WASHINGTON – Today on the floor, U.S. Senator John Cornyn (R-TX) responded to U.S. Senator and potential Vice Presidential candidate Kamala Harris’ (D-CA) remarks and asked why Senate Democrats would block the Just and Unifying Solutions to Invigorate Communities Everywhere (JUSTICE) Act, which includes numerous bipartisan provisions Democrats have championed – including her anti-lynching legislation. Excerpts of Sen. Cornyn’s remarks are below, and video can be found here.
“The bill… that it sounds like the Democratic Conference intends to block tomorrow includes the anti-lynching legislation that you and Senator Booker have championed. Are you aware of that?”
“So the senators are going to block their own anti-lynching bill by their vote tomorrow?”
“The Senator certainly is familiar with the rules of the Senate, which allow senators to offer amendments to improve legislation once we get on it. But if the Democratic Conference is going to prevent the Senate from actually getting on the bill, there is no opportunity for anyone, any senator, you or any one of us to offer amendments to improve it.”
“Aren’t you aware of the fact that there are 60-vote thresholds on the back end, so that if we get on the bill and you don’t like the way it turns out, that you can block it on the back end? Is the Senator aware of those options that she has?”
“What I’m trying to fathom, Madam President, is why the Senator would rather have these negotiations occur behind closed doors as opposed to here on the floor of the Senate for the American people to see broadcast on television.”