Necessary vote. Vote on the reauthorization bill continues today with the final vote on legislation this afternoon. And now live to the senate floor. The chaplain, dr. Black, will lead the senate in prayer. The chaplain let us pray. Almighty god, guide our lawmakers today to think of themselves as your faithful servants, eager to do your bidding. May they strive less for success and more for faithfulness, realizing that you expect dependability from them. Give them the wisdom to believe that though they may plant and water the seeds of our nations destiny, only you can bring the harvest. As they look to you, the lord of the harvest, soothe their doubts and calm their fears. And, lord, we thank you for the many courageous staffers who enable the senate to function. We pray in your gracious 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
In the last five weeks, based on the numbers i saw this morning, nearly 30 million americans filed for unemployment. We are already approaching the highest percentage of unemployed since the great depression. Now more than ever, americans need to know that their leaders are working for them, and they have voices as we work to navigate in this pandemic. In a world where it is no longer safe to be within six feet of each other, congress has to learn how to adapt. It is not the first time we have made do to ensure the continuity of congress. With the Nuclear Threat during the cold war, the u. S. Government constructed a large bunker for congress. We would be required to meet outside of washington. This may either first time in the modern area where there is not a physical meeting location at risk, but rather elected officials themselves and others we would be in contact with. We are a subcommittee of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs committee, which has jurisdiction over con
[inaudible conversations] id like to call this hearing to order. This hearing will be a little bit different. It is perhaps the first congressional hearing held during the extenuating circumstances of the pandemic. We have a sparse crowd and expanded bias the committees hearings to the guidelines put forth by the rules committee and attending physician. Id like to thank our members and staff for their patience and understanding as we work through the logistics in holding this hearing a part of the eversight of Intelligence Community. Members will be joining us on a rotating basis throughout the morning. And again this afternoon, as we move to a closed session. Their absence now is not a reflection of the importance they place on this matter. We have asked members to watch as much of the hearings as they can from their offices, only coming into the hearing room to ask questions. Id also like to thank the press corps for your accommodation of the restrictions were facing as we seek to fu
There is a lot of equality in the senate. Most of what we do is on unanimous consent. Anyone of the hundred of us could object and throw the place into a stupor. Every senator has some real clout. The majority leader has more clout in the ability to set the agenda and be recognized first, which gives you tactical advantages. But the house always says we are like a pyramid. At the top you have the speaker. The senate is more like a level playing field, with the majority leader has a little more advantage than anyone else. A strongwilled senator can frequently get his way, simply by objecting. You study the senate. He somewhat downplays the the leaders role. You said Party Leaders are more powerful today than a have been at any time in the Senate History . We take leadership for granted. We think leaders are the most powerful and essential leaders in the United States senate. If we did not have them, the senate could not function. Two beyond this that is probably , correct given how the
There is a lot of equality in the senate. Most of what we do is under unanimous consent. Any one of the hundred of us could object and throw the place into a stupor. Every senator has some real clout. The majority leader has more clout in the ability to set the agenda and be recognized first, which gives you some tactical advantages. But the house always says we are like a pyramid. At the top, you have the speaker. The senate is more like a level Playing Field with the majority leader having a little more advantage than anyone else. But a strongwilled senator can frequently get his weight simply by a objecting. Susan James Wallner, you study the senate. In that interview that senator somewhat did, he downplays the leaders roll. You said Party Leaders are more powerful today than have been at any time in the Senate History . James we take leadership for granted. We think leaders are the most powerful and essential leaders in the United States senate. And if we did not have them, the sen