Congressional Record, Senate, page S2624 (June 1, 2020)
Summary
Page S2624 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for June 1, 2020. Remarks on the page address violent crime and demonstrations in American cities and state that State and local authorities should restore order. A speaker discusses actions of the Chinese Communist Party toward Hong Kong and references the Hong Kong Policy Act. A later portion addresses disparities that the COVID-19 pandemic has made more evident and refers to Leader McConnell deciding whether or not the Senate will act.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, page S2624 (June 1, 2020).”
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S2624 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 1, 2020
not advance freedom or justice to van- saries are all too eager to exploit a dis- damental evil; the regime that sees
dalize the World War II Memorial that tracted world. peaceful demonstrations as an existen-
stands for those who bled and died for In recent days, agents of the Chinese tial challenge. That is who is to blame
exactly those values. You do not ad- Communist Party have taken to social for this, no matter what the Com-
vance peace by committing assault. media to openly taunt—openly taunt— munist Party’s two-bit propaganda is
You do not advance justice by inflict- the United States and defend their vio- trying to claim—not the people of
ing injustice upon your neighbors. You lent crackdown on the autonomy of Hong Kong, not their friends in the
do not promote the rule of law through Hong Kong. United States, just the would-be ty-
anarchy. There is no constitutional It has been almost a year since the rants in Beijing.
right to commit violent crime or to world watched Hongkongers embark on Last year, as Congress passed Sen-
terrorize communities, period. the latest round of peaceful demonstra- ator RUBIO’s update to my Hong Kong
This cannot continue. It has already tions against the repressive grip of the Policy Act, I also secured additional
gone on for entirely too long. I hope Chinese Communist Party. The world funding to provide legal protections to
State and local authorities will work watched as Hong Kong voters, with Hong Kong protestors and support de-
quickly to crack down on outside agi- American flags in hand, dealt crushing mocracy promotion activities. But if
tators and domestic terrorists and re- defeats to Beijing’s preferred puppet China moves in the coming days and
store some order to our cities. If State candidates in elections last fall. But in weeks to implement its draconian new
and local leaders cannot or will not se- recent weeks, as the coronavirus pan- laws that strangle Hong Kong, there
cure the peace and protect citizens and demic that China exacerbated has will be no rule of law left for protesters
their property, I hope the Federal Gov- dominated the world’s attention, the to appeal to. That is why the U.S. re-
ernment is ready to stand in the Chinese Communist Party is trying yet sponse should mirror those of other de-
breach. again to tighten their grip. New laws— mocracies that open their doors to
In Kentucky, we are already seeing supposedly related to national secu- Hongkongers fleeing oppression. Our
violence and tragedy compound on rity—aim to stifle dissent and curtail Nation has a rich heritage of standing
themselves. Several days ago, seven Hongkongers’ civil liberties. as a beacon of light and freedom, from
people were shot in Louisville—none, When I authored the U.S.-Hong Kong refugees of war to those escaping the
according to the mayor, by law en- Policy Act way back in 1992, we wanted Iron Curtain. We should exercise it
forcement. Last night, one individual to ensure future Chinese regimes would again for the people of Hong Kong.
was shot and killed by authorities after respect the promises made regarding Finally, while we address these latest
the police were fired upon from within this unique, autonomous region, so we aggressions, we must not miss the
a crowd. We are learning about the in- made sure the weight and suasion of broader lessons. The Communist Party
cident as fast as we can. I was just the United States of America would of China does not play by the rules.
briefed by Governor Beshear today, and stand with Hongkongers if need be. They don’t—not the rules of the inter-
I support a full and thorough and im- Unfortunately, these years later, national economy; not the rules of its
mediate investigation. But this has to such a time is upon us. Among other bilateral agreements with other na-
end. examples, we received word today that tions; not even its own rules, which are
These important protests began with for the first time in 30 years—30 increasingly subject to the whims of
the notion that basic physical safety years—authorities in Hong Kong will President Xi.
and legal protections must be non-ne- not allow the annual candlelight vigil Whether they are cracking down on
gotiable for every single American, bar that commemorates the Tiananmen Hong Kong, trying to cover up a pan-
none; that American liberty and the Square massacre to occur. For the first demic, or herding ethnic and religious
rule of law must be universal truths for time in 30 years, no commemoration of minorities into modern-day gulags,
all, not special privileges for some. the Tiananmen massacre will occur in this generation of Chinese leadership is
That point is absolutely right. That is Hong Kong. For three decades, Hong telling the rest of the world every sin-
a righteous and important mission. Kong has been the only place in China gle day exactly who they are—exactly
And it is exactly why these senseless where full-scale remembrances of the who they are.
and destructive riots need to end. Not massacre are permitted, but now they, America and the world have watched
next week. Not tomorrow night. Right too, will be going dark. China deepen its tyranny at home, as-
now. Right now. So I am encouraged that Secretary sert its hegemony abroad, and under-
We have real work to do to build con- Pompeo is tapping into that law to for- mine basic norms that protect the
structive paths forward between law mally certify that Beijing’s systemic peace. The question before us is, What
enforcement and affected communities. efforts to interfere in Hong Kong have will we do to stop it?
