terrorists. Heres how one senior idf commander put it after he ran to join israels defense efforts. I heard during my childhood about the holocaust, of course, all my family came from europe. They are survivors, but i never thought i would see things like this. Madam president , the people of israel are grieving unimage mabl horrors unimaginable horrors and we have a responsibility not to look away. Not least because the same news that has shaken the civilized world to its core has emboldened antisemites and terrorist sympathizer across the globe. Weve seen thousands of demonstrators cheer on terrorist violence from the streets of western cities. In london, many jewish children were kept home from school on friday out of fear for their safety. In chicago, a bomb threat forced a local synagogue to evacuate. In sidney, australia, a supposedly propalestinian gathering devolved into a sickening flashback to the last stain on Human History has there were chants of gas the jews. On College Campuses across america left student groups vial antisemitism textualism in a thin have a near of woke jargon. So, madam president , friends of israel simply cannot afford to be silent. And as israels closest ally to the United States must lead by our example. In supporting its efforts to defend itself for as long as it takes. As i outlined over the state work period, this means loudly and clearly distinguishing between the aggressor and the victim in this war. No matter how many voices in an immediate attempt to both sides of terrorist attacks, theres simply no moral equivalence here. The responsibility of the murder of israelis lies with the terrorists who pulled the trigger and the regime that arms and trains them. Responsibility for the suffering of the Palestinian People lies with the Hamas Terrorists who consolidated power by flinging rivals, civilian officials off of rooftops, using scarce Building Supplies to dig terror tunnels, who turned Drinking Water pipes into rocket launchers and who used residents of gaza as human shields. Make no mistake, the surest way to stop violence against israelis and oppression of palestinians is to wipe terrorists like hamas from the face of the earth. To that end, the United States must continue to provide maximum support to israels counterterrorist operation as long as it takes. And just as importantly, we have to reestablish deterrence against the Iranian Regime that not only directly affects americas interest, but also bears the blood of hundreds of americans and plots to kill even more. Americas disastrous withdrawal from afghanistan, the desperate pursuit of a new nuclear deal, and the failure to respond decisively to attacks on u. S. Forces in syria has weakened our deterrence against the Worlds Largest state sponsor of terror. Americas weakness has left our allies and partners about serious questions about the ability of our commitments, and if we want to stop further violence against america as well as our friends in israel, we will make deterring an even bigger strategic adversary in asia even more difficult. Reestablishing effective deterrence means in investing in American Military strength. It means in investing in an Industrial Base thats capable of equipping both u. S. Forces both u. S. Forces and our allies and partners to meet authoritarian aggression in europe, in asia, and the middle east, it means responding to challenges with credible and unflerching resolve. Unflen muching resolve. This is a function of governing. Full stop. Ill have more to say in the coming days but right now this is not a terrorist war against israel, it is against the United States and the entire civilized world. This, madam president , is a time for choosing as israel works to eliminate the terrorists who threaten its existence, the United States must reaffirm our commitment to israels security and we must continue to demonstrate by our leadership that no country should offer safe haven to those who aid and abet terror. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call quorum call quorum call that israel and the United States does everything it can to bring every single one of these hostages to safety. During our visit we also experience what the israelis experience on a daily basis. We were having lunch at our hotel when the sirens went off meaning rockets were only seven then 10 minutes away. Rockets fired by hamas. We rush to a shelter and waited with baited breath until they told us that the coast was clear it happened again. In the evening. For us, we thank god. But it is harrowing to think that israelis are going through this a much greater powers every single day. The first jewish majority leader , the highest ranking jewish official in america, knowledge of ravages that are effective jewish people through the decades, the centuries, the millennia, i felt an obligation to travel this week into israel and deliver a message of partnership. I believe our trip went significantly and pushing back against the false equivalency. Between what hamas is doing in the response against them. Let us be clear. Wanting to see israel wiped off the face of the map they dont believe in a twofaced solution. They want no israel and no jews living between the jordan and the mediterranean. If left to their own devices, hamas would do to the jewish people and the rest of israel what they did to them on the gaza border. So israel and not just shrug its shoulders and say what not try to end the threat from hamas, they have an obligation to do it the attack against israel was an attack of unspeakable evil. It was their goal. The elderly slaughtered young people in the prime of their life at a peace festival. They ran away. I was told over 100 people, people from 90 years old down to rounded up and herded into the recreation room in which hamas machinegunned every one of them it reminded me of the story of my own family. My greatgrandmother was a life of a wellknown rabbi. When the nazis came into ukraine it was then part of poland. They told my grandmother to gather a Greater Family on her porch. About 35,000 people, her daughter who had come to america told me that there were about 35 people from ages 8823 months. The nazis said, you are coming with us. She said, we are not moving. History is written eating itself in an evil and awful way. The bottom line is simple. Hamas must be defeated. Israel must ensure they are permanently stop because if it moves on and it is some episode, you can be sure it will happen again. It is essential that the entire world unite in condemning the evils of hamas. I first learned of the attacks against israel during my delegation trip to china. I pointed out to the president that their initial statement on the mideast did not even mention terrorism or the deaths of these innocent civilians. I respectfully requested that he changed in statement and they did strengthen their statement relating to the