Heres one reality, one fact you cannot negotiate with people that want to till you x. The challenge that want to kill you. And the challenge for us and this administration is that we must adopt a strategy now. A strategy that eliminates the safe haven that isil has, their ability to plan external plots against the United States, against europe and against the rest of the world. And my hope is that we will glean enough information out of the Orlando Attack to guide the policymakers to make the right decisions. Leader . Take a couple of questions, and then weve got to yeah. Yesterday donald trump suggested that the president [inaudible] sympathetic in some way to the terrorists and the killer in orlando. Do you think that was an appropriate way for yeah, im not going to be commenting on the president ial candidate today. If the senate has to act on an faa extension again, which is seeming more likely, would you consider doing energy extenders . Look, there are all kinds of things that could be considered. Im not here today to announce the circumstances or conditions under which we will deal with faa. [inaudible conversations] do you think that the founders anticipated assault weapons that could very quickly kill 50 people . Senator cornyn, do you want to talk about the gun issue . Sure. Well, you know, we have to decide whether we actually would like to solve the problem or not or whether we just, people just want their political talking points. And right now our democratic friends seem to be more interested in op opportunisticay using this tragedy to advance their agenda rather than working with us to solve problems. There are ways for us to work on people who are mentally ill, to keep them from becoming a danger to themselves and others. Theres also, as chairman burr said, we need a strategy to defeat isis which is the inspiration for these homegrown attacks here at home. We need to give the fbi the tools they need in order to do investigations, to identify people who become radicalized here in the United States who take it upon themselves to kill innocent people. Thats where we ought to focus our efforts. And i hope we can work with our democratic colleagues to do that. Let me just add, were going to have the director of the fbi the secretary of Homeland Security up here tomorrow afternoon at 4 00. If we want to engage in a serious legislative effort, were going to talk to the experts about what we could do that would be helpful. Our suspicion is this is basically a politicallymotivated effort that were likely to see on commerce justice state, but were open. Nobody wants terrorists to have firearms. Were open to serious suggestions from the experts as to what we might be able to do to be helpful. [inaudible conversations] rico bill do you expect to consider the house puerto rico bill yeah. On puerto rico, well be taking up the house bill sometime before the end of the month. Thank you. Speaker ryan said hes sending over a package of counterterrorism measures. Will you take them up . [inaudible conversations] well, a little bit of news there from Republican Leaders on what may be ahead with, you heard from mitch mcconnell, the puerto rico debt relief bill before the end of the month. They have been busy so far on the senate floor earlier today passing the Defense Authorization bill by a vote of 8513. And thats also passed in the house, although the white house has issued a veto threat against the bill. Here on cspan2 were waiting for the senate to gavel back in. Should be shortly. Theyre having their official portrait coming up this afternoon, and we expect them also to take a vote on moving forward with the next appropriations bill on their docket, the commerce, justice and science spending bill for fiscal year 2017. Reporters Still Standing by. We may see the Democratic Leaders come to the podium, so well stand by as well as we are waiting for the senate to gavel in also. Senator mcconnell talked about a briefing with the fbi director, with jeh johnson. Thatll happen in the senate tomorrow. Its happening or will happen in the house this afternoon about 3 00 eastern, we understand. A closed briefing for house members. So the house will gavel out for a bit this afternoon and then back later to finish up work, actually, to begin work later on on their spending bill that should dominate much of the week. The defense p pending bill for fiscal year 2017. Again, the senate today passing the Defense Authorization bill, the bill that sets pentagon programs and policy. The house today taking up the money bill, the appropriations bill for 2017. Live from the capitol here on cspan2 waiting for the senate to come in, possible comments, too, from other senators. [inaudible conversations] [inaudible conversations] heads up. Heads up, guys. [inaudible conversations] we have to be quick today, weve got a picture. Wait for us. We had a terrific caucus. Senator sanders took time to talk to us about his experiences. It was really very, very moving. Our nation was shaken this weekend by the worst mass shooting in modern American History. 