Chris Murphy

Mitch McConnell clearly has a different copy of the constitution than all the rest of us, because this isn't the first issue in which he throws his arms up in the air and says I can't do anything about it unless the President blesses it.

We're using every lever that we have to try to shame our Republican colleagues into doing something on an issue that is frankly not controversial anywhere but inside the United States Congress.

The question is, what does that really mean? Is it all talk no action?

I remain pessimistic that that's how this is going to play out. But I'm glad that he is still interested in this.

We'd like to get the President, who has made a bunch of noise about supporting a background checks deal, we'd like to get his imprimatur on a specific proposal.

There has been discussions happening between Republicans and Democrats in the Senate, including the White House.

Well, I wake up every day optimistic. Optimistic, because I know eventually democracy catches up to the Senators who oppose 90 percent of their constituents who want things like universal background checks.

People just aren't signing up to be part of the NRA like they used to. In part, because NRA is so out of step with their own membership, 80 percent of NRA members want universal background checks and yet the NRA is lobbying against the…

I don't think the NRA is as powerful as they make it out to be.

Mr. President, it's going to have to be you that brings Republicans to the table on this because right now, the gun lobby would stop it in its tracks.

Mr. President, it's going to have to be you that brings the Republicans to the table on this because right now, the gun lobby would stop it in its tracks.

I think Mitch McConnell is really nervous about putting his members on record.

I just don't think you can count on this President ever following through on backing really tough gun measures.

None of the things that are being proposed are going to change the reality on the ground when it comes to mass shootings or in places like Chicago where 50 people were shot this week.

This really is ultimately a question of political power. This is about winning enough elections so that it is 90 percent of our constituents that want things like universal background checks who get their say.

But allow us to do what we are supposed to be able to do as senators, which is to try to amend that and make it stronger.

That's not real change.

I urge support for the amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time. The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Murphy). The amendment was agreed to. Amendment No. 16 Offered by…

I urge support for this amendment, and I yield back the balance of my time The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Florida (Mrs. Murphy). The amendment was agreed to. Amendment No. 15 Offered by…

Yes, part of the reason why the ambassador assesses the White House is completely dysfunctional when it comes to foreign policies is because there is no consistency about anything we do in the world.

So I'm concerned but I think that it is entirely predictable when the president pulled out of this agreement, there was really no reason for the Iranians to stay in it.

He has been critical of NATO threatening to walk the United States out of that alliance, he has withdrawn from the Iranian nuclear agreement.

Yes. I mean, the news here is that pretty sensitive cables call leaked, the news is not the ambassador of the United States is making an assessment that there is a dysfunction at the White House.

I have an amendment at the desk. The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment. The text of the amendment is as follows: Page 64, line 18, after the dollar amount, insert ``(increased by $2,000,000)''. Page 68, line 21, after…

Thank you. It is also my understanding that S. 47 makes uniform the process by which Federal lands may be closed to hunting, fishing, and recreational shooting Moreover, it is my understanding that S. 47 does nothing to change the…