attacks. The rest of the world must do the same. Must acknowledge and condemn the attacks. Brutal attacks that occurred this week. Now, adam president , as a senate gavels back in for a full work. Supporting israel must be at the top, front, center of our attention. To that end, i urge every Single Member of the Senate Democrat and republican independent to support the resolution by the Ranking Member. Condemning and affirming that we stand with israel and the right to defend themselves. The resolution matters because the senate needs to declare on one voice that we stand with israel and against hamas. In the coming days i will be working with the administration on putting together an emergency supplemental that will give israel the needs to defend itself. That means military assistance, intelligence assistance, diplomatic assistance and humanitarian assistance to care for innocent civilians. We want to move this package quickly. The senate must go first. I know that the house is in disarray, but we cannot wait for them. The needs are two great. If we passed a strong package strong bipartisan support, it will importune the house somehow or another to act despite what they are read. It is also very important that we provide the military but that we provide humanitarian assistance to aid civilians impacted. During my meeting with israelis officials, we strongly echoed the administrations. Following the rule of law and do everything to minimize civilian debts. Israel has a very difficult task to eliminate hamas, save the hostages but also minimize civilian casualties. Which is a difficult task. One that israel must and does strive to live up to. We are not like the evil militants of hamas. Israel is not. In america and israel it is part of who we are as democracies. This package must move quickly. We talked to the leadership of israel about what they need and it will be in this package. Intelligence aid to make sure you share intelligence in the best way possible. Diplomatic aid to make sure that the nations of the world stands with israel and a humanitarian aid to make sure that civilians are given the help that they need. We must move this package quickly. We must also move to confirm an ambassador to israel as quickly as possible. The president has already sent us a capable strong nominee and jack lew who comes before the committee. I urge the committee to approve as soon as possible without any costly partisan delays so that we can bring him to the floor and confirm him with all due haste. So many people of the embassy including a wonderful affair. But it is obvious that they really need an ambassador now more than ever. Mr. Lou has proven himself strong Public Servant, a ferocious ally of israel so delaying him would be egregious at a time like this. We must move him quickly. And i hope that we will. Finally as a conflict evolves in the coming days and weeks, my office will work with the administration to ensure that they remain updated about the situation at times. All senators classified october 18 at 3 30 a. M. Provided by the secretary of defense as secretary of state and the director of national intelligence. It is essential that we hear what is going on from our top leaders. Madam president , the coming weeks will be an immense challenge. Not just for the people of israel but for all of us in congress as well. Now more than ever we must work with the spirit of bipartisanship to ensure that we can govern and protect americans here at home and abroad and stand with our friends in israel the moment is a test for all of us. The test for our ability to Work Together. To stand with our friends. The stand to fulfill our fundamental duties. To the world. Let us not squander this consequential moment. And to the people of israel astag slaughter of jews since theastag holocaust. They have killed more than 1,is 4 who realize. Theyve taken 199 hostages, including an unknown number of americans. This was also one of the deadliest terrorist attacks in our history. They killed 30 u. S. Citizens is 13 are still missing or unaccounted for. Israel is the victim. Even the Biden White House has acknowledged that. This hasnt stopped several of my democratic colleagues from calling for a ceasefire. All of this the also has not stopped black lives matter and other propalestinian groups from glorifying the mass slaughter of jews. Students for justice in palestine called it and i quote an historic win end quote. Jews in new york, atlanta, washington, d. C. , london, berlin, and so many other cities around the globe are once again living in fear. Just this weekend protesters in nashville, tennessee, refused to condemn the horrific violence against israelis. Instead, they insignificanced that these innocent people had it coming because they insisted that these innocent people had it coming because their governments politics dont line up with the radical lefts talking points. This is indeed insanity. If we allow these positions to define our foreign policy, we put the lives of the israelis and americans and of our allies in danger. The u. S. Designated hamas as a Foreign Terrorist Organization in 1997. They are stated goal is to destroy the state of israel through jihad. Over the years, we have seen them commit acts of violence so depraved that allies to the so socalled palestinian cause deny them entirely rather than attempt to rationalize them. We know right now that 600,000 gazans have been evacuated but that theyve trapped more than enough women and children to use as human shields. Absolutely despicable. We also know that they use International Aid money not for humanitarian aid but to fund their efforts, their war efforts. Their jihad. Iran is the Worlds Largest state sponsor of terrorism and sends 100 million annually to hamas. That is in addition to supplying them with technology, Logistical Support and weapons. When the Biden Administration announced their plan to give the iranians access to 6 billion in frozen assets, we knew exactly what that meant for israel. The constant refrain from the Biden Administration is that there is and i quote no direct link to iran regarding this attack end quote. Its time for whomever wrote that talking point to turn on the news, to look at the pictures that are on the screen, to listen to what youre hearing from the ayatollah, some of the iranian officials who are, by the way, meeting with hamas leadership in qatar. In the first hours of the attack, the Biden Administration projected nothing but weakness. They deleted multiple tweets calling for a ceasefire. It took the president almost 12 hours to make a statement. This sent a very clear message to our enemies. It also sends a message to our allies. We can start by giving israel what they need to eradicate these terrorists. Last week i sent a letter urging President Biden to support israel in all possible ways. Under president trump, we cut aid to the palestinians