49 dead, scores injured, some of them very, very critically. Theres an attack on the Lgbt Community, the Latino Community and america, everyone in america was attacked. And it demands action. People of orlando ponded to this un responded to this unimaginable tragedy with unity, courage and generosity. They came together in a time of crisis to get things done. That had to get done. Here in congress we must react the same way. That starts with closing the terrorist gun loophole. According to the government accounting office, more than 2,000 suspected terrorists were able to buy guns from 20042014, in that tenyear period. Terrorists have urged home wolfs lone wolfs, im sorry, to take advantage of americas lax gun laws. A spokesman for alqaeda said, and i quote americas absolutely awash with easilyobtainable firearms, so what are you waiting for . Close quote. Alqaeda. And we have a republican [inaudible] not guns. What is the response of the republicans . More guns, of course. Its shameful republicans care more about the nra and their fight theyre having with the gun owners of america and each driving the other further into radicalism than protecting american citizens. Absolutely shameful. Why did they run for office in the first place if the republicans are following nra more than their own constituents . Democrats are going to force a vote on this terrorist loophole, and well do it on the cgs appropriations bill. Theres no excuse for allowing suspected terrorists to buy guns, and thats not going our only amendment. Weve got other things to do. How about funding the fbi . They a complain about the fbi, the republicans, theyre not doing enough. They always shortchange the resources they have. Republicans vote against this common sense proposal last december. It was a terrible mistake. And they have a chance to make it right. Were also going to force a vote to, i repeat, fully fund the fbi. Republicans are short changing the funding president obama requested for the fbi by more than 100 million. Both of these amendments are germane and deserve an up or down vote. So i hope republicans will find the courage to help us pass meaningful legislation to protect the American People. Certainly, theyre doing a good job of protecting donald trump. Senator durbin. I guess the lesson of orlando, the lesson of San Bernardino, the lessons that we have learned all across america with these horrible Mass Shootings, we need to do a better job in america keeping guns out of the hands of those who would misuse them. Felons, mentally unstable and people with a terrorist connection have no business owning guns in america. If that is what this election is going to be about, a referendum on that question, ill stand by the American People. Common sense dictates that we as a Congress Listen to the pleas across america to stop this gun violence. What happened in orlando was heartbreaking. But what has happened in the city of chicago since the first to have year is heartbreaking too. Over a thousand gun violence incidents, over 200 People Killed in that great city. It breaks my heart. I love that city. Breaks my heart to have people in neighborhoods all across that city scared to death of firearms and what theyre doing. Do we have the guts to stand up and do something as a congress . Or are we going to cower, afraid of the National Rifle association . I hope we have the courage to do something. Id like to make another statement about an issue that is directly related. In times of crisis, our nation expects leadership grounded in American Values. President george w. Bush, after the epic tragedy of 9 11, made it clear that those responsible would be held accountable, but he warned america not to hold all muslims responsible for the radical views of a few. After orlando, the worst mass shooting in our nations history, president obama condemned this act of hate and terror and promised to dedicate every resource to investigate and hold accountable those responsible for this tragedy. Contrast this bipartisan leadership with donald trump. Trump, the man who would be the republican president , in the wake of the orlando tragedy congratulated himself for his bigotry toward muslims and wasted no time blaming president obama for the deaths. The questions facing Republican Leaders again this week is whether they will ignore the fact that their candidate for the presidency is totally unsuited to lead this nation. His emotional rants, his serial insults, his bizarre conspiracy theories and his divisive singling out enemies to be loathed and feared distinguish him from any other candidate in modern american political history. To hear the republican speaker and the Republican Senate majority leader endorse trump and characterize his outrageous comments as only being off message and unscripted is to dismiss the toxic rhetoric of donald trump as only a product of poor political coaching. It is more. His hateful rants are a window on his character and his soul. How many of these same congressional leaders are making plans to attend the Republican Convention in cleveland . How many are going to bring their family, their children, their friends to join them in a standing ovation to honor the lethal rage of their unhinged nominee . History will remember them as willing participants at the scene of this political crime perpetrated on mr. Lincolns grand old party. Senator schumer . Thank you. Well, last year 244 people on the terror watch list tried to purchase guns. 244 suspected terrorists walked into gun shops and attempted to purchase a firearm. 223 were able to get the firearm. Only 21 went empty handed. That is 91 of terrorists, 91 of suspected terrorists. When they sought to purchase a gun last year, were successful according to gao to. Let our republican colleagues contemplate that. They want to fight terrorism . But they say theyre going to continue a situation where 91 of suspected terrorists can get a gun . Who are they kidding . I have a simple question for republican senators and for the nra. When they, when the senators voted against the terror gap last year, why is that acceptable . Why should suspected terrorists be able to purchase a firearm . Why . Why, why . No reason. No reason. The answer is obvious. And the American People agree, republicans, democrats, independents all agree its absurd to allow terror suspects to purchase guns. But the nra is the tail that wags the republican dog when it comes to congress and guns. The nra is more concerned with the rights of suspected terrorists than they are with the victims of gun violence, and our republicans bow down to that nra horrible, horrible value choice in america. If they continue to oppose the terror