Quorum be dispensed with. The presiding officer without objection. Mr. Schumer well, mr. President , for more than a year and a half, leader mcconnell and Senate Republicans have refused to take action on the housepassed for the people act. At a time when our democracy is under siege in so many ways, the for the people act is a bold proposal that will restore Peoples Trust in our democratic system, a trust that is fading. It is under it is for the people. In order to make a more perfect union. It would shore up our elections from threats from abroad. Thats something we have just recently read more and more about. Why arent we doing more on that . In fact, when senator van hollen a few days ago put on the floor the an act u. C. Of an act that would say russia should have sanctions imposed on it if they interfere with our elections, the other side blocked it. I hope theyre not following Donald Trumps obeisance to russia and his view that putins just okay. It would also dismantle systemat
You my intentions on how i will vote, id like to start by just expressing my disappointment with where we are in the senate as a whole right now. Theres been some good discussion hering this morning as were considering discussion here this morning as were considering the unanimous consent agreements, some statements made, but not action moving forward. I i had hoped that if we were going to be at this moment in time just over a week out from our national elections, that we would be here on the floor debating debating the merits of a receive relief bill. And in my home state of alaska, as in so many states around the country, were seeing unprecedented numbers now. The news just yesterday, friday, that the United States reported the highest single day recorded of positive cases. 83,757, really staggering. In alaska we have seen this virus spread to some of our small outlying villages, villages that are not accessible by road, villages that have limited medical facilities. Were really qui
Senator from alaska. Ms. Murkowski mr. President , i want to start with a personal you this to you as the thank you to you as the presiding officer for indulling me for an additional few moments here so i may speak this afternoon on the nomination of judge Amy Coney Barrett to be an associate justice of the u. S. Supreme court. And while i intend to share with you my intentions on how i will vote, id like to start by just expressing my disappointment with where we are in the senate as a whole right now. Theres been some good discussion hering this morning as were considering discussion here this morning as were considering the unanimous consent agreements, some statements made, but not action moving forward. I i had hoped that if we were going to be at this moment in time just over a week out from our national elections, that we would be here on the floor debating debating the merits of a receive relief bill. And in my home state of alaska, as in so many states around the country, were
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. They are sounding the alarm and justifiably worried about what happens if the downturn in the economy continues and what that might mean to their revenues. They are looking to washington, d. C. For assistance, and i think that as i said earlier in the cares package, there was 150 billion dollars that went out to state and local governments and there have been concerns about how those funds can be used. They were stipulated they had to be used for covidrelated expenses, and many state and local leaders were concerned that that did not give them the flexibility they needed to meet other types of needs. Well, the Treasury Department has in the past few days, madame president , come out with an interpretation that would allow those dollars, the 150 billion dollars already appropriated to be used to pa
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