[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 181 (Thursday, October 22, 2020)]
[Senate]
[Page S6386]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                 Legislative Session--Motion to Proceed

  Madam President, while the Senate majority rushes to confirm the 
Supreme Court Justice, it is ignoring a number of very important 
priorities.
  Earlier this week, the Republicans had a series of stunt votes on 
COVID relief on an emaciated bill that left most Americans behind and 
that was even designated to fail.
  Now I want to mention a foreign policy issue the Republican majority 
is ignoring. We have a resolution by Senators Menendez and Murphy to 
invoke statutory authority under the Foreign Assistance Act to require 
the Secretary of State to assess and report to the Congress on Turkey's 
potential human rights abuses in Syria.
  My colleagues introduced this resolution as a result of Turkey's 
invasion of northeast Syria and its campaign to ethnically cleanse 
Kurds from the region, which has resulted in numerous reports of 
horrific human rights abuses.
  The tragic events were the result of the President's decision to 
abandon our Kurdish partners. The administration didn't lift a finger 
to uncover the atrocities committed by Turkish proxies.
  Even more recently, the Turkish Government, led by President Erdogan, 
has blood on his hands for his role in the conflict between Armenia and 
Azerbaijan.
  President Erdogan is sending individuals responsible for the 
atrocities in Syria to this region now. He must be exposed--he must be 
exposed--for these actions. This President has a record of cozying up 
to dictators, and action must be taken.
  So in order to proceed to S. Res. 409, a resolution requesting 
information on Turkey's human rights practices in Syria, I move to 
proceed to legislative session.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on the motion to proceed.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote 
occur at 12:59 today.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?
  Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays on the 
motion.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.
  The yeas and nays are ordered.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Thank you.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Dakota