Congressional Record
Proceedings and Debates of the 117th Congress, First Session
Senate
The Senate met at 12:30 p.m. and was called to order by the President pro tempore (Mr. Grassley).
PRAYER
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, offered the following prayer:
Let us pray.
Almighty God, have compassion on us with Your unfailing love. As our lawmakers prepare to formally certify the votes cast by the electoral college, be present with them. Guide our legislators with Your wisdom and truth as they seek to meet the requirements of the U.S. Constitution. Lord, inspire them to seize this opportunity to demonstrate to the Nation and world how the democratic process can be done properly and in an orderly manner. Help them to remember that history is a faithful stenographer, and so are You.
We pray in Your sovereign Name. Amen.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
The President pro tempore led the Pledge of Allegiance, as follows:
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME
The Presiding Officer (Mr. Lankford). Under the previous order, the leadership time is reserved.
MORNING BUSINESS
The Presiding Officer. Under the previous order, the Senate will be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
REPORT OF THE SECRETARY OF THE SENATE
The Presiding Officer laid before the Senate the following letter from the Secretary of the Senate, which was ordered to lie on the table:
Dear Mr. President: On Tuesday, January 5, 2021, the President of the United States sent by messenger the attached sealed envelope addressed to the President of the Senate dated January 5, 2021, said to contain a message regarding additional steps addressing the threat posed by applications and other software developed or controlled by Chinese companies. The Senate not being in session on the day which the President delivered this message, I accepted the message at 5:00 p.m., and I now present to you the President’s message, with the accompanying papers, for disposition by the Senate.
Respectfully,
Julie A. Adams,
The Presiding Officer. The Senator from Iowa.
MEASURE PLACED ON THE CALENDAR—S. 11
Mr. Grassley. Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk that is due for a second reading.
The Presiding Officer. The clerk will read the bill by title for the second time.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 11) to provide for an exception to a limitation against appointment of persons as Secretary of Defense within seven years of relief from active duty as a regular commissioned officer of the Armed Forces.
Mr. Grassley. In order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I would object to its further reading.
The Presiding Officer. Objection having been heard, the bill will be placed on the calendar.
MEASURE READ THE FIRST TIME—S. 13
Mr. Grassley. Mr. President, I understand there is a bill at the desk, and I ask for its first reading.
The Presiding Officer. The clerk will read the bill by title for the first time.
The senior assistant legislative clerk read as follows:
A bill (S. 13) to establish an advisory committee to make recommendations on improvements to the security, integrity, and administration of Federal elections.
Mr. Grassley. Mr. President, I now ask unanimous consent for a second reading, and in order to place the bill on the calendar under the provisions of rule XIV, I object to my own request.
The Presiding Officer. Objection having been heard, the bill will receive its second reading on the next legislative day.
JOINT SESSION OF THE TWO HOUSES—COUNTING OF ELECTORAL BALLOTS
The Presiding Officer. Under the provisions of S. Con. Res. 1, the Senate will now proceed as a body to the Hall of the House of Representatives for the counting of the electoral ballots.
Thereupon, the Senate, at 12:51 p.m., preceded by the Secretary of the Senate, Julie E. Adams, and the Deputy Sergeant at Arms, Jennifer Hemingway, proceeded to the Hall of the House of Representatives for the purpose of counting electoral ballots.
The Vice President. Pursuant to S. Con. Res. 1 and section 17, title III, U.S. Code, when the two Houses withdraw from the joint session to count the electoral vote for separate consideration of an objection, a Senator may speak to the objection for 5 minutes and not more than once. Debate shall not exceed 2 hours, after which the Chair will put the question: Shall the objection be sustained?
•This “bullet” symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.