gap, the nra, the nra itself will be in part responsible in every terror attack that involves a gun in this country. Plain and simple. Theres no other way to avoid that fact. So on this upcoming bill, were going to try yet again to close this dangerous loophole once and for all. When the Senate Considers the next appropriation bill. Can we win . Well win. Sooner or later. Well keep trying. Were not giving up. Reporters come over and say, well, you cant win. Why do it . Every time we have a vote, hopefully we can win. Hopefully theyll change their minds out there. But if not, they will face the consequences, and that makes progress move forward. The moment of soul searching for our republican colleagues is now. Whats it going to be . Are they going to side with the extremists and the nra or the vast majority of their constituents and all americans who simply dont believe terror suspects should have access to guns. The only people who seem to believe it are the republican senators on the floor of that house of that body. Senator murray. Since sunday night tens of thousands of people around the country from l. A. To boston, from charleston, south carolina, to fort worth, texas, from seattle to spokane have turned out for vigils to mourn the heinous act of terror that erupted over the weekend in orlando. That was an attack on our values. An attack on the Lgbt Community that has endured so much violence and hate over the years and an attack on every Single Family across the country. The question these families are asking around their kitchen tables is what will it take for this congress to enact common sense reforms to keep our communities safe . It is mindboggling. Every state in this country including my home state of washington has been affected by horrific gun violence. And it is far past time for congress to have a vigorous debate about what we can do to stem the tide. The republicans continue to block us at every turn. They are so adamant that we do nothing. They blocked us on the most obvious amendment of all, to prevent people who are on the terror watch list from being allowed to buy a gun. When you have politicians so beholden to the gun lobby that they cant even support the idea that potentially dangerous criminals and terrorists shouldnt be allowed to walk out of a store with a gun, there is a serious problem with our priorities. But that is not going to stop us from pushing this amendment. Not to mention the other common sense reforms like expanding background checks, something 90 of americans want. Like so Many Americans, im tired of hearing the thoughts and prayers of my colleagues with zero followup. Its time for action. We cannot wait for another mass hooting, and i shooting, and i hope that our colleagues on the other side of the aisle will finally wake up to the problem at hand and work with us to make progress on a crisis that is hurting us all every single day. Im always pretty good at answering questions, but we do have 98 senators well, how many . 96, i guess, waiting for us. So ill take a couple quick questions. [inaudible conversations] do you support an assault weapons ban . Do i . Yes. Yes. [inaudible conversations] gun sales to american citizens on the watch list without showing probable cause to a judge . Should the government be able to listen to phone calls if youre youve been taking too many cues from the nra. The answer is thats foolishness, okay . Last question, last question. You pushing to get Energy Tax Extenders on an faa bill if it comes back you know, the fact is we would love to get an extender. We shouldnt do it on a shortterm basis. Were a hong ways from that. Were a long ways from that. [inaudible conversations] Democratic Leaders wrapping it up there. Theyre being called into the senate chamber. The annual photograph of the u. S. Senate underway inside the chamber, and then theyll gavel back in for work this afternoon. We expect part of that work to be continued work or work on advancing the commerce, justice and science spending bill for disfiscal year 2017. They passed earlier today the fiscal bill for defense. Lots of comments from both the democrats and Republican Leadership. Reaction to the shooting in orlando on sunday night. Well show you his remarks as we wait for the u. S. Senate to a gavel in shortly. I know the country is in shock and still trying tog evaluate as we continue to learn from the fbis investigation more about the terrorist attack in orlando, one that killed almost 50 people and, of course, left dozens injured. According to the latest reports, one of the victims was Frank Escalante from texas. M my heart goes out to frank and his family and friends and all those others who lost loved ones early sunday morning and for those living with the wounds that hay sustained they sustained this that terrible attack. Ha, with this act of violence and hatred, orlando sadly joins ari growing list of American Cities and cities around the world changed forever by radical islamic extremism. The jihadists, like those in San Bernardino before him, declared allegiance to the islamic state. And like the two Boston Marathon bombers, he was previously investigated by the fbi for connections to terrorists or known terrorist groups. And in similar fashion to those who carried out the gruesome attacks in paris last november. Like those terrorists, the terrorists in orlando targeted hundreds of unarmed civilians,s and isis has used the internet to urge lone wolves to imitate these types of attacks. In other words, not only are we concerned about people in the middle east who pledged allegiance to isis coming to tha United States, were concerned about americans coming from the United States going there and c training and coming back home, but the worst and perhaps the most difficult of all to deal with is, are people in place american citizens like this plae shooter who are radicalized in