Congressional Record — House, H2287 (May 27, 2020)
Summary
Page H2287 of the House section of the Congressional Record for May 27, 2020, in interleaved columns, from one-minute speeches. Mr. O'Halleran describes the dire situation COVID-19 has created in the Navajo Nation. Another speaker says Americans will save an average of $446 on insulin costs in a year and thanks President Trump, which is that speaker's view. A speaker praises local government as the level closest to the people, and a statement about water says one community was allocated 140,000 acre-feet after a year of zero. A final remark refers to Carter Page abuses.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Congressional Record — House, H2287 (May 27, 2020).”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-05-27-crec-2020-05-27-pt1-pgh2287-2-f75cbfff5f/
, SHA-256 02afa9ce7aeb1a54d6e021151ec9c2844b7c29ba0d21e9645e854ff6ceead49e.Full text
May 27, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE H2287
This is the government, State and For far too long, seniors have been Mr. O’HALLERAN. Mr. Speaker, I
local government, that is closest to the subjected to escalating insulin prices. rise today to share with my colleagues
people. This is the government that Now, Americans will save an average of in Washington—and all watching at
funds first responders and healthcare $446 on insulin costs in just a year. home—the dire situation COVID–19 has
workers in local hospitals. This is the I thank President Trump for con- created in the Navajo Nation and
government that funds the workers tinuing to put the American people across our Nation.
who pick up your garbage twice a first. But first, standing in this Chamber
week. This is the government running ADMINISTRATION AIDING NORTH CAROLINA today, I want to recognize the nearly
on fumes. Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. 100,000 lives lost thus far to the
So are the American people who need Speaker, there is no substitute for coronavirus, a staggering number that
another cash payment, an additional swift and decisive action. Since the ini- has affected families, communities,
$1,200 per family member, up to $6,000 tial outbreak of COVID–19 in China, economy, frontline first responders,
per household, and other essentials like President Trump and the administra- and many others.
unemployment benefits and housing tion have worked tirelessly to protect
Though some Americans may feel
benefits, a 15 percent increase in nutri- the American people.
First, President Trump closed our they have reached a new normal, hot
tion programs. People have got to eat spots across our Nation are still in the
during this crisis. borders and enacted a travel ban to
protect the American people. This was thick of this pandemic, and the fear for
b 1015 a necessary precaution that undoubt- what might come in the fall and winter
I also have been able to get included edly saved lives. In response, the main- is at the forefront of our thoughts.
in the HEROES Act a trifecta of provi- stream media’s political pundits cried One of those hot spots is the Navajo
sions that the District must have, be- foul and claimed this was an ill-advised Nation. Per capita, the Navajo Nation
ginning with the $755 million in retro- tactic intended to score political has more confirmed coronavirus cases
active funding Republicans in the Sen- points. That could not be farther from than any U.S. State. Under the CARES
ate removed from the CARES Act by the truth. Act, signed into law March 27, my col-
treating the District for the first time Sadly, my colleagues across the aisle leagues and I fought to include $8 bil-
in American history as a territory, and those in the media would rather lion for Tribal governments to use for
when we have always been treated for search for the newest outrage du jour expenses incurred during the pandemic.
what we are, a State for funding pur- instead of focusing on the efforts of the The first round of that funding did
poses, and, of course, the D.C. state- President and the administration to not reach the Navajo Nation until May
hood bill has enough cosponsors to pass combat COVID–19. 5. Much of the delay was because offi-
this very year. It is time to correct the record and cials within the Department of the In-
We have always received State-level cast aside the falsehoods that Demo- terior were considering allocating a
funding because we pay the highest crats and the mainstream media are portion of this $8 billion to the Alaska
Federal taxes per capita in the United pushing against President Trump and Natives Corporation, a group of for-
States. The HEROES Act also includes the administration. profit entities that generate billions of
money for State, county, and city For example, let’s look at what is dollars in revenue each year, and an-
funding, the first time the District has being done to help North Carolinians swer to individual stakeholders.
ever had to break down its funding. during this pandemic. Under the direc-
I immediately joined the voices of
tion of President Trump, FEMA has ob-
The District is a unique jurisdiction in Tribes across our Nation in demanding
ligated almost $30 million for COVID–19
the United States because it operates that these funds reach established
response efforts in North Carolina.
at all three levels. From the Strategic National Stock- Tribal governments, not corporations.