because the Palestinian Authority used that money to reward terrorism. In 2021, President Biden reversed that policy and since he has sent more than 730 million to the palestinians, even though he knows theres a high risk and we know money is fungible, and we know what iran does with their money. They fund terrorism. They fund their proxies. And while were at it, lets start treating iran like the dangerous state sponsor of terror it is. Last week i led 19 Senate Republicans in a letter calling on President Biden to permanently freeze irans access to that 6 billion. We should send those dollars to israel to pay for the damage that hamas has done. There should be no more backdoor deals with qatar, no more silent agreements, no more quiet agreements. Lets have a formal agreement that will stop the back peddling and will stop the intentions to release that money. Which is what theyll do when the media ahe tension on this issue attention on this issue dissipates a. None of this will matter if we data root out the incompetence in our own government. Last week i sent alar to President Biden demanding the immediate removal of Jake Sullivan as his National Security advisor. He was wrong about afghanistan, the middle east, and that nuclear deal with iran in 2015. Hes got to go, as do the iranian assets that President Biden has given topsecret disclosure clearances to. Last month i stood right here and described how President Biden sent robert milley, arianne tibatibi and other operatives to negotiate the failed nuclear arms deal. Now, madam president , mr. Malley and ms. Tabatibi have been involved with the Iran Initiative and then the president gave them topsecret security clearances and sent them to negotiate on the iran deal. This has to stop. Madam president , i ask unanimous consent that these letters be entered into the record. The presiding officer without objection. Mrs. Blackburn you know,madam president , we all have a choice here. Will the u. S. Act with courage or are we going to sit quiet and allow this barbarism to continue continue . Israeli forces report that hamas bound boys and girls before shooting them in the head. Children that were bound and then shot in the head. They found families that had been burned alive. There are reports young women have been raped and then mutilated. Hamas turned a Music Festival into a killing field. The beheadings of babies weve heard those reports. These are live in infamy. The historians have a phrase to describe massacres like this. Its holocaust by bullets. It is inconceivable that any of my colleagues could tolerate demands that israel surrender to terrorists. It is time for this president , his advisors, and all of our colleagues, all of our colleagues who told the israelis to stand down to take a good, hard look at where complacency and appeasement gets us. Look at gaza, look at iran, look at afghanistan, look at china, look at our own southern border. Since october 1, Border Patrol has apprehended 30 iranians. That is since the first of this month this year. This is what Border Patrol has apprehended 30 iranians, 60 syrians, 35 pakistanis, more than 100 russians, 285 afghans, and 2,000 chinese trying to cross into our southern border undetected. Now, do they all mean us harm . Probably not. But we cannot know that for sure because this administration refuses to acknowledge the possibility that the terrorists that are coming across the southern border 246 apprehended since joe biden became president. What are we doing . What are we doing . How do we know the intentions of those 30 iranians, 2,000 chinese, 100 russians . Is there a guarantee theyre not here to kill us . The job of hamas, kill people. Youve watched them do it with glee. Terrorists, what do they do . They set up terror cells. They wait to strike to kill you, to kill you. Ive got to tell you, this Administration Needs to grow a spine. They need to grow a spine, and they need to be solid and resolute that they are going to protect this country and our citizens and our allies and that our enemies are going to know that they are an unme because enemy because we will treaty them like that. Weve got a choice. We can show courage, we can surrender, we can practice appeasement. But that is a choice. This country needs to show courage and leadership. I hope that this body and this administration will choose courage and leadership. I yield the floor. I note the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call the clerk ms. Baldwin. Quorum call Palestinian Islamic jihad. Desecrated israel soil and tore apart israeli families with utterly medieval brutality. Like isis, terrorist from gaza turned peaceful homes and neighborhoods in israel and to bloodsoaked war zones. It was the deadliest attack on the israelis and on american citizens overseas and decades. But now, reports and images of these horrific scenes have spread widely. Accounts of israeli women tortured and raped. Elders kidnapped. Charred corpses the heading of children shot dead in their homes have shaken peaceful people to their cores. A paramedic named was working to save the lives pouring into a local clinic which she documented what would be the last moments of her own life. In messages to her sister. Here is what she said. They are here. I do not think i will get out of here alive. Be strong if something happens a few minutes later, we get a call from the phone all her sister could hear were gunshots and screams. Residents of the community were slaughtered. Here is how one retired senior idf commander put it after he ran to rejoined israels defense efforts. Ive heard during my childhood about the holocaust, of course all of my family came from europe. They are survivors. I never thought that i would see things like this. Madam president , the people of israel are grieving unimaginable horrors. We have a requirement not to look away. At least because the same of the civilized war to its core has emboldened antisemites and terrorist sympathizers across the globe. Seeing thousands of demonstrators cheer on terrorist violence from the streets of western cities. Trophies. Hamas terrorists and thats exactly what they are killed at least 1,400 israelis, making it the deadliest days for jews since the holocaust. Nearly 200 additional people were kidnapped by hamas including at least 13 americans unaccounted for on top of the 30 americans that we know have been killed in the attack. Since this war began and thats what it is, a war on the state of israel we witnessed evil in its purest form. Theres no excusing, no equivocating, no explaining the actions of the hamas. Its not trying to protect the Palestinian People or promote freedom. Hamas singular goal is to annihilate the jewish people and wipe israel off the map. Any attempt to explain or justify or provide some argument of moral equivalence is completely wrong and its dangerous, and it plays directly into these