While he served as chairman of the Judiciary Committee, he oversaw
the confirmation of a Supreme Court Justice and more than 200 Federal
judges committed to upholding the rule of law as our Founders intended.
  Further, Lindsey knew that strength produces peace and prosperity,
and he believed that the United States is the greatest force for
freedom that mankind has ever known. Through every bill he introduced,
every speech he gave, every statement he made, Lindsey ensured our
allies knew our word was good and our enemies feared our resolve. If
you loved America, Lindsey loved you. If you fought for freedom,
Lindsey would fight for you.
  Only in America could a man like Lindsey Graham leave such a mark on
our history and our future. That above all is a testament to his
strength of character. Lindsey's unwavering love for our Lord, devotion
to our country, and commitment to his family defined his entire life.
He was an example of what makes America exceptional.
  Though we lost a dedicated public servant, a workhorse of a
colleague, and an irreplaceable friend, his memory and his legacy will
never be forgotten. I extend my deepest prayers, thoughts, and
condolences to Darline, Lindsey's family, Lindsey's staff, his friends,
and his loved ones.
  America and this Senate will forever be grateful to Senator Lindsey
Graham for his lifetime of service, patriotism, and courageous
leadership.
  I yield the floor.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Senator from Iowa.
  Ms. ERNST. Mr. President, I rise today with a heavy heart to honor my
dear friend and colleague Senator Lindsey Graham of South Carolina.
  Before he ever set foot on this floor, he wore the uniform of the
U.S. Air Force, serving 33 years between the Air Force, the South
Carolina Air National Guard, and the Air Force Reserve. That service
and his upbringing in the back of his parents' South Carolina bar
shaped everything about how he approached his work here in the Senate.
He understood, in a way too few in Washington, DC, do, what it costs to
defend freedom. He was one of the loudest, most persistent voices this
institution has seen on the importance of American leadership in this
world.
  And before I joined the Senate, Lindsey was one of my earliest
supporters. I am so grateful for his mentorship and his friendship
throughout the years. Lindsey was really dear to my family. My mother's
birthday was just a few days before Lindsey's, and through the years,
he would call her on her birthday and wish her the happiest of
birthdays. As my daughter entered the U.S. Army, he would call her and
just give her words of encouragement--in the hilarious way that only
Lindsey Graham could.
  He was such a good and decent man.
  One thing we all knew about Lindsey was his great sense of humor. I
will never forget the gift he gave me after I won Iowa's Senate seat.
In fact, I may be the only Senator in history to be handed a mounted
castration clamp with a plaque engraved ``Make `Em Squeal, Joni!'' just
off the floor of this Chamber, courtesy of Lindsey Graham. And I think
he is probably still laughing about that one.
  Earlier this year, we were talking about Lindsey, doing dinner with
Lindsey, as many of us did, and we were talking about this year's race
because he was running for another term in the Senate. And my mother,
again, being very close to Lindsey and his No. 1 fan in Iowa--in fact,
she had a screen saver on her computer. It was her and Lindsey Graham.
If you asked my mother who her favorite Senator was, it wouldn't be
Senator Chuck Grassley or even her own daughter; it would be Senator
Lindsey Graham.
  She was agonizing: Should I send Lindsey a donation for his campaign?
And I was laughing about this with Lindsey.
  So he was like: Give me your phone.
  He said: Let's shoot a video for your mom.
  And so he took my phone, and he made this cute little 10-second
video. And it went something like this: Marilyn, we love you. We love
Joni. I know times are hard, but send money anyway. Lindseygraham.com.
  He did that all the time, and he was always so funny. And I can't
tell you how many times I have watched that video, over and over again,
and just laughed.
  He was certainly a very funny man, even when times were difficult,
but behind the jokes was one of the most serious and effective
legislators this body has ever known. He didn't care whose name was on
a bill if the policy was right. He brokered friendships and alliances
that many in this town said were no longer possible. He fought hard,
and then he would sit down and crack a joke with the people that he had
just been arguing with.
  All of us here on this floor know that Lindsey was always moving. The
man never stood still. He was always working the phones--phone call
after phone call--whether it was President Trump or my mom back in
Iowa. He was always certain that presence was power.
  I had the privilege of traveling many times over with Lindsey. The
very first codel, which is a congressional delegation trip, that I took
in the U.S. Senate was with Lindsey. It was to the Munich Security
Conference in Germany. The other Senators on that trip were former
Senator Joe Lieberman, a dear friend of his; Senator John McCain, who
was his deepest and truest friend; and Senator Kelly Ayotte. We had a
wonderful trip together. And it was such a great experience for me to
see him on the world stage, easily moving from conversation to
conversation with some of the world's most important and powerful
leaders, and to see how much they deeply respected Senator Graham.
  His contributions to conflict resolution went well beyond the United
States. Just days ago, Lindsey was in Ukraine meeting with President
Zelenskyy and standing with a nation fighting for its survival because
he believed at his core that American leadership was the difference
between peace and oppression.
  Lindsey Graham was tough, he was funny, and he loved this country.
  To the people of South Carolina and to Lindsey's family and, most
especially, to his sister Darline and all who loved him, we are all
mourning together. As a Christian like Lindsey, I know God will bring
comfort where there is fear, strength where there is shock, and hope
where there is loss.
  Lindsey, we miss you, and this Chamber will never be the same without
you. Godspeed, my dear friend, and thank you for your service.
  I yield the floor.

                   Nomination of Matthew A. Schwartz

  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, today, the Senate will vote to confirm
Matthew A. Schwartz to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Second
Circuit.
  Mr. Schwartz joins the growing line of Trump personal lawyers who
have been nominated to the bench during Trump's second term.
  Even as we consider his nomination, Mr. Schwartz is actively
representing the President in two cases on appeal: Trump's 34-count
conviction in the Stormy Daniels hush money case and the $464 million
judgment against him, his family members, and businesses for inflating
business assets.
  During his hearing, Senator Booker asked Mr. Schwartz about the
President's reported outstanding $400,000 debt to Sullivan & Cromwell,
an obvious conflict of interest. Mr. Schwartz downplayed that sum as
``an extraordinarily small amount.''
  Mr. Schwartz also represented Tesla in its successful appeal of a
judgment from the Delaware Court of Chancery voiding Elon Musk's $50
billion compensation package.
  While Musk raked in the billions Mr. Schwartz helped secure, he took
a chainsaw to nearly every aspect of our government.
  For these reasons, I will be opposing Mr. Schwartz's nomination.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. The minority whip.
  Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that the scheduled
vote start immediately.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered.

                      Vote on Schwartz Nomination

  The question is, Will the Senate advise and consent to the Schwartz
nomination?
  Mr. DURBIN. I ask for the yeas and nays.
  The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there a sufficient second?
  There appears to be a sufficient second.
  The clerk will call the roll.
  The bill clerk called the roll.