[Congressional Record Volume 167, Number 215 (Tuesday, December 14, 2021)]
[Senate]
[Pages S9127-S9128]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Senate Legislative Agenda

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to advance at 
least one more Biden judicial nominee; we will move forward on our 
annual Defense bill; we will vote on the motion to proceed on 
legislation to raise the debt ceiling--all, hopefully, before we start 
the afternoon. It is a busy day for the Senate, so let me break down 
each of these items in some detail.
  On the legislative front, later this morning, the Senate will vote to 
invoke cloture on the annual Defense bill, negotiated on a bicameral-
bipartisan basis. For over 60 years, the NDAA, the National Defense 
Authorization Act, has passed without fail, on a mostly bipartisan 
basis. So I thank all of my colleagues for working in good faith to get 
this Defense bill done.
  The Senate will then turn to the critical matter of addressing the 
debt limit in order to avoid a first-ever default on our sovereign 
debt. Last week, Democrats and Republicans came together to pass 
legislation, setting up a fast-track process for addressing the debt 
limit. Today, we are going to complete that process, and it will come 
in two steps.
  First, as I said, we will vote on the motion to proceed, followed by 
a vote on final passage later today. Thanks to last week's agreement 
between Democrats and Republicans, today's motion to proceed will be 
set at a majority threshold. Once we are on the bill, no amendments 
will be in order. Debate will be limited to 10 hours, and we hope to 
yield back debate time on our side to keep this process moving. The 
resolution we will vote on will provide for the raising of the debt 
limit to a level commensurate to funding that is necessary to get into 
2023.
  As I have said repeatedly, this is about paying debt accumulated by 
both parties, so I am pleased Republicans and Democrats came together 
to facilitate a process that has made addressing the debt ceiling 
possible. I want to thank the Republican leader and all of my 
Republican colleagues who reached out across the aisle in good faith to 
bring us to this point--no brinksmanship, no default on the debt, no 
risk of another recession. Responsible governing has won on this 
exceedingly important issue. The American people can breathe easy and 
rest assured there will not be a default.
  So, once again, I thank the Republican leader and my Republican 
colleagues who voted with us to address this issue. The Senate can be 
done with this matter before the end of the day--

[[Page S9128]]

crossing another major item off of our December to-do list.
  Off the floor, Democrats continue working to put the Senate in a 
position to act on President Biden's Build Back Better Act, along with 
the timeline I have set out for our caucus. This week, bipartisan Byrd 
bath meetings with the Parliamentarian will continue. I thank my 
colleagues, the Parliamentarian, and her team for working through this 
important and difficult process.
  The President will also continue his conversations with our caucus as 
we hash out the final details of the legislation. Build Back Better is 
moving forward, and I thank all of my colleagues and the President for 
their diligence and their commitment to get this done.