Congressional Record — Senate, S2578 (May 21, 2020)

Summary

Page S2578 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for May 21, 2020, in interleaved columns, from closing floor remarks. A speaker says a bill to strengthen oversight of intelligence activities passed the Senate with broad bipartisan support and is waiting for the House to take it up, which is that speaker's view. Another speaker says Congress needs to show up for work like workers across America, and notes the House is not returning until the 27th. The remarks also say Senators Gardner and Daines will bring up the Great American Outdoors Act next work period, and a committee notice refers to a five-year term.

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“Congressional Record — Senate, S2578 (May 21, 2020).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-05-21-crec-2020-05-21-pt1-pgs2578-31e4e0848d/, SHA-256 bf23cc10c9defe31e393129d623be7ae376e70d928f28e3fff82a24eb8919352.

Full text

S2578 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE May 21, 2020
strengthen oversight of our Nation’s it isn’t easy or convenient. This pan- In addition, thanks to the hard work
intelligence activities at a time when demic may have temporarily halted of Senators GARDNER and DAINES, we
it is desperately needed. the daily functions of many people in will be able to take up their bipartisan
This bill passed the Senate with this country, but it cannot stop the Great American Outdoors Act in the
broad bipartisan support, but we are critical work of the U.S. Congress on next work period. It is a milestone
still waiting for the House to show up behalf of the people we are privileged achievement to secure public lands and
for work and to take it up and pass it. to represent. ensure their upkeep well into the fu-
They are not coming back until the I yield the floor. ture.
27th, I think, of this month, after what I suggest the absence of a quorum. We will have the National Defense
can only aptly be described as a drive- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Authorization Act so that we do not let
by vote last Friday after not having clerk will call the roll. this pandemic take our eye off the ball
been in town for 2 weeks and leaving The legislative clerk proceeded to of our Nation’s security.
promptly thereafter. call the roll. We will have much work to do in our
Now that they have completed their Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I ask home States next week. We will have
work on their $3 trillion wish list, I unanimous consent that the order for much to do when we get back here
hope we will see some action soon on the quorum call be rescinded. after that. All around the Nation,
things that will keep our country safe. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
Americans are taking precautions, but
That is only part of the critical na- objection, it is so ordered.
(The remarks of Senator COLLINS per- they are continuing to show up to do
tional security work we have done here essential jobs and keep the Nation
taining to the introduction of S. 3833
in the Senate since we returned to going. The Senate is not going to be
are printed in today’s RECORD under
Washington earlier this month. any exception to showing up.
I applaud Majority Leader MCCON- ‘‘Statements on Introduced Bills and
Joint Resolutions.’’) f
NELL for bringing us back. People are
Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I sug- EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
hearing all sorts of scary things on so-
gest the absence of a quorum.
cial media and cable news and even The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
conscious disinformation campaigns by clerk will call the roll. ask unanimous consent that the Sen-
some of our adversaries about this The legislative clerk proceeded to ate proceed to the consideration of the
virus and about how we ought to con- call the roll. following nomination: Executive Cal-
duct ourselves. The best thing we can Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I endar No. 654.
do as Members of the Senate is to dem- ask unanimous consent that the order The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
onstrate that with a little bit of per- for the quorum call be rescinded. objection, it is so ordered.
sonal responsibility and respect for The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The clerk will report the nomination.
others—maintaining social distancing, objection, it is so ordered. The senior assistant legislative clerk
masking when you can—we can actu- SENATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA read the nomination of Kenneth J.
ally still function. We can show up for Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, a Braithwaite, of Pennsylvania, to be
work like those healthcare workers, few announcements for the information Secretary of the Navy.
those law enforcement officers, and of all of our colleagues. Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to
others I mentioned a moment ago. When we reconvene after meeting consider the nomination.
One of the things our majority leader with our constituents and monitoring Mr. MCCONNELL. I ask unanimous
likes to say is that the Senate is in the the pandemic response in our States, consent that the Senate vote on the
personnel business. Today, we con- the Senate will first continue to fill nomination with no intervening action
firmed a fellow member of the Texas critical vacancies in the executive or debate; that if confirmed, the mo-
congressional delegation, Congressman branch. tion to reconsider be considered made
JOHN RATCLIFFE, to be the Director of This week, we confirmed a new Direc- and laid upon the table, and the Presi-
National Intelligence. I have known tor of National Intelligence. In just a dent be immediately notified of the
JOHN for about 10 years—or more moment, we will confirm a new Sec- Senate’s action.
maybe. He is prepared to continue the retary of the Navy. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
legacy of outstanding leadership we But our Democratic colleagues would objection, it is so ordered.
have come to expect and count on in not let the Senate fill several more The question is, Will the Senate ad-
our Director of National Intelligence. I posts over at the Pentagon. So, as has vise and consent to the Braithwaite
am confident in his ability to serve as sadly become the norm over the last 3 nomination?
a leader and advocate for the intel- years, the Senate will be spending floor The nomination was confirmed.
ligence professionals in the intel- time and multiple rollcall votes on f
ligence community. each of the following: an Assistant Sec-
We also confirmed other important EXECUTIVE CALENDAR
retary of Defense and the Deputy
nominees for critical positions, includ- Under Secretary of Defense for Policy. Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
ing the Nuclear Regulatory Commis- If you can believe this, I also had to ask unanimous consent that the Com-
sion, the National Counterintelligence file cloture on the incoming Special In- mittee on Environment and Public
and Security Center, and the Depart- spector General for Pandemic Recov- Works be discharged from further con-
ment of Homeland Security. Just as ery. If we had a nickel for every time sideration of PN1608 and PN1333, and
the work of the country has waged on our Democratic colleagues have the Senate proceed to the consider-
in the face of these challenges, so must claimed that congressional oversight of ation of the nominations en bloc.
our work. the recovery programs was important, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
The American people are not just the CARES Act would have paid for objection, it is so ordered.
counting on healthcare workers and itself. Yet Democrats blocked the con- The clerk will report the nomina-
first responders and farmers and firmation of the special inspector gen- tions en bloc.
deliverymen and grocery store employ- eral to look over the program this The senior assistant legislative clerk
ees to do their jobs—as important as week. read the nominations of Christopher T.
they are. They are counting on us, too, The Senate will prepare to confirm Hanson, of Michigan, to be a Member of
not only to continue to respond to this these qualified people the hard way. the Nuclear Regulatory Commission
pandemic—to stay nimble and adapt, Three years and counting of Demo- for the term of five years expiring June
to watch and listen and learn on how cratic heel-dragging continues. 30, 2024; and David A. Wright, of South

dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
we can do better—but also to strength- Of course, there will be plenty of leg- Carolina, to be a Member of the Nu-
en our national security, keep an eye islative business before us as well. Sen- clear Regulatory Commission for the
on our national debt, and do it all on a ators will continue to monitor the pan- term of five years expiring June 30,
bipartisan basis. demic response and discuss ways to 2025.
Like workers across America, Con- help the Nation pivot toward reopening There being no objection, the Com-
gress needs to show up, especially when and economic recovery. mittee on Environment and Public

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