[Congressional Record Volume 169, Number 206 (Thursday, December 14, 2023)]
[Senate]
[Pages S5985-S5986]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                           Order of Business

  Mr. SCHUMER. Now, Mr. President, over the last few days, negotiations 
on a path forward to getting a national security supplemental done have 
made good progress. As I have said, if we believe something is 
important and urgent, we should stay and get the job done. That is 
certainly the case with the supplemental. It is important. It is 
urgent.
  I spoke with Leader McConnell this morning about the plan for next 
week and making sure the Senate continues to do our work.
  So, for the information of all Senators, after we finish today, the 
Senate will return on Monday. That will give negotiators from the White 
House, Senate Democrats, and Senate Republicans time to work through 
the weekend in an effort to reach a framework agreement. It will then 
take some time to turn that framework into text.
  To prevent unnecessary delays, I intend to move to reconsider the 
shell for the supplemental, as a vehicle, to move an agreement forward. 
The plan is for the Senate to act as soon as we are ready to move 
forward on the supplemental.
  Members need to be here next week. We have to get this done. Our 
Republican colleagues who have said action on the border is so urgent 
should have no problem with continuing to work next week. We hope to 
come to an agreement. But no matter what, Members should be aware that 
we will vote on a supplemental proposal next week.
  Mr. President, it is not easy to reach an agreement on something this 
complicated. This might be one of the most difficult things we have 
ever had to work through. But we all know that so much--so much--hangs 
on our success. We know the world is watching. We know autocrats like 
Putin and Xi are

[[Page S5986]]

hoping for us to fail. So we need to try, with everything we have, to 
get the job done.
  I will update Senators when more information about schedule becomes 
available.


                    Nomination of Jerry Edwards, Jr.

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm 
Jerry Edwards, Jr., to the U.S. District Court for the Western District 
of Louisiana.
  Born in Shreveport, LA, Mr. Edwards received his B.A. from Georgia 
State University and his J.D. from Vermont Law and Graduate School 
before clerking for Judge Scott J. Crichton and Judge Jeanette G. 
Garrett on the First Judicial District Court of Louisiana. He then 
entered private practice in Shreveport, where he maintained a diverse 
litigation practice. In 2019, Mr. Edwards joined the U.S. Attorney's 
Office for the Western District of Louisiana as an assistant U.S. 
attorney. He defended Federal Agencies in civil cases and also handled 
affirmative work on behalf of Federal Agencies. In 2022, he was 
appointed first assistant U.S. attorney. In that role, he oversees 
civil litigation and the prosecution of various Federal crimes.
  Mr. Edwards has significant experience in both State and Federal 
court, and he has tried nine cases to verdict, including two jury 
trials. Mr. Edwards has also been involved in a variety of legal 
activities outside of his legal practice. He is a member of the 
Louisiana Supreme Court Committee on Bar Admissions, and he previously 
served on the Louisiana Judiciary Commission.
  Mr. Edwards enjoys the strong support of both of his home State 
Senators--Mr. Cassidy and Mr. Kennedy--as well as the Louisiana legal 
community. The American Bar Association unanimously rated Mr. Edwards 
as ``well qualified'' to serve on the Western District of Louisiana. If 
confirmed, he will be the first person of color to ever sit on the U.S. 
District Court for the Western District of Louisiana.
  During Mr. Edwards's confirmation hearing, Senator Cassidy noted that 
``Mr. Edwards's commitment to his community and bar is a personal 
credit to the character required to be a successful judge.'' I am 
confident that Mr. Edwards' character, strong ties to the Western 
District of Louisiana, and extensive legal experience ensure that he 
will be a successful judge on the Federal bench. I strongly support his 
nomination, and I urge my colleagues to join me.
  Mr. SCHUMER. I yield the floor.