terrorists hands. First of all, israel has a right to defend itself. It has a right to exist, something hamas wishes did not, was not the case. If hamas or any other terrorist Group Launches an attack on israel, its government has both the right and the responsibility to protect its citizens. Second, the number of civilian casualties on both sides, particularly those of children and babies, is absolutely appalling and heartbreaking. But then again, the innocent always bear the ultimate cost of war. Over the last several days weve seen videos and heard firsthand accounts of the terror hamas has unleashed against israel and the israeli people. These images and stories are extremely difficult to watch, but they are also very important to share. People need to know whats happening. They need to know the truth, not some candy coated version of the truth. The people of the United States and the rest of the world need to understand the magnitude and the threat of what is unfolding in the middle east. Texas, im happy to say, is home to a sizable Jewish Community, and for these individuals, the war in israel is far more than just a sad clip or the most recent news. It is a deeply personal attack on their faith and their family, because many texans, Many Americans have relatives living in israel as i speak. Last week i visited the Temple Emanuel in dallas to hear from several members of the Jewish Community in my state whose family and friends were directly impacted by this war against israel. I heard from one incredible mom, kim, whose son sons, 26yearold benji and sam mill served in the Israel Defense force. They were born and raised in dallas and moved to israel in high school, or after high school, and joined the idf, benjis wife leah is a new york native and also a soldier in the Israeli Defense forces. Kim says she struggles to sleep at night. Shes constantly checking her phone to see if shes getting messages and to make sure that her two sons are safe. I also heard from another brave woman, iai h whose family moved to israel two months ago. They came to the United States from a small kibbutz neither gaza strip where she was a teacher. She said she and her husband were awakened last saturday by a string of messages on her phone from friends, neighbors, and former students describing the terror that was unfolding in their former home. Iaih told me about conversations with former students who were terrified they might be next. She told stories of people fleeing and showed me photos of four people who were believed to have been kidnapped and two others who had been killed. As hard as it is to hear these tragic stories and i know there were even more difficult ones to share they help us all understand the depravity and the evil of what hamas has unleashed on innocent men, women, and children, civilians in israel. And although this is thousands of miles away from where we are, it affects all of us deeply. Of course these pictures show the brutality of hamas and underscore the need to continue our support for the nation of israel as it tries to eradicate this terrorist threat. Over the last several days the support for israel has been overwhelming. It transcends party lines, religion, race, and ethnicity. This is not an issue of opinion. This is a battle between right and wrong, good and evil. Of course the United States has a long and proud history of supporting israel since its interception in 1948, and its important for hamas and its allies and they of course are a proxy force for iran, the numberone state sponsor of terrorism, as is hezbollah and lebanon. Its important for the terrorists and their sponsors to understand that americas support for israel is not limited to rhetoric. If israel needs weapons, the United States will provide them. If israel needs support gathering or analyzing intelligence, the United States will provide it. If israel needs help with humanitarian assistance, medical supplies, whatever they need, the United States and the people of this great country will answer the call. The United States will not toe the line between good and evil. We will stand with our allies as they defend their home against a terrorist invasion, just as we did when cowardly terrorists took 3,000 lives here in washington, d. C. And pennsylvania about 20 years ago. As the fighting continues, im reminded of the saying that has been around for years. It goes, if hamas laid down its weapons today, there would be no more violence. If israel laid down its weapons today, there would be no more israel. Hamas is not fighting for peace. Its not fighting to defend their way of life or their territory. Its trying to wipe out an entire people. Its trying to wipe israel off the map. With the help, support, and training, the aiding and abetting by iran, the numberone state sponsor of terrorism, as i said. Thats whats at stake here. Israel has been the lone beacon of democracy in the middle east. Its the sacred home to the jewish people. Christians travel to israel each year to look at the place of where their faith was, where their faith and their religion was born. Of course israel is also a longtime friend and ally of the United States and has always had americas full and unwavering support, whether theres a democrat or republican in the white house, whether democrats have the majority or in the minority or vice versa, the United States has always supported israel and will continue to do so during these very divment and tragic days. This week the senate is expected to pass a bipartisan resolution condemning hamas attack on israel and expressing our support for israels response. Im prouder to be a cosponsor of that legislation or that resolution, and i hope it will pass the senate with a unanimous vote. America must remain steadfast in its commitment to support israel and continue to counter threats posed by terrorist organizations around the world. As i said, we have been the victim of some of these terrorist organizations, and americans have lost their lives as a result of owrl failure of imagination to dream of the possibility that they might not just attack over there but would actually attack us here. Of course we all hope and pray for a day in the future when the middle east can be a place of peace, stability, and democracy. We simply will not reach that point without a strong and secure israel. I stand in full support of israel and will continue to advocate for any form of assistance she needs, whether its military, humanitarian, or otherwise. We must stand with israel. The United States does not bow down to terrorist organizations, and we will not allow our allies to be bullied and beaten by hamas or any other terrorist organization. Madam president , i yield the floor. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call thank you for being here this morning. What is happening on the campaign 2024 trail . Where the candidates going . We have trump heading to new york for one of his legal cases. We have ron desantis headed South Carolina. The mother candidates will be headed to iowa. At the end of the month all of us will be headed to las vegas for the Republican Jewish Coalition which in the wake of what is going on in israel has become increasingly important. They have also all just started releasing their fundraising numbers and so we get to see kind of how their fundraising numbers are ahead of this third debate. There is a lot going on as we head towards the middle of the month here. Dive into those fundraising numbers. What is the take away from what we know so far. Donald trump has raised the most. Tim scott has a lot of cash on hand as well. It is not incredibly surprising given how much he got into the race with. Notably he did not raise as much as some of the other candidates yet he has more cash on hand. Ron desantis having some decent fundraising numbers less than previous quarters and nikki haley weve seen a rise of fundraising numbers which kind of speaks to her campaigns argument that she has momentum and she is the one who is coming up ahead in these recent weeks and months as we have seen them finish. Recently we are in New Hampshire talking to voters at town halls. What did we find out from their visits from that allimportant primary state . New hampshire has been really interesting. An area where a lot of them have not been as focused on. A lot of the candidates have been banking on iowa with where they see their biggest opportunity. We have seen ron desantis going to every single county and i will for example. His campaign has maintained that that is where donald trump is at his weakest. On the flipside, we see Chris Christie is solely focused on New Hampshire. That is where Chris Christie sees his opportunity. Now as we get closer to the actual primaries, we are seeing these candidates sort of branch out and go to these other early voting states that they have not been to as much anymore. Ron desantis came over and they talked a lot about faith and freedom at these events. That will be really important with New Hampshire voters and iowa voters. It is also an opportunity for them to brittle independence in the state. It will be really interesting to see in the next few weeks how big of an effort they put into a state like New Hampshire versus iowa where they are all extremely focused on tiered. Rfk talking about winning over independence in his bid for the presidency. A story that you wrote about his campaign, team trump readying their attacks on rfk junior as their concern over spoiler anxiety grows for a guy who originally democrats thought they take both away from joe biden, why is donald trump worried about rfk junior. The majority of the polls minus a few outliers show that rfk junior is far more popular among republicans at this point and he is among democrats. It makes sense that trumps team would be keeping an eye on him as he launches an independent bid. This is partly because of kennedys focus on covid vaccines that have really pulled in republican support. At the same time, they democrats a little bit wary of him. What we are seeing in the weeks after my piece was published as we are seeing a lot more animosity towards the republican side. A few hours after we published attacks against kennedy, they published a press release, 13 reasons why you should not support kennedy. They plan to remind voters that he has historically liberal views. This will be something to keep an eye on as we head into a general, will and independent spoil the race for either of these candidates and at this point it looks like trumps team is a little bit more nervous they had bidens team. From the week ahead to the month ahead, i want to look ahead to november 8, the third Republican Debate set in miami on november 8, what will you be watching for leading into that debate . Who makes the debate stage. Some of the arguments that ive been hearing is that the field will naturally win out. We have seen that. Will heard it recently dropped out and endorsed nikki haley. One or two at the lower candidates seemed like they may be close to dropping out. Who will make the debate stage will be really big. At the same time, i will be looking for if anyone can really break out. Even as nikki haley has argued that she broke out ron desantis has argued that he broke out. Has not really been shown in the poll numbers. I am looking to see if anybody can use these debates and really get serious momentum not just to get into a secondplace but take it to trump. Average of campaign 2024 and all things politics. I do appreciate your time. We will talk to you again down the road on the campaign trail. Thanks. Lawmakers are considering the nomination of Jennifer Hall to be a District Court judge for delaware. Advancing the nomination at 530 eastern. Later this week senators plan to take up a judicial nomination for the district of pennsylvania as well as President Bidens nominee of the equal opportunity employment commission. In the meantime, the house plans to meet tomorrow at noon eastern to hold the first floor vote to hold the speaker since congressman Kevin Mccarthy was ousted from a position nearly two weeks ago. You can watch our live gavel to gather it coverage on the senate care cspan2 and of course on cspan. Quorum call shock waves in the civilized world with salvaged coldblooded violence. October 7, hamas and palestinians, Islamic Jihad designated israel soil and for apart israeli families with bodily brutality. Turn peaceful homes and neighborhoods in israel into bloodsoaked war zones. It was the deadliest attack on israelis and american citizens overseas in decades. But now reports and images have spread widely. Israeli women tortured and raped and elders kidnapped senator from maryland. A senator i would ask consent that the quorum call be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Cardin thank you, madam president. I come to the floor today to express my shock and horror at what hamas has done in its terrorist attack on israel. It is difficult to comprehend the evil we witnessed last week. Before saturday, october 7, 2023, there were over 1,000 innocent jewish people going about their lives in southern israel. They were young people at a Music Festival, grandparents outside of their homes, children celebrating birthdays, mothers with little babies in their arms. Hamas has cared them massacred them all. We have not seen these kind of atrocities since the early days of the isis caliphate. Tragically we must not only mourn the death that hamas left behind, we must try to rescue the hostages, some of them american citizens, that hamas dragged back to gaza. For the Jewish Community around the world and for all israelis, this was a most horrific week in generations. Some of the toughest in israels entire history. So i want to make one point crystal clear. The United States stands shoulder to shoulder with the state of israel. 