The HEROES Act also authorizes the pile, North Carolina received to date: On April 27, a U.S. district judge an-
District to participate in the municipal Over 250,000 N95 masks; over 580,000 sur- nounced that the Treasury Department
liquidity facilities funding of the Fed- gical masks; over 100,000 medical could begin distributing money to fed-
eral Reserve, if that should become gowns; over 115,000 face shields; and erally-recognized Tribes, and not to
necessary. The $3 trillion HEROES Act over 425,000 pairs of gloves. this corporate group. Delayed funding
sent to the Senate last week is a mark- In addition, President Trump ap- is not the only issue here. While Tribes
er. It will probably not be enough, as proved Governor Roy Cooper’s Major wait for the rest of the CARES Act
large as it is, to contain this virus. Disaster Declaration, and then directed money they were promised, politics in
But, at a minimum, it should get us FEMA to fund 100 percent of the emer- Washington continue to complicate al-
started on sensible negotiations. gency assistance activities provided by ready acute public health concerns on
Time, Mr. Speaker, is not on the side the North Carolina National Guard. Navajo.
of the virus. Let’s beat it with the HE- President Trump and the administra- Recent reports indicate that res-
ROES Act. tion are deeply committed to pro- pirator masks sent to Navajo Nation
f tecting not only North Carolinians, but hospitals through a Federal contract
LOWERING PRESCRIPTIONS COSTS also Americans across our country. with a former White House staffer may
FOR SENIORS If my colleagues across the aisle be faulty. I have serious concerns
shared the same sentiment of being ‘‘in about the lack of oversight and ac-
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The it together,’’ they would work with us countability in this contract-awarding
Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from to deliver for the American people and process, considering that this $3 mil-
North Carolina (Ms. FOXX) for 5 min- set aside their relentless impeachment lion deal was awarded to a friend of the
utes. crusade. administration with no prior Federal
Ms. FOXX of North Carolina. Mr. It is time to get our country back on contracting experience, who had only
Speaker, I rise to commend President its feet, and I am proud that President been in business for 11 days.
Trump and the administration for tak- Trump and the administration are
ing decisive action to lower drug costs It is unacceptable for government to
working day in and day out to do so.
for America’s seniors. be delivering anything other than what
We will win this fight, and I am certain
Currently, 34.2 million people in the is needed to any community, much less
we will emerge stronger and more resil-
U.S. have diabetes. One in every three a hard-hit community like Navajo.
ient.
seniors on Medicare has diabetes, and I have asked my colleagues here to
f
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE
over 3.3 million beneficiaries use at help me launch an immediate inves-
least one type of insulin. THE NAVAJO NATION AND THE tigation into the potentially faulty
Thanks to President Trump, the out- CORONAVIRUS PPE, and to make sure that the entire
of-pocket cost for insulin has been cut. The SPEAKER pro tempore. The contracting process receives more
Participating plans will cap costs at Chair recognizes the gentleman from oversight.
just $35 a month per type of insulin. Arizona (Mr. O’HALLERAN) for 5 min- While Tribes deal with the fallout
This is tremendous news. utes. politics has caused, they endure other
VerDate Sep 11 2014 00:02 May 28, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K27MY7.004 H27MYPT1
H2288 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — HOUSE May 27, 2020
factors that have complicated this pan- SURVEILLANCE OF THE AMERICAN It says the ‘‘Attorney General,’’ in
demic as well. Critical water, sanita- PEOPLE quotes—by the way, that means any
tion, and broadband projects through- The SPEAKER pro tempore. The senior official in the Justice Depart-
out the Navajo Nation remain un- Chair recognizes the gentleman from ment—would have to sign off on tar-
funded and firmly on Congress’ back Oregon (Mr. DEFAZIO) for 5 minutes. geting Federal officials or candidates
burner. Mr. DEFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, October for office.
Since coming to Washington in 2017, 2001, under the shadow of 9/11, with the First off, why should those people be
I have tried to raise the alarm about House office buildings evacuated be- exempt if they are engaged in terrorist
these long-overlooked issues. I have cause of the threat of anthrax, a bill activities or presumptive relevance of
worked with Tribal governments, authored by Chairman JIM SENSEN- terrorist activities?
shareholders in my district, and my BRENNER and the Bush White House But, again, ‘‘Attorney General,’’ with
colleagues here on Capitol Hill to find was brought before the House. It was this laughable clown in the Attorney
solutions to the problems faced by In- called the USA PATRIOT Act. General’s Office who jumps even higher
dian Country. Now, who could, in the shadow of 9/11, than they do when the President
This public health crisis continues to vote against anything called the USA tweets, I don’t think so. Just think of
shine a brighter light on the hurdles PATRIOT Act? Well, I did, as did 66 how they could use that politically,
that many Tribal families face every other Members; 3 Republicans, 62 not for intelligence purposes.
day, not just during a global pandemic. Democrats, and 1 Independent, because It does nothing to reform section 702,
I hope I can count on the many who of the unbelievably, unconstitutionally which is incidental backdoor accumu-
have joined me in speaking up for Trib- broad powers that would be granted for lation of data. There are many, many
al communities to continue to do so surveillance of all the American people documented abuses of section 202.
after this crisis because lives are at in myriad ways. It does finally do away with what was
stake here. Now, there wasn’t even a copy of the revealed by Mr. Snowden, the massive
Tribal communities are tired of par- bill available. I came to the floor, and gathering of all phone records.
tisan games and political spin. They I said: Can I have a copy of the bill? Again, what are they going to do
need the resources they were promised They said: Sorry, there is only one. It with it? Hundreds of millions of
so each sovereign Nation can care for is on the Republican side. I said: Well, records, no effective algorithms, no
their people. it is not the Senate. I can’t filibuster, way to figure out what it was about. It
but I will make it a long day with the was useless, operationally, as analyzed
The Dine people are resilient and
adjournment votes. Get me a copy. by numerous commissions and others,
they will win this fight.
