[Congressional Record Volume 170, Number 190 (Friday, December 20, 2024)]
[Senate]
[Page S7308]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]



                         Senate Accomplishments

  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, the work of the 118th Congress comes to 
an end. The majority in this Chamber will soon change hands.
  Tonight, I would like to take a moment to thank my colleagues for 
their outstanding work over the past 4 years. This was the most 
productive, ambitious, and historic 4 years the Senate has seen in 
decades. I am proud that many of our biggest accomplishments were 
bipartisan--something I hope the incoming majority embraces as a model. 
And the accomplishments speak for themselves. They are enormous. I was 
so proud to lead the Senate when we did so much for so many people--
and, as I said, so much of it bipartisan.
  It started at the beginning in 2020, when COVID was at its worst. We 
passed the American Rescue Plan, sending checks to every mailbox and 
shots in every arm. It helped reduce the problems with COVID so 
quickly--more quickly than people ever felt.
  We passed a once-in-a-generation bipartisan infrastructure law. You 
see the effects of it all over America right now. Infrastructure is 
being rebuilt. People are being employed. Our country is getting more 
efficient, which it always does when we have better infrastructure. It 
rebuilt America's roads, bridges, and highways. It provided kids with 
safe drinking water. Rural communities and urban communities got access 
to broadband, which they had never had before--so essential in the 21st 
century.
  We brought manufacturing jobs back to our shores and revitalized 
American innovation through the Chips and Science Act.
  We took on the NRA and won by passing the first gun safety law in 30 
years.
  We passed the greatest expansion of veterans care in a generation to 
ensure that no veteran is denied treatment related to toxic exposure 
and burn pits.
  On this and almost every one of these issues, it was the Senate that 
led the way; bipartisan--Senators got together with one another and 
passed legislation that then the House followed and the President 
signed. But make no mistake about it, we were the cauldron; we were the 
place where it all got put together and melded together. And I am proud 
of the job, frankly, that I did as majority leader, but I am so proud 
of our Senators on both sides of the aisle who got so much done.
  There were other things we did as well. We stood with our friends in 
Ukraine as they defend their country against the brutality of Vladimir 
Putin.
  We took a stand to protect marriage equality.
  Through the Inflation Reduction Act, we made insulin $35 a month for 
millions of seniors.
  We empowered Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for the first 
time.
  The IRA was also the most ambitious clean energy bill in American 
history. The effects are happening all over the country. Our kids are 
going to breathe cleaner air. Our communities will see less pollution. 
Future generations are going to see millions of new, good-paying jobs 
as we complete the wind and solar and nuclear and all the other parts 
of the bill.
  Again, it made us so proud of what we were able to do. It was 
incredible. The list goes on and on. Our legacy in these past 4 years 
when we were in the majority is just large. It is grand. I am proud of 
it.
  We also, let's not forget, confirmed 235 highly qualified and 
historic judges to the bench--more than a quarter of all active judges. 
We are so proud of this ambitious record.
  Years from now, when Americans drive on better roads, buy cleaner 
cars, make faster chips, have better paying jobs, save on prescription 
drugs, it will be the work of this majority.
  In conclusion, I want to thank the staff here in the Senate who work 
behind the scenes and make this Chamber come to life, the incredible 
floor staff sitting here who do incredible work. Thank you to the 
miracle workers in the cloakroom. They always find everybody, wherever 
they are. If you say someone is missing, there they are. Thank you to 
the Senate doorkeepers, to the Secretary of the Senate, and the Senate 
Sergeant at Arms, to the pages and support staff, and to all of those 
who make this place function.
  A special thanks to my staff. What an amazing, hard-working, 
dedicated, smart, passionate, and caring group of people they are. I 
know this for sure: Without my staff, none of this would have been 
accomplished. They keep me going. Sometimes when I veer off course, 
they get me back on course. Sometimes when I am doing too much, they 
sort of limit me. Oftentimes, when I want to do something that is a 
yes, they sometimes say no, but all too often, they find a better way 
to do yes. So they are great. I love them, and I am grateful to them as 
well.
  There will be much to do in the year to come. The work will continue. 
The challenges will be great. And we will no longer be in the majority; 
we will be in the minority. But our North Star will not change: working 
every single day to serve the American people and reward the trust they 
have placed in us.
  I yield the floor.
  I suggest the absence of a quorum.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The clerk will call the roll.
  The legislative clerk proceeded to call the roll.
  Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the order 
for the quorum call be rescinded.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

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