Legislative Session--Motion to Proceed (Executive Calendar); Congressional Record Vol. 166, No. 181

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Legislative Session--Motion to Proceed

Madam President, while the Senate majority rushes to confirm the

Supreme Court Justice, it is ignoring a number of very important

priorities.

Earlier this week, the Republicans had a series of stunt votes on

COVID relief on an emaciated bill that left most Americans behind and

that was even designated to fail.

Now I want to mention a foreign policy issue the Republican majority

is ignoring. We have a resolution by Senators Menendez and Murphy to

invoke statutory authority under the Foreign Assistance Act to require

the Secretary of State to assess and report to the Congress on Turkey's

potential human rights abuses in Syria.

My colleagues introduced this resolution as a result of Turkey's

invasion of northeast Syria and its campaign to ethnically cleanse

Kurds from the region, which has resulted in numerous reports of

horrific human rights abuses.

The tragic events were the result of the President's decision to

abandon our Kurdish partners. The administration didn't lift a finger

to uncover the atrocities committed by Turkish proxies.

Even more recently, the Turkish Government, led by President Erdogan,

has blood on his hands for his role in the conflict between Armenia and

Azerbaijan.

President Erdogan is sending individuals responsible for the

atrocities in Syria to this region now. He must be exposed--he must be

exposed--for these actions. This President has a record of cozying up

to dictators, and action must be taken.

So in order to proceed to \[S. Res. 409\](https://www.congress.gov/bill/116th-congress/senate-resolution/409), a resolution requesting

information on Turkey's human rights practices in Syria, I move to

proceed to legislative session.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The question is on the motion to proceed.

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask unanimous consent that the vote

occur at 12:59 today.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there objection?

Without objection, it is so ordered.

Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I ask for the yeas and nays on the

motion.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?

There appears to be a sufficient second.

The yeas and nays are ordered.

Mr. SCHUMER. Thank you.

The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from South Dakota

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