Patrick Leahy: “We all know that it is a crisis, but we need to do something about it.”

before I begin, I wanted to acknowledge that this morning, countless Floridians woke up to a world turned upside down in the wake of Hurricane Ian. Hundreds of thousands in Puerto Rico remain without power more than 10 days after the storm…

reserving the right to object, and I will, but let me explain why. The bill offered by my colleague on the other side of the aisle is shortsighted and premature. We have been working on this omnibus for months. I would have been happy to…

I understand the floor vote is going to be soon. I ask unanimous consent that it be after I finish my remarks. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

I thank the Presiding Officer for the recognition, and I thank all who are here. There are some things we experience in life that we can never prepare for no matter how hard we try. Embarking on a life with the person you love is one…