Joe Manchin: “Thank you. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The distinguished Republican leader. Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, well, I think…”

“Thank you. The PRESIDENT pro tempore. The distinguished Republican leader. Mr. McCONNELL. Mr. President, well, I think we can all agree on one thing: It has been a long day. Almost everybody has had something to say, and the reason for that is this is an important day in the history of the Senate. It could be argued it is the most important day in the history of the Senate as an institution. This very day that we are just wrapping up is, in all likelihood, the most important day in the history of the Senate as an institution. This evening, fewer than 60 Senators voted to advance a piece of legislation so it didn't move forward. It is pretty common around here. It happens frequently. In fact, it happened less than a week ago, as we know, when our Democratic colleagues used the 60-vote threshold to block sanctions against Putin's pipeline. In 2020, the Democrats used the filibuster multiple times to delay the CARES Act, kill Senator Tim Scott's police reform bill, block bipartisan protections for unborn children. Senate minorities can apply the brakes to small majorities. Senate minorities can apply the brakes to small majorities. This institution makes major changes earn major buy-in. This institution requires that major changes receive major buy-in. For decades, Americans on all sides acknowledged this.…”