[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 170 (Monday, November 18, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Pages S6589-S6590]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                       Business Before the Senate

  Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, the Senate gavels in this week with a 
lot to do. Off the floor, we will keep working on government funding, 
the NDAA, and try to move the ball forward on the farm bill and helping 
communities battered by disaster.
  On the floor, the Senate will focus this week on confirming more of 
President Biden's judicial nominees. The majority will keep working to 
confirm as many of President Biden's judicial nominees as we can before 
the end of the year. That will be one of the Senate's top priorities.
  We will begin today by voting on the confirmation of Embry Kidd to 
serve as circuit court judge for the 11th Circuit. Judge Kidd boasts an 
impressive legal resume and is exceptionally qualified to serve on the 
Federal bench. I am confident he will make a great addition to the 11th 
Circuit. If confirmed, Judge Kidd would be the 45th circuit court judge 
and the 216th Federal judge confirmed to a lifetime appointment under 
President Biden and this Senate Democratic majority.
  The judges we have confirmed represent perhaps the widest range of 
backgrounds and experiences ever seen under any President. We have more 
judges that worked as defenders, legal aid attorneys, civil rights 
lawyers, Federal prosecutors, voting rights lawyers, and more women and 
people of color than we have ever had under one administration.
  After we vote today, we will keep going. Tonight, I will file on 
additional judges whom we will move forward on the floor this week. We 
also have several more nominees coming out of the Judiciary Committee 
on Thursday, and we will work quickly to move them out of this Chamber 
and onto the bench.
  So let me repeat: The Senate is going to keep prioritizing judicial 
and administrative confirmations this week, this month, and for the 
rest of the year.
  Now, on disaster aid, in addition to confirming more judges and 
administrative officials, the Senate also has much to do on the 
legislative side. We must keep the government open after December 20. 
We must pass the annual Defense authorization bill, the NDAA, just as 
we have done for over six decades. We hope to keep making progress on 
the farm bill. I see the Senator from Michigan here, and she is working 
diligently on that.

[[Page S6590]]

  But today I want to focus on disaster aid, something both Democrats 
and Republicans have long supported and which impacts people in every 
State of the country. Earlier today, the OMB, the Office of Management 
and Budget, released a letter addressed to Congress calling for swift 
action on disaster aid, along with a detailed breakdown of where that 
money is needed.
  Right now, a host of Federal programs from various Agencies are 
running critically low on the funding they need to function. In some 
cases like the SBA, Small Business Administration, funding has already 
dried up. Without congressional action, the Federal Government may not 
be ready to respond to the next wave of disasters when they strike.
  Many of the programs in need of replenishing focus on the long-term 
elements of disaster recovery. When disaster strikes, obviously, the 
first priority is getting people out of danger, providing for their 
needs. But then homes need to be rebuilt. Schools need to be reopened. 
Farmers need help recovering their losses from ruined crops. Roads and 
bridges and railways need funding for repairs. Businesses need loans to 
get back on their feet. All of these priorities are running critically 
low on Federal dollars.
  A month ago, Speaker Johnson said getting disaster aid would be his 
priority upon Congress's return this month. I hope the Speaker honors 
that commitment and works with Democrats to get disaster aid done as 
soon as we can. We should not kick the can down the road nor withhold 
vital resources the Federal Government needs to properly help 
recovering communities.
  It is a longstanding tradition that when any community is hit by 
disaster in this great country, we all rally together to help our 
fellow Americans. With just a few exceptions, this has almost always 
been nonpartisan. That is how it should be on issues like this that 
impact communities of all kinds and in all places.
  We must work together to get disaster aid done as soon as possible so 
that we will be ready the next time disaster strikes.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. McCONNELL. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the 
order for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Without objection, it is so 
ordered.