785 75 years ago harry truman was the first world leader to officially recognize israel only 11 minutes after its creation. He did that because the United States and israel share common values. And for over seven decades the relationship between our two nations has only gotten stronger and deeper. So despite the pain that many of us feel from these barbaric attacks, and we will continue to feel, now is the time for us to show our total support for israel. Not just in words but by our deeds. This is exactly what we are doing. From the bottom of my heart, i want to thank the United States embassy team in israel and our embassies across the region for their tireless efforts. Even as they themselves have taken over from rocket fire, american diplomats have stepped up to work hand in hand with israel to serve over half a million americans that are there. In fact, across the Biden Administration, Public Servants have been working around the clock to help israel and make sure it has everything it needs to defend its people. President biden has had several calls with Prime MinisterBenjamin Netanyahu offering americas full support. He also has ordered the u. S. S. Strike group to the eastern mediterranean. A warning to his balance la and leb nan in the region need to hear loud and clear. Do not join this conflict. Dont even think about it. The United States and our allies and partners will not tolerate such action. Our secretaries of state and defense are working nonstop to coordinate the flow of Security Assistance to israel and plane loads of u. S. Defense items have already landed. And they have both been in the region working with our partners to shore up support for israel. Congress also has to make sure we do everything we can to help come together to help israel. Bipartisan congressional support has always been the bedrock of the u. S. Israel relationship. In the days since this attack, i have been talking with my colleagues throughout the senate and the house. Ive had several conversations with the republican Ranking Member of the Senate ForeignRelations Committee senator risch. Ive let the administration know our committee is prepared to work quietly and quickly in a bipartisan manner to support israel. That is why earlier today i introduced along with senator risch and more than 91 cosponsors a bipartisan resolution that sends a clear message that america stands with israel. Always has, always will. And over the course of the next days and weeks and months, i will be leading my colleagues to make sure israel gets everything it needs to defend itself and its people. That means replenishing israels air defenses so they have what they need to repel the rocket attacks. That means authorizing supplemental money for israels defense as it navigates the aftermath of this attack. And as chair of the Senate ForeignRelations Committee, that means getting president nominee for ambassador for israel jacob lu confirmed and in his post as soon as possible. We need a confirmed ambassador in israel to assist in these efforts. We also need to be pushing back against the narrative hamas is trying to spread across the global community. The idea that there is some equivalency between israels Security Operations in hamas terrorist attacks. There is no equivalency here. This is about israels right to defend itself against a designated terrorist organization. Its about freeing abducted citizens, women, children, old people who have been held hostage. Now im concerned about the safety and welfare of the palestinians because hamas does not care one bit about the safety and welfare of millions of palestinians, their lives, and their humanity. During their terror attack of israel, hamas also called arabs, including heroic ambulance driver who went to help the wounded people at the Music Festival. Thats because because thats what decent human beings do. They help in times of need. Hamas has made them pay with their lives. So most palestinians want no part of what hamas is doing. And i believe we must find a way to support safe passage for those residents of gaza who are trying to get out. We also need to make sure that innocent people stuck there get the food and water and medical needs they they so desperately desire. The best thing we can do for the palestinians in gaza is to make sure hamas can never do this again. Finally, as we look to the future, we must not allow this conflict to derail the normalization process that has been in works between israel and saudi arabia. This would be an absolute game changer and hamas knows that. Agreeing to normal relations is the stepping stone to peace and prosperity for israel and for the entire region, including the Palestinian People. A stable and prosperous middle east that includes a stable and prosperous palestinian state is one of the best way to undercut irans resistance theology and hamas goal of destroying israel. They dont want a palestinian state and peace with israel and accountable to the Palestinian People. Madam president , we cannot letter irss win. We terrorists win. We cannot let them win. And i know we will not thanks to the resilience of the israelry people. Early on the morning of october 7, an israeli journalist who lives near the border of gaza heard more tar rockets overhead. He rushed with his wife into a safe room and a 3yearold and 1yearold daughters. When he knew hamas was intil traited their kibbutz, he thought were going to die here. He called his father who lived in televeve. Tel aviv. His father quote him, quote, you have to be quiet and locked. His father, a retired general in his 60s was going to get in his car and come rescue them. He told his son, quote, nobody, nobody can stop me. Over the next ten hours the grandfather fought his way south. He got to the door of his sons house and found the dead bodies of terrorists outside. He called out to his son to open the safe room door. Inside one of his girls recognized his voice and shouted grandfather is here. Grandfather is here. Thats when they knew they were safe. Thats the kind of courage israelis have, the kind of bravery that they see in israel through this terrible tragedy. And we must not rest until our committee, our congress, and our nation has done everything we can to support israel in this time of need. So to my colleagues on both sides of the aisle here in the senate, lets Work Together to support israel. And to those who committed these atrocities, we will hold you accountable for these crimes against humanity no matter how long it takes. Madam president , i yield the floor. And suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. The clerk ms. Baldwin. Quorum call quorum call early medieval brutality. Isis terrorist turn peaceful homes and neighborhoods in israel into what so war zones. The deadliest attack on israelis and american citizens overseas in