They printed out a copy, it was hot off but there was still massive compliance
In a report yesterday from my friend and errors.
and Navajo Nation President Jonathan the Xerox. I got rushed on this side by
Members of the Judiciary Committee Even the NSA said: No, we don’t
Nez, he noted that the Navajo Nation’s want that anymore; we can’t do any-
own aggressive public health measures who ostensibly authored the bill to try
and find out what the heck was in it, thing with it. But the administration
have helped flatten the curve of asked that it be continued. This bill
COVID–19 significantly. but people still voted for it. The abuses
that have come under this are myriad doesn’t continue it, one of the few mer-
The situation could have been much its of this so-called reform bill.
worse without his leadership, and the and well-documented.
Now, I credit ZOE LOFGREN for trying This bill does not deserve passage. It
region remains at a high risk if the does not undo the damage that was cre-
to amend the most egregious section,
Federal Government does not step up ated in the shadow of 9/11, to the igno-
215, and my colleague, RON WYDEN from
and do its part. rance of most Members of Congress
Oregon. Senator WYDEN almost suc-
ceeded in the Senate, short one vote. who voted for it.
f f
And ZOE tried on the last reauthoriza-
tion and this one to amend that. Unfor- PROTECT FARMERS’ WATER AND
ECONOMIC AND INTELLECTUAL tunately, she was pressured by and PROPERTY RIGHTS
COMPETITION WITH CHINA forced to, since otherwise they would
block her amendment, to water down The SPEAKER pro tempore. The
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair recognizes the gentleman from
Chair recognize the gentleman from her revisions to section 215.
Now, Senator WYDEN is opposed, as California (Mr. LAMALFA) for 5 min-
Pennsylvania (Mr. JOYCE) for 5 min- utes.
utes. are others. What is section 215? Unbe-
lievably broad, warrantless, intrusive, Mr. LAMALFA. Mr. Speaker, in that
Mr. JOYCE of Pennsylvania. Mr. we do have other things going on in
Speaker, for far too long, the Chinese internet searches of everything you
look at, browse online. For what pur- this country besides the virus, we do
Communist Party has taken advantage have a crisis up in the Klamath Basin
of innocent people in its own country pose? Who knows? What are they going
to do with that information? Well, on the border of California and Oregon
and around the world. right now.
Now, America is engaged in an eco- maybe they are going to apply an algo-
rithm and find something. They gather The Klamath farmers up there are
nomic and intellectual competition the owners of the Klamath Project
with China that existed long before the so much data, they don’t know what to
do with it. water. It was created approximately
coronavirus crossed our borders. The 100 years ago to allow the ability to
current pandemic merely has exposed b 1030 farm crops to returning World War I
the Chinese Communist Party’s sin- What is the legal standard? A pre- and World War II veterans at that
ister lies, and the depths to which it sumption of relevance to an investiga- point. Those growers owned the right
will reach. tion. Isn’t that a laughable standard? to approximately 350,000 acre-feet from
There is no question that we must You could presume relevance to vir- the Upper Klamath Lake, water cre-
hold this regime accountable for all of tually anything in the world at any ated by the project which would not
its actions. As a member of the China time. exist without the creation of the
Task Force, I am committed to com- So this bill, even if that amendment project.
bating the Chinese Government’s should pass, even if the bill comes up This year, after many years of having
threats to our great Nation. We must today—it is questionable whether it their water pirated away from them,
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with HOUSE
be focused on strengthening and pro- will. We now have government by their allocation during a lesser water
tecting our supply chains to ensure tweet on that side of the aisle. rainfall and snowfall season was 140,000
that we are never beholden to this re- Trump says jump; they jump. And acre-feet, they were told on April 1, the
gime for critical medicines and critical last night, Trump said he is against second-worst allocation they have ever
supplies. this, even though it has a special provi- had, rivaled only by 2001 when they got
Americans must once again lead in sion in the bill for President Trump be- zero acre-feet allocated to them. 140,000
innovation. We must, and we will. cause of the Carter Page abuses. acre-feet, they were told.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:39 May 28, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 4636 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\K27MY7.006 H27MYPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2020-05-27_crec-2020-05-27-pt1-pgh2287-2.pdf
- Size
- 209,600 bytes
- SHA-256
- 02afa9ce7aeb1a54d6e021151ec9c2844b7c29ba0d21e9645e854ff6ceead49e
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov