Congressional Record — Senate, June 3, 2020
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated June 3, 2020, beginning at page S2660. Mr. McConnell outlines the Senate agenda, including the Paycheck Protection Program, a bipartisan public lands bill from Senators Daines and Gardner and the 60th National Defense Authorization Act, and then speaks on Afghanistan, saying the Taliban has continued its violent campaign and that enough presence should be kept to preserve counterterrorism capabilities. Mr. Schumer speaks on protests after the death of George Floyd, asks Mr. McConnell to commit to put a law enforcement reform bill on the floor before July 4, and criticizes the use of gas and rubber bullets in Lafayette Park. The page also reserves leader time and takes up a nomination to be a Deputy Under Secretary of Defense.
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“Congressional Record — Senate, June 3, 2020.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-06-03-crec-2020-06-03-pt1-pgs2660-6-fa0b5dc6dc/
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S2660 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 3, 2020
for our country. We will turn to legis- administrations. The President’s strat- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem-
lation to strengthen the implementa- egy and diplomacy have helped create pore. The clerk will call the roll.
tion of the Paycheck Protection Pro- a path for discussions among Afghans— The senior assistant legislative clerk
gram for the workers and small busi- the only thing that could actually se- proceeded to call the roll.
nesses that are struggling to weather cure the country’s future. Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President, I
this storm. We will consider a bipar- If these qualified successes continue, ask unanimous consent that the order
tisan bill from Senators DAINES and it would be appropriate to further re- for the quorum call be rescinded.
GARDNER to safeguard America’s abun- duce our American presence as certain The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs.
dant public lands. For the 60th con- conditions are met, but we must retain LOEFFLER). Without objection, it is so
secutive year, we will also take up the enough forces and influence to main- ordered.
National Defense Authorization Act to tain our counterterrorism capabilities. RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER
help guide the strategic and oper- Given recent reports and our long- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
ational priorities of our Nation’s standing experience, we cannot just Democratic leader is recognized.
Armed Forces in the face of evolving trust the Taliban will sever ties to al- PROTESTS AND BUSINESS OF THE SENATE
threats. Qaida and other terrorist networks. We
Mr. SCHUMER. Madam President,
f need to be vigilant. We need to main-
this has been a very difficult week
tain enough presence to judge whether
AFGHANISTAN after what has been a very difficult few
the Taliban complies with agreements
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, months. A nation, beleaguered by dis-
and help the Afghan Government im-
make no mistake, the foreign actors ease and economic depression, has once
pose consequences if it does not. We
who seek to harm the United States again come face-to-face with the racial
need to maintain enough presence to
have not let up while we have attended injustice that infects our society. The
preserve our strategic foothold against
to other problems. For example, in Af- death of George Floyd in police cus-
ISIS, the Haqqani Network, and al-
ghanistan, despite agreeing just tody was a searing reminder of a long
Qaida. We should also maintain enough
months ago to engage in further peace list of unarmed African Americans
presence to help prevent a full replay
negotiations with the Afghan Govern- whose lives have been taken under
of Iraq or Syria—a bloodbath and a
ment and sever its ties with al-Qaida, similar circumstances—Breonna Tay-
human rights collapse, particularly for
the Taliban has, instead, continued its lor, Ahmaud Arbery, and too many oth-
generations of Afghan women.
violent campaign against the Afghan ers—a well of grief and loss and pain
Last year, a bipartisan supermajority
people. too deep to express. It was a searing re-
in the Senate voted for an amendment
President Trump has expressed frus- minder of the bigotry and discrimina-
I authored, which warned against pre-
tration with the Taliban’s failures and tion that African Americans encounter
cipitous withdrawals from Afghanistan
is reportedly considering withdrawing as part of their daily reality.
and Syria in ways that could jeopardize
from Afghanistan even more rapidly. That is why so many Americans of
the hard-won progress we have at-
Yet, as we weigh our options, we must all ages, colors, and faiths are out in
tained, embolden Iran and Russia, and
not forget the painful lessons of the the streets protesting right now. They
create more pain for us and everyone
last administration’s mistakes. are fed up with racial injustice in this
else in the future.
