Alex Padilla

But from this last election cycle, we learned specifically how dangerous it can be for election security to become politicized.

I think we all agree that our right to vote is indeed the foundation of our democracy.

I deeply thank you for highlighting in your testimony the failures by the Department of Defense and the EPA.

California needs to build an estimated 3.5 million new homes to meet the demand for new housing.

They deserve a fair pathway to citizenship and naturalization.

I ask for the yeas and nays. The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tempore. Is there a sufficient second? There appears to be a sufficient second. The clerk will call the roll. The legislative clerk called the roll

I am hoping you can expand on your testimony and share with us your thoughts on how the proposed wildlife refuge can help us meet multiple policy priorities here.

I did want to follow up on something that Senator Hawley raised, a question about safe third countries.

I was glad to hear this week that the Department has decreased the amount of time that children spend in Border Patrol custody.

I just think it important for those watching at home to kind of put the conversation and issues raised in this hearing in the proper context.

Decreasing the time that migrants are in Border Patrol custody should be a top priority, especially for migrant children.

I am hearing from a lot of advocates and service providers in California that more communication and coordination would be helpful between DHS and the NGO's.

We have a lot of work to do to diversify our national parks and monuments.

The range of stories that we tell isn't broad enough. It doesn't tell the full, rich story of America.

We know that renewing our infrastructure fosters economic growth. It connects communities and improves quality of life for all Americans.

Ensuring equitable investment in all communities is an essential aspect of building back better and addressing our Nation's infrastructure needs.

It`s beyond offensive. It`s beyond enraging, not just as a member of the Senate and a person of color, a voter of color in the United States of America, but as a former secretary of state in California, where we know how to protect the…

If our democracy -- the bedrock of our democracy is undermined, we`re in a whole world of hurt. And that`s what we`re fighting for with S.1.

As Senator Manchin has said with other issues and other pieces of legislation, before entertaining using the reconciliation process or anything else, he wants to see a genuine effort at bipartisanship.

This needs to be sustainable, long-term funding.

I look forward to our continuing work together.

I want to begin by thanking you for following through on President Biden's commitment to reexamine the States' One Rule.

I have a request for one committee to meet during today's session of the Senate. It has the approval of the Majority and Minority leaders. Pursuant to rule XXVI, paragraph 5(a), of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the following committee…

We will continue to have record wildfire seasons unless we take bold action to address climate change.

We will be in touch with the agency if there are additional resources or anything else needed to continue to make progress there.