decades. Now reports and images spread widely. Israeli women tortured and raped, chart corpses, children shot dead in their homes. A paramedic was working to the save the lives of victims in a clinic in the last moments of her own life messages to her sister. Heres what she said. They are here. Ill get out of here alive if something happened was and they were slaughtered by the terrorists. There will ive heard all caps reports and my family came from europe, they are survivors see things like this. Madam president the people of israel grieving unimaginable horrors. We have the responsibility not to look away. Recognized. Jim jill i ask unanimous consent to vitiate the quorum call mrs. Gillibrand i ask unanimous consent to vitiate the quorum call. The presiding officer without objection. Mrs. Gillibrand mr. President , its been more than a week since hamas terrorist attacked israel killing more than 1,400 people and wounding thousands more. But every day still more horrifying stories and images emerge depicting unspeakable atrocities. Just the other day there was an interview with an israeli father on cnn. His 8yearold daughter went missing during the attack. After two agonizing days, the father learned his little girl was dead. But it was his reaction that really hit me. When he heard the horrific news, the father said that a. Felt relieved because, quote, if you know anything about what they do to people in gaza, that is worse than death. Can you imagine what it must be like to fear your loved ones, your sons, your daughters could be suffering, that they could be enduring a fate thats worth than death . I cant imagine what it must be like to lose a child, let alone in this way, to see loved ones slaughtered, mutilated and burned. But to see them taken hostage or paraded through the streets, it is a pain thats inconceivable and seems impossible to bear. On long island we have a family whose son was taken hostage. His name is omar. He is just 22 years old. Not much older than my oldest. He loves the new york in my judgment he deferred his acceptance to Binghamton University to spend a gap year in israel and begin the idf. On the day. Attack, a he was defending the gaza border. But he was last seen being forcibly removed by the terrorists and has not been heard from since. Omar is just one of nearly 200 people who were abducted by hamas, toddlers, babies, teenagers, moms, grandmothers, grandfathers, people who cannot about without their medicine sore even too young to walk, entire families captured and used as human shields. With you 85yearold grandmother, yaffa is adar was carried off in a golf cart. Her family said without her medication, it will be a lot of pain for her. A mother heard her son say to the terroristed, dont take me. Im too young. Another mother can be seen in hear captors video clutching her two young children, sheer terror in her eyes. 23yearold her shall goldberg poland had his arms grown off from the elbow down before he disappeared near gaza. A young woman was thrust brutal legal alien into the back after truck, her hands conveyable tied behind her back, blood streaming down her arms, lags legs, a and her back. This is the kind of antisemitic violence jewish family have faced for millennia. Many of these people were ordinary people going about their daily lives, wogging, going to school, dancing at a Music Festival. But now we dont know whats become of them. And many of their families fear the worst. As the days wear on and the situation in gay disa becomes more desperate, the danger to those hostages only grows. Already the terrorists have threatened to execute hostages. As a u. S. Senator, my top priority is the safety and security of the american people, and im going to be working closely with the state department to secure the safe return of the 13 americans who are still unaccounted for, like omar and her shall. But we will continue in this mission. I want the hostages and their families to know we will not stop fighting for you. We will do whatever it takes to bring you home and we will never give in to terrorists. I yield the floor. And i suggest the absence of a quorum. The presiding officer the clerk will call the roll. Quorum call the clerk ms. Baldwin. Quorum call the presiding officer without objection. The clerk will report the motion to invoke cloture. The clerk cloture motion, we, the undersigned senators, in accordance with the provisions of rule 22 of the standing rules of the senate do hereby move to bring to a close the debate on the nomination of executive calendar number 309, jennifer l. Hall of pennsylvania, to be United States district judge for the district of delaware, signed by 17 senators. The presiding officer by unanimous consent, the mandatory quorum call has been waived. The question is, is it the sense of the senate that debate on the nomination of jennifer l. Hall of pennsylvania to be United States district judge for the district of delaware shall be brought to a close. The yeas and nays are mandatory under the rule. The clerk will call the roll. The clerk ms. Baldwin. Mr. Barrasso. Mr. Bennet. Mrs. Blackburn. Mr. Blumenthal. Mr. Booker. Mr. Boozman. Mr. Braun. Mrs. Britt. Mr. Brown. Mr. Budd. Ms. Butler. Ms. Cantwell. The clerk mrs. Capito. Mr. Cardin. Mr. Carper. Mr. Casey. Mr. Cassidy. Ms. Collins. Mr. Coons. Mr. Cornyn. Ms. Cortez masto. Mr. Cotton. Mr. Cramer. Mr. Crapo. Mr. Cruz. The clerk mr. Daines. Ms. Duckworth. Mr. Durbin. Ms. Ernst. Mr. Fetterman. Mrs. Fischer. Mrs. Gillibrand. Mr. Graham. Mr. Grassley. Mr. Hagerty. Ms. Hassan. Mr. Hawley. Mr. Heinrich. Mr. Hickenlooper. Ms. Hirono. Mr. Hoeven. Mrs. Hydesmith. Mr. Johnson. Mr. Kaine. Mr. Kelly. Mr. Kennedy. Mr. King. Ms. Klobuchar. The clerk mr. Lankford. Mr. Lee. Mr. Lujan. Ms. Lummis. Mr. Manchin. Mr. Markey. Mr. Marshall. Mr. Mcconnell. Mr. Menendez. Mr. Merkley. Mr. Moran. Mr. Mullin. Ms. Murkowski. Mr. Murphy. Mrs. Murray. The clerk mr. Ossoff. Mr. Padilla. Mr. Paul. Mr. Peters. Mr. Reed. Mr. Ricketts. Mr. Risch. Mr. Romney. Ms. Rosen. Mr. Rounds. Mr. Rubio. Mr. Sanders. Mr. Schatz. Mr. Schmitt. Mr. Schumer. Mr. Scott of florida. Mr. Scott of South Carolina. Mrs. Shaheen. Ms. Sinema. Ms. Smith. Ms. Stabenow. Mr. Sullivan. The clerk mr. Tester. Mr. Thune. Mr. Tillis. Mr. Tuberville. Mr. Van hollen. Mr. Vance. Mr. Warner. Mr. Warnock. Ms. Warren. Mr. Welch. Mr. Whitehouse. Mr. Wicker. Mr. Wyden. Mr. Young. The clerk senators voting in the affirmative cantwell, cardin, carper, coons, duckworth, gillibrand, hickenlooper, hirono, king, murphy, murray, ossoff, peters, reed, romney, shaheen, sinema, tester, vance, welch, wyden, young. Senators voting in the negative cotton, johnson, marshall, mullin, tuberville. Mr. Crapo, no. Mr. Merkley, aye. Mr. Menendez, aye. The clerk mr. Warnock, aye. Mr. Heinrich, aye. The clerk ms. Smith, aye. The clerk mr. Grassley, aye. The clerk mr. Cornyn, aye. The clerk mr. Tillis, aye. The