More violence and destruction is not eroded the region’s autonomy. I might
f
just unfair to many innocent people, it say this is exactly what we were con-
also just makes this important work so cerned about back in 1992 when the MEASURES PLACED ON THE
much harder. Hong Kong Policy Act was introduced CALENDAR—S. 3833 AND H.R. 6800
f by me and became law—exactly what Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I
we feared. understand there are two bills at the
CORONAVIRUS I hope that the administration will desk due a second reading, en bloc.
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, on soon identify the specific ways it will The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
an entirely different matter, these impose costs on Beijing and, just as im- clerk will read the titles of the bills for
events only compound what has al- portant, continue American support for the second time.
ready been a historically challenging the people of Hong Kong. Under my The legislative clerk read as follows:
time for our country. original legislation, several tools are A bill (S. 3833) to extend the loan forgive-
As our Nation continues to combat available. Their primary aim is to be ness period for the paycheck protection pro-
and contain the coronavirus, the Sen- an effective friend and partner for gram, and for other purposes.
ate will continue to lead the response. Hongkongers who share values of de- A bill (H.R. 6800) making emergency sup-
To name one example, I hope and an- mocracy and freedom and to help pre- plemental appropriations for the fiscal year
ticipate the Senate will soon take up serve the region’s unique character, au- ending September 30, 2020, and for other pur-
and pass legislation that just passed tonomy, and prosperity. poses.
the House by an overwhelming vote of Our Nation’s commitment to those Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, in
417 to 1 to further strengthen the Pay- efforts must remain ironclad, and it order to place the bills on the calendar
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check Protection Program so it con- must be 100 percent clear that the re- under the provisions of rule XIV, I
tinues working for small businesses sponsibility for threatening Hong would object to further proceedings, en
that need our help. Kong’s economic, political, and social bloc.
Even as we fight the pandemic, we climate rests solely and squarely on The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec-
will remember that other challenges the Chinese Communist Party—the re- tion having been heard, the bills will be
face our Nation as well. Foreign adver- gime that views free thought as a fun- placed on the calendar.
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June 1, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2625
Mr. MCCONNELL. I suggest the ab- infect and kill African Americans at a take any of that action. At the mo-
sence of a quorum. disproportionate rate. We are con- ment, he has reserved the floor of the
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The fronted by the all too often fatal con- Senate for the confirmation of several
clerk will call the roll. sequences of those disparities on a rightwing judges, many of whom will
The legislative clerk proceeded to daily basis. become part of the very problem we are
call the roll. George Floyd’s killing touched off now discussing: a justice system that
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask justified protests and demonstrations doesn’t work for everyone, a biased
unanimous consent that the order for across the country, driven by Ameri- system.
the quorum call be rescinded. cans of every age, color, and creed who These are judges who were
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without were distressed and upset, frightened preselected specifically because of
objection, it is so ordered. and angry by the America they see and their antipathy to voting rights and
f feel compelled to change. The over- civil rights and criminal justice bal-
whelmingly peaceful protests do honor ance and fairness. Time and again, the
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY
to the generations of Americans who Republican majority has confirmed ju-
LEADER
stood up and sat in and shouted at the dicial nominees who pledge loyalty to
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The top of their lungs in the urgent mission an ideological doctrine that would ex-
Democratic leader is recognized. to make America a more perfect union. acerbate the very inequalities that
f The small minority who exploit the have been laid bare in recent weeks and
PROTESTS moment for violence and mayhem are months. Leader MCCONNELL is doing
wrong and do not advance the cause of that this week, once again.
Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, 1 justice. At this delicate time, the Senate
week ago today, a White police officer I would note that while over 4,000 should lead on these issues rather than
in Minneapolis, MN, knelt on the neck protesters have been arrested in the aggravate the problem. Leader MCCON-
of an African-American man named last week, only 1 in 4 of the police offi- NELL should commit to put a law en-
George Floyd, pinning him to the cers involved in the killing of George forcement reform bill on the floor of
ground for over 8 minutes as he pled for Floyd has been arrested. While that the Senate before July 4. There
his life. The officer callously refused to statistic does not excuse the violence shouldn’t be hearings on President
heed those calls, standing up only after we have seen, it certainly helps to ex- Trump’s wild conspiracies about the
Mr. Floyd was unresponsive. Mr. Floyd plain the frustration and anger right 2016 election or a month of rightwing,
was pronounced dead shortly there- now. anti-civil rights judicial nominees. As
after. It was 8 minutes—8 minutes— There is accountability when every- the COVID pandemic continues to rage
that he was pinned there. day citizens and protesters violate the and Americans are taking to the
Today, 8 days later, our Nation is law, but that same accountability is streets to express their anger at police
reeling. It is reeling over the injustice far too often lacking when law enforce- violence and racial injustice, the Re-
and senselessness of George Floyd’s ment violates the law, and we have to publican majority in the Senate must
death, reeling over the memory of fix that. We must work to bring ac- focus on the national crisis at our
Ahmaud Arbery, Michael Brown, countability to police departments so doorstep.
Breonna Taylor, Eric Garner, and the that bad actors are not shielded from Today—just today—the CBO is ex-
unimaginable number of innocent lives culpability and those many officers pected to release an estimate of the
that were taken in similar cir- who do the job the right way are damage to our economy caused by the
cumstances. Our Nation is reeling from incentivized and rewarded. pandemic. If the current trends con-
centuries of racial injustice, a legacy We must reform our laws and our po- tinue, the CBO predicts a jaw-dropping
as old as the Nation itself and one that lice practices so that events like $16 trillion reduction in economic
haunts us to this day. George Floyd’s killing are far less like- growth over the next decade—$16 tril-
It took two and a half centuries and ly in the first place. There are many lion.
the Civil War to finally end slavery in examples of departments that have There are 40 million Americans cur-
America. It was 100 years more until made strides at improving community rently unemployed. Where is the ur-
the descendants of those newly freed relations, transparency, and account- gency from Senate Republicans to ad-
men and women could fully enjoy the ability, while reducing unwarranted vi- dress the economic catastrophe in our
rights of citizenship. Even today, slav- olence and racial bias. We need to build country, a catastrophe that, like police
ery is still with us. Its terrible legacy on those best practices and get all of violence, will disproportionately affect
and evil effects are felt in real and dis- our police agencies to adopt them. African Americans and other Ameri-
cernible ways every single day. We must invest in services and pro- cans of color?
When the French historian Alexis de grams necessary to deal with issues un- We should address both these issues—
Tocqueville visited America in the related to law enforcement, such as COVID and police violence—this
1830s, with amazing prescience he pre- housing and mental health, rather than month, not spend time on fringe con-
dicted that the United States would be- asking police officers to be responsible spiracy theories and not spend time on
come a great nation—the greatest in for addressing all of our society’s chal- putting rightwing judges who have
the world—even though at the time we lenges. There are many ways to address shown no sympathy to civil rights and
were a fledgling country, compared to the broader disparities in our society, racial justice and harmony on the floor
the great powers of Europe. But he also the systemic racism, and the injustice of the Senate.
said that the one thing that could that follows America around like a This is a moment that cries out for
doom our Nation was racism and racial shackle in our laws, in our customs, leadership, for compassion, for sym-
prejudice. His words ring true today. and in too many of our hearts. We have pathy, for understanding, for action,
The racial disparities in our criminal to make progress on these issues right and for our leaders to bring us together
justice system have been on full dis- now—not later, not next year, not after instead of letting events tear us apart.
play, but these disparities permeate the next George Floyd but right now. But the leader of our country, the
not just the criminal justice system Senate Democrats will be con- President of the United States, strug-
but all of society. There are glaring ra- fronting and addressing all of these gles—struggles—to summon even an
cial disparities in healthcare and hous- issues this week, and many of my col- ounce of humanity in this time of tur-
ing, racial disparities in income and in leagues will prepare legislative plans of moil.
wealth, in the board room and at the action. We will listen to experts on The President has reacted to the pain
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ballot box, on our streets and in our these issues and our constituents who and anger in the country by playing
schools. These disparities have been face these challenges on a daily basis. politics and encouraging police to be
with us a very long time, but COVID Be sure of this: We will propose and tougher on protesters by bragging
has placed a magnifying glass on them. push for bold action. about his reelection prospects and his
Perhaps most evident and immediate, Leader MCCONNELL, however, will de- personal safety inside the White House.
the COVID–19 pandemic continues to cide whether or not the Senate will A Presidential tweet invoked a Miami
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