Former President Obama and Vice country and want to see some change.
Our enemies would be thrilled if the
President Biden were intent on beating Here in the Senate, Member after
United States would grow too tired to
a hasty retreat from Iraq, conditions Member has come to the floor to share
continue the hard work of standing
on the ground notwithstanding. Just as support for the same cause.
with our partners, confronting our ad-
many of us warned at the time, their Yesterday, our caucus held a somber,
versaries, and maintaining measured
recklessness left a vacuum that terror- emotional, and very personal meeting,
leadership that projects our security
ists and Iran readily filled. ISIS flour- during which our Members shared their
around the world. Our enemies would
ished. Tragically, the rest is history. own lived experiences of racism and
be delighted if we would grow too
The resulting chaos threatened our in- spoke about what we need to do next
weary to act in our own long-term in-
terests and drew American efforts back because the truth is, while speeches
terest. We must not give them that
into the region. and protests are vital, they will never
satisfaction.
By contrast, the Trump administra- be enough.
f We need greater accountability and
tion has seen a number of successes in
this difficult region. The President’s RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME transparency in police departments
strategy has secured a territorial de- The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- and reformed police practices so these
feat of ISIS. It has put new pressure on pore. Under the previous order, the events don’t happen in the first place.
Iran and given the Iraqi people a fight- leadership time is reserved. We need to reform the criminal justice
ing chance, which their new govern- system that is still too short on justice
f
ment seems inclined to take. and begin chipping away at the racial
Yet helping Iraq stand up to Iranian CONCLUSION OF MORNING disparities that exist in healthcare,
influence will not be an overnight BUSINESS housing, education, and in the econ-
project. Iran wants to drive the United The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- omy.
States from the region. China and Rus- pore. Morning business is closed. These issues will not be solved in a
sia would also be thrilled with a reduc- week or a month or in a year. Let’s
f
tion of American presence and influ- hope they can be solved in this decade.
ence there. So, as we struggle to clean EXECUTIVE SESSION But I will be damned if we don’t at
up the broken pieces of one rushed least try to make some progress. Al-
withdrawal, we need to avoid repeating ready, my colleagues Senators BOOKER,
those mistakes somewhere else. EXECUTIVE CALENDAR HARRIS, CARDIN, KLOBUCHAR,
I applaud the Trump administration The ACTING PRESIDENT pro tem- DUCKWORTH, SCHATZ, SMITH, and others
for its approach thus far in Afghani- pore. Under the previous order, the are working with the Congressional
stan. The President has taken con- Senate will proceed to executive ses- Black Caucus in the House to develop
straints off U.S. forces. We have helped sion to resume consideration of the fol- legislation to address a number of
Afghan forces go after the terrorists. lowing nomination, which the clerk issues related to police violence and ra-
We have ratcheted up the costs on the will report. cial justice. Senate Democrats will not
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Taliban, bolstered the Afghan forces The senior assistant legislative clerk wait to propose and push for bold, bold
that bear the brunt of the violence, and read the nomination of James H. An- change.
won international support for our mis- derson, of Virginia, to be a Deputy Will our Republican colleagues join
sion there. We have done all of this Under Secretary of Defense. us? Leader MCCONNELL, commit to put
with fewer resources and fewer per- Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, a law enforcement reform bill on the
sonnel than during the previous two I suggest the absence of a quorum. floor of the Senate before July 4.
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June 3, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE CORRECTION S2661
I have made this request for several increased school class sizes, longer once great party, even though I didn’t
days without an answer from the Re- emergency response times, fewer serv- agree with it, has declined so—no cour-
publican leader. Even more dis- ices to keep the elderly at home and age, no principle, but simply cowering
appointing, the Republican leader out of nursing homes. These cuts not for President Trump and his crazy
blocked a simple resolution I offered only exacerbate the recession but the theories that even they know are
last night that reaffirmed Americans’ wrath of the coronavirus itself. That is crazy.
