Congressional Record, Daily Digest of Jan 31:
https://www.congress.gov/116/crec/2019/01/31/CREC-2019-01-31.pdf
Rand Paul is the chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Spending Oversight and Emergency Management.
House:
Adjourned early, back on Monday.
Some bills got introduced, among them:
By Mr. Raskin
H.R. 936. Prohibits corporations from making payments for political purposes until it has asked its shareholders what they prefer.
By Mr. Himes
H.R. 942. Tax credit to develop smart gun technology
By Mrs. Carolyn B Maloney
H.R. 943. A bill to authorize the Secretary of Education to award grants to eligible entities to carry out educational programs about the Holocaust, and for other purposes.
Senate:
Still considering S 1, bill to aid and comfort Israel and others.
The McConnell Amendment (S 65) cloture vote passed.
Excerpts from Senate floor speeches:
Senator McConnell (page S777):
noted that Senate Democrats have stopped filibustering S 1, which is a measure
"to renew our commitment to Israel, deepen our cooperation with Jordan, and deliver justice for the victims of Assad’s brutality in Syria."
"NATO’s mission in Afghanistan today is an essential element of bringing peace and stability to that troubled country."
Sen McConnell on HR 1 (p S777):
"an effort to centralize more control over America’s speech and America’s voting here in Washington—the ‘‘Democratic Politician Protection Act.’’"
"unprecedented Federal takeover of elections across our country?"
Sen. Thune (page 777):
"I am pleased the Senate is finally debating S. 1 after three inexplicable Democratic attempts to filibuster the bill."
"For starters, this legislation will further strengthen our relationship with our closest ally in the Middle East, Israel. It authorizes 10 years of military support funding to Israel…"
"it is vital that we make it very clear the United States will not tolerate those who have contributed to the brutality of Bashar al-Assad’s government."
"As I noted, this week, our intelligence community leaders gave a frank assessment of the threats we face to our national security and to our interests, from ISIS and al-Qaida to the danger posed by a growing alignment between Russia and China, to Iran’s destabilizing activities in the Middle East.
As intelligence officials made clear, the U.S. faces numerous persistent threats, and we should be wary of letting our guard down or becoming complacent about our strength. For that reason, I would like to state my support for Leader MCCONNELL’s amendment to express the sense of the Senate that we should be cautious about any premature withdrawal of our troops from Syria and Afghanistan."
Long speech celebrating commission of USS South Dakota, the 17th attack sub of her class, history of ships named South Dakota.
Sen Kennedy page(p S 778):
Starts the spiel with mandatory praise for Our Greatest Friend and Ally and shade for Putin:
"S. 1 is the Strengthening America’s Security in the Middle East Act. Its sponsor is the senior Senator from the Presiding Officer’s State, Senator RUBIO. He has done an extraordinary job with this bill. We both know Senator RUBIO. He is whip-smart, as I said yesterday. Speaking for me, he has forgotten more foreign policy than I will ever know."
"Senator RISCH has worked very hard on it as well. He is, of course, the chairman of our Foreign Relations Committee."
"Israel is easily our most important ally in the Middle East and is easily our most important friend in the Middle East. On some days, I think they are easily our only friend in the world, and we should support our friends. Let me say that again. We have to support our friends, and Israel is a friend. This bill will support Israel, and I like that. So I am going to vote for the bill."
"the humanitarian catastrophe caused by Assad’s butchering of his own people in Syria, along with the help of Vladimir Putin in Russia."
Bitterly laments leaving the Syrian Kurds.
Questions the Senate's understanding of the Syria conflict, almost questioning what he is even saying towards the end. Speaking on the McConnell Amendment to caution against troop pullout::
"I think the President makes a very valid point about nation-building and about mission creep. I have listened to this debate, and I honestly don’t know, and I don’t think the American people know. I know the intelligence community may be split, but we in the Senate, all of us—I have met every Member of the Senate—all have brains above a single cell organism. We can have experts come over here and brief us and tell us the pros and the cons. We haven’t done that, and that really bothers me."