clerk mr. Schmitt, no. The clerk ms. Ernst, no. The clerk mr. Daines, no. The clerk mrs. Britt, no. Mr. Thune, no. Mr. Graham, aye. The clerk mr. Scott of florida, no. Mrs. Fischer, no. Mr. Wicker, no. The clerk ms. Collins, aye. The clerk mrs. Blackburn, no. The clerk mr. Lujan, aye. The clerk mr. Casey, aye. Mr. Manchin, aye. The clerk mr. Whitehouse, aye. The clerk mr. Hawley, no. The clerk mr. Warner, aye. The clerk mr. Lee, aye. Mr. Lankford, aye. The clerk ms. Baldwin, aye. The clerk mr. Hoeven, no. Mr. Kennedy, no. The clerk ms. Hassan, aye. Mr. Hagerty, no. The clerk ms. Lummis, no. The clerk ms. Cortez masto, aye. Ms. Stabenow, aye. The clerk ms. Warren, aye. Mr. Booker, aye. Mr. Schatz, aye. The clerk ms. Klobuchar, aye. Mr. Rounds, aye. The clerk mr. Sanders, aye. Vote the clerk mr. Brown, aye. The clerk mr. Budd, aye. Vote the clerk mr. Blumenthal, aye. Mr. Ricketts, no. The clerk mr. Braun, no. The clerk mr. Padilla, aye. The clerk ms. Rosen, aye. Mr. Bennet, aye. The clerk mr. Kelly, aye. Mr. Markey, aye. Mr. Van hollen, aye. The clerk mr. Boozman, no. Mr. Sullivan, no. The clerk mr. Kaine, aye. Ms. Murkowski, aye. The clerk mr. Cassidy, aye. Vote the clerk mr. Schumer, aye. The clerk mr. Cramer, aye. The clerk mr. Mcconnell, no. The clerk mrs. Hydesmith, no. Roll call vote. The presiding officer on this vote the yeas are 63, the nays are 26, and the motion is agreed to. A senator mr. President. The presiding officer the senator from minnesota. Ms. Smith i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to for consideration executive calendar number 148, the senate vote on the nomination without intervening action or debate, the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table and the president be immediately notified of the senates action. The presiding officer is there objection . Without objection, the clerk will report. The clerk nomination, department of state, Karen Sasahara of massachusetts to be ambassador extraordinary and plern tenry of the United States of america to the state of kuwait. The presiding officer the question occurs on the nominee. All in favor say aye. Those opposed no. The ayes appear to have it. The ayes do have it. The nomination is confirmed. Ms. Smith mr. President , i ask unanimous consent that the senate proceed to legislative session and be in a period of morning business with senators permitted to speak therein for up to ten minutes each. The presiding officer without objection. Ms. Smith i ask unanimous consent the senate proceed to the consideration of senate res. 406 submitted earlier today. The presiding officer the clerk will report. The clerk Senate Resolution 406 to honor the life and death of Richard Clarence clark, former senator for the state of iowa. The presiding officer is there objection to proceeding to the measure . Without objection, the senate will proceed. Ms. Smith mr. President , i ask unanimous consent the resolution be agreed to, the preamble be agreed to, and that the motion to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate. The presiding officer without objection. Ms. Smith mr. President , i ask unanimous consent that when the senate completes its business today, it stands adjourned under the provisions of Senate Resolution 406 until 10 00 a. M. On tuesday, october 17. That following the prayer and pledge, the journal of proceedings be approved to date, the morning hour be deemed expired, the time for the two leaders be reserved for their use later in the day, and morning business be closed. That upon the conclusion of morning business, the senate proceed to executive session and resume consideration of the hall nomination postcloture. Further, that all postcloture time be considered expired at 11 30 a. M. And that following the cloture vote on the munley nomination, the Senate Recess until 12 15 p. M. To allow 2 15 p. M. , the Senate Recess until 2 15 p. M. To allow for the weekly caucus meetings. That if cloture is invoked on the munley nomination, all time be considered expired at 2 15 p. M. Finally, if any nominations are confirmed during tuesdays session, the motion to be considered be considered made and laid upon the table and the president be needly notified of the senates action be immediately notified of the senates action. The presiding officer is there objection . Without objection, so ordered. Ms. Smith if there is no further business to come before the senate, i ask that it stands adjourned under the previous order. The presiding officer pursuant to 406, the Senate Stands adjourned until tuesday on september 17, 2023, and does so as a further mark of respect to the late dick clark, former to the late dick clark, former today the senate advance the nomination of Jennifer Hall to u. S. Dtrict court judge for delaware. Lawmakers will continue more work on judicial nominion lead it later in the wake other side the Capitol House plans to meet tomorrow at noon eastern jule the first floor vote to elect a speaker since repsentative Kevin Mccarthy was ousted from the position nearly two weeks ago. Watch live coverage of the senate here on cspan2 in the house on cspan. Cspan edge unfiltered view of government bread funded by these Television Companies and more including charter communication. Quickstart is proud to be recognized when the best internet providers. We are just getting started. Building 100,000 miles of new infrastructure to reach those who need it most. Charter Communications Support cspan as a Public Service along with these other television providers. Giving it a front row seat to democracy. Tonight watch cspan series in partnership with the library of Congress Books that shaped america. We will feature the common law by holmes junior written in 18812 decks before homes to become a Supreme Court justice. The book is from a series of lectures hed given on criminal and civil law and other legal issues, controversial at the time for the life of the law has not been logic that has been experienced. Jeffrey rosen present ceo of the Constitution Center will join us to discuss the book. Watch books that shaped america featuring the common month tonight live at 9 00 p. M. Eastern on cspan cspan out freight mobile video app or online at cspan. Org. Also be sure the scan the qr code where you can learn more of the authors of the books features appeared. Healthy democracy does not just look like this. It looks like this. Americans can see democracy at work. A republic thrives. Get informed straight from the source on cspan. Unfiltered, unbiased, word for word. From the nations capitol to wherever you are because the opinion that matters the most is your own. This is what democracy looks like. Cspan powered by cable. Coming up matts olson matz n assistant attorney general for National Security calls for the reauthorization of Foreign Surveillance policy which was set to expire at the end of this year. He also talks about how the po