constitutional rights to peaceful pro- what is happening while Senate Repub- The American people, of course,
test, condemned the violence that is licans wait until July, maybe, to con- should be furious with the President as
occurring in too many places, and con- sider another relief bill. well. On Monday night, Americans
demned the President as well for hav- America, look at what our Repub- watched Federal officers, under the di-
ing gas and rubber bullets used on a licans are doing: not giving the relief rection of the President and the Attor-
peaceful protest in Lafayette Park, you need for your safety, for your ney General, use gas and rubber bullets
where there were families and children schools, for the services that local gov- to disperse a crowd of peaceful pro-
protesting in the grand American tra- ernment provides. testers in a public park so that the
dition of peaceful protest. The Republican majority doesn’t President could stage a photo op in
There was no partisan rhetoric in seem to have time to address a cas- front of a church, waving the Holy
this resolution. It was three simple cading series of national crises—no Bible as a prop.
concepts, a recitation of the facts, but time. Why is that? Last night, Americans saw an even
because Senate Republicans are so Where is President Trump? Where is more haunting image on the internet
afraid—shivering—at the thought of his Cabinet? They all know that we and their televisions: rows of camou-
criticizing the President, even when need more. They all know we haven’t flage troops standing at attention on
they know his actions are way out of solved the economic problem—far from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial, like
line, Leader MCCONNELL came and it. They all know that we have to do a an occupying force defending a critical
blocked this resolution. Shame, shame, lot more on testing. position.
shame. So our Republican majority doesn’t When you see the image of troops
We all know there are very few seem to have time to address the dressed for combat flanking the Lin-
checks on the President, especially a COVID national crisis, but do you coln Memorial, an altar of freedom,
President who believes he can do any- know what it does have time for? Chas- you cannot help but think of
thing he wants—and he said it. One of ing President Trump’s wild conspiracy Tiananmen Square. This administra-
the most effective checks on President theories. It sounds like the death knell tion ordered Federal officers to gas
Trump could be the caucus of Repub- of the Republican Party as we know it. peaceful protesters and charge on
lican Senators for once standing up to They can’t deal with the two major cri- horseback and defend our monuments
him when he is way out of line. Where ses of the day—racial justice and the like battlefield positions.
are they? Where are they? COVID crisis—and they are busy pur- What is President Trump doing to
Even a columnist like George Will suing conspiracy theories, some of this grand democracy? What is he
has shown a disgust at the Republican them emanating from Russia, to go doing? And why are our Republican
Senate, and he is a conservative, for after President Obama and Vice Presi- colleagues just going along?
their failure to stand up to Donald dent Biden. President Lincoln’s second inaugural
Trump on issues like this. All too often This makes no sense. This, again, address is engraved in that building
on thorny issues such as gun safety, ra- sounds like the death knell of the Re- where armed soldiers stood. During a
cial justice, and police reform, my Re- publican Party. The Republican Party moment of extreme political division
publican colleagues sort of say what is we used to know would have some prin- and civil strife, President Lincoln
necessary to get through the day, when ciples but not be afraid to run to every urged malice toward none, charity to-
there is an immediate crisis, and then major issue—to any major issue al- ward all, and sought to bind up the Na-
wait for public attention to fade. most. But that is what they are doing. tion’s wounds.
Leader MCCONNELL called us back Today, in the Judiciary Committee, There could be no greater contrast
into session in early May during the the Republican committee chairman between Lincoln and this President,
height of the COVID pandemic, but we has called in Rod Rosenstein to dredge this President who seems to have mal-
still have not considered a single piece up the President’s favorite conspiracy ice toward all and charity for none,
of legislation on the floor. Now listen theory related to the 2016 election. It is who seeks to deepen our Nation’s
to this. Yesterday, when Leader an egregious misuse of the institu- wounds rather than bind them up. Our
MCCONNELL was listing legislative pri- tion—the Senate. Nation is crying out for leadership, for
orities for June, he did not mention Nearly a quarter of our workforce is direction, for some healing and some
COVID legislation. Let me repeat for unemployed. Over 100,000 Americans unity. Will this President even try to
those who may have missed it in the are dead from a strange and contagious provide it?
swirl of news and events of the day. disease; Americans are in the streets I yield the floor.
