[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 199 (Monday, December 4, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5708-S5709]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  REMOVING EXTRANEOUS LOOPHOLES INSURING EVERY VETERAN EMERGENCY ACT--
                           Motion to Proceed

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I move to proceed to Calendar No. 30, 
H.R. 815.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will report the bill by title.

[[Page S5709]]

  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

       Motion to proceed to Calendar No. 30, H.R. 815, a bill to 
     amend title 38, United States Code, to make certain 
     improvements relating to the eligibility of veterans to 
     receive reimbursement for emergency treatment furnished 
     through the Veterans Community Care program, and for other 
     purposes.


                             Cloture Motion

  Mr. SCHUMER. I send a cloture motion to the desk.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The cloture motion having been presented under 
rule XXII, the Chair directs the clerk to read the motion.
  The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:

                             Cloture Motion

       We, the undersigned Senators, in accordance with the 
     provisions of rule XXII of the Standing Rules of the Senate, 
     do hereby move to bring to a close debate on the motion to 
     proceed to Calendar No. 30, H.R. 815, a bill to amend title 
     38, United States Code, to make certain improvements relating 
     to the eligibility of veterans to receive reimbursement for 
     emergency treatment furnished through the Veterans Community 
     Care program, and for other purposes.
         Charles E. Schumer, Patty Murray, Jeanne Shaheen, Debbie 
           Stabenow, Tim Kaine, Benjamin L. Cardin, Sheldon 
           Whitehouse, Brian Schatz, Christopher Murphy, Mark R. 
           Warner, Richard J. Durbin, Martin Heinrich, Christopher 
           A. Coons, Jack Reed, Richard Blumenthal, Tammy Baldwin, 
           Margaret Wood Hassan.

  Mr. SCHUMER. I ask unanimous consent that the mandatory quorum calls 
for the cloture motions filed today, December 4, be waived.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, to explain to the Senators and our 
colleagues what we have just done, a few moments ago, I filed cloture 
on a motion to proceed on a shell bill for a national security 
supplemental.
  The step I am taking tonight will ensure the process for the 
supplemental moves forward and that, hopefully, disagreements on 
immigration do not prevent us from doing what we must do to protect 
America's security.
  I urge every single Senator to think where we are at this moment in 
history. America's national security is on the line around the world--
in Europe, in the Middle East, and in the Indo-Pacific. Autocrats and 
dictators are waging war against democracy, against our values, against 
our way of life. That is why passing this supplemental is so important. 
It could determine the trajectory of democracy for years to come. We 
are at a moment in history.
  Tonight, I would like to announce that the administration has invited 
President Zelenskyy to address Senators via secure video as part of our 
classified briefing tomorrow so we can hear directly from him precisely 
what is at stake in this vote. I ask that all Senators--all Senators--
attend this important briefing.
  In the coming days, I urge my colleagues to do the right thing and 
support moving forward on the supplemental package. We can't ever put a 
price on defending democracy in its hour of need, because if Ukraine 
falls, Putin will keep on going. Autocrats around the world will be 
emboldened. Democracy, this grand and noble experiment, will enter an 
era of decline. History will render harsh judgment on those who abandon 
democracy.
  I urge all Senators to work with us to move forward on a national 
security supplemental.

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