Heavens that bring blessings to our earthly pilgrimage. Today, guide our lawmakers with your glorious wisdom. In the greatness of your majesty, fulfill your purposes for their lives as you order their steps. Show them such unfailing love that they will walk before you in wholehearted devotion. Lord, place your Healing Hands upon our nation and world, delivering us from this Global Health crisis. We pray in your powerful name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance 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. Mr. Grassley madam president. The presiding officer the senator from iowa. Mr. Grassley permission to speak in morning business for 90 seconds. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Grassley my iowa offices are located in cedar rapids, council bluffs, davenport, doims, sioux city and waterloo. My state
Colleagues have come to the floor and spoken here or elsewhere about the importance of providing assistance to state and local governments, and that if that doesnt happen that theyre there are going to be police officers, First Responders and people who have essential jobs that we rely on every single day and for whom were so grateful, that wouldnt be able to get paid. I would just point out that already as part of the Coronavirus Relief measures that congress has passed, there was 150 billion sent to state and local governments, much of which has yet to be spent. And, frankly, much of which we dont know what the actual need is out there until we have a better sense for what the revenue loss is to a lot of our state and local governments. Clearly they are sounding the alarm and are justifiably worried about what happens if the downturn in the economy continues and what that might mean to their revenues. And so they are looking to washington, d. C. For assistance, and i think that as i
Statement from me and from mr. Cole then well go tow our distinguished witnesses. Today the rules committee will hold a hearing to discuss how the constitution separated powers between the legislative and executive branches and how the balance of power between these branches has shifted over time. We are doing this in the hopes of finding concrete Bipartisan Solutions to better ensure congress is playing the role our nations founders envisioned. Thats a lot, i know. And while a constitutional debate may be fun for law students and legal scholars and mr. Raskin [ laughter ] the it wasnt fun when i was yeah. For the rest of us, it could feel a little in the weeds. So, so for the rest of us, let me simplify. You know, we throw around the phrase, the peoples house, a lot around here, but this really is but this really is about whether we remain the institution that our nations founders created to be the voice of the people. The constitution entrusts congress with deciding how to spend fede
Government until november 21st. Floor action on that is still at a time to be determined. Now live to the senate floor. The president pro tempore the senate will come to order. The chaplain, dr. Black, will lead the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Eternal god, give our lawmakers the power to live with purity. Remind them that for each test and temptation, you have provided a way of escape. When they stumble, help them to receive the forgiveness of your abounding grace. May they permit your spirit to control their minds and hearts, continually delivering them from evil. Lord, we cannot live with integrity in our strength alone, so keep us united with you. We pray in your great name. Amen. The president pro tempore please join me in reciting the pledge of allegiance to our 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. Mr. Grassley madam presid
A resolution calling the whistleblower complaint against President Trump regarding u. S. Aid to ukraine be given to the appropriate senate committee. He made the announcement this morning. Ct we continue to read reports containing Additional Information about the nature of President Trumps phone calls with ukrainian president. He and his ministrations conduct weeks or months before the communications. We know someone inside the Intelligence Community found the president s conduct alarming enough to warrant an official is a blower complaint. Rme complaint was so alarming that the Inspector General of the Intelligence Community appointed by President Trump said that it was credible and urgent and a complaint that, by law, must be submitted to congress but this is not a discretionary moment. The law says this must be transmitted to congress. Well, we still have not received whistleblower complaint in congress has been advised in writing by the Inspector General of the Intelligence Communi