When listing his June priorities to re- demanding racial justice; and shop- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma-
porters, Leader MCCONNELL did not worn, discredited conspiracy theories jority whip is recognized.
mention COVID-related legislation. are what the Republican majority is fo- Mr. THUNE. Madam President, I
Other Republican Senators have said cused on? What alternative universe do want to speak here in just a moment to
that another relief bill might come in they live in? What alternative reality the issue of internet traffic and how
late July—might, might. are they in the midst of? One detached that has been impacted by the
This is shocking. This should be a from the real reality that the Amer- coronavirus, how it has impacted our
wake-up call to the American people. ican people face: conspiracy theories to lives during the coronavirus. Before I
Americans of all ages, races, creeds, help President Trump’s reelection, do that, though, I want to just respond
and philosophies, call your Republican rightwing judges, many of whom have to a few things the Democratic leader
Senators. Demand action. antipathy to the civil rights we are mentioned.
The recession will get deeper. It talking about now. He again pointed out that the Repub-
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could develop into a depression if we The Republican Party in the Senate lican Senate isn’t doing work here. It
don’t have relief. We have not done has moved so far into a corner, the cor- is hard to fathom how he can possibly
enough in the eyes of every economist ner that Donald Trump is in, that they come to that conclusion. The Demo-
I have looked at and respected. Gov- can’t address two of the most impor- crat-run House of Representatives is
ernors and mayors across the country tant and major issues that have af- out of session for the entire month—
in red States are slashing budgets in fected this country in decades. the entire month of June. They are not
advance of the new fiscal year, which The American people should be furi- even here. The Democratic House of
for most States starts July 1. States ous with the Republican Senate major- Representatives isn’t even in town.
will be forced to cut millions of jobs ity, and the American people and histo- The Senate is here doing work, and
and critical services. These cuts mean rians will record with sadness how this important work, I might add. He said
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S2662 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 3, 2020
we haven’t passed any legislation. Today, in the Senate Commerce used, as the Treasury has pointed out,
Well, the week before the Memorial Committee, another committee on given the States’ flexibility, for emer-
Day break we passed the Foreign Intel- which I serve, we are going to be exam- gency personnel, first responders, po-
ligence Surveillance Act reauthoriza- ining the impact of the coronavirus on lice, all the things that the Senator
tion, a critical piece of national secu- our transportation infrastructure and from New York talked about. That is
rity and intelligence legislation that how important this transportation has flexibility the States have now to be
all our intelligence experts tell us is been throughout the course of the able to meet the needs that they have
critical to fighting the war against ter- coronavirus in ensuring that we keep and to work with their local govern-
rorists. Pretty important legislation, I commerce going, that we keep food in ments and meet the needs of the local
would say. the grocery stores. governments.
He pointed out that the agenda for We are going to be looking at both So there is a lot of money in the
the month of June doesn’t include the highway aspect, the rail aspect—all pipeline, not to mention, of course,
much. Well, that is only if you don’t of those—and how they are impacted first and foremost, the money we put
think that the National Defense Au- by the coronavirus and what we might out there for investment in thera-
thorization Act is not important. need to do to ensure that they continue peutics, in vaccines, in diagnostic test-
Funding the military, authorizing the to be able to provide the services that ing, and all the money that has gone
weapons systems, paying the per- they do going forward. out to hospitals and nursing home pro-
sonnel, the technology, the intel- So we are consistently looking at, on viders and long-term care facilities to
ligence, all the things that go into pro- a daily basis, the coronavirus, the im- help them get through this crisis in the
tecting the country seem to me to be pact it is having on our economy, the form of direct assistance. So there is a
pretty important. impact it is having on the health of lot of money in the pipeline—as I said,
So the National Defense Authoriza- people in this country, the health about $2.9 trillion that has already
tion Act is a piece of legislation that emergency, and putting measures in been authorized, and I think about 40
the Senate will process during the up- place that would deal not only with percent, maybe, has been spent. So
coming weeks here in the month of that health emergency but also with there is still a lot of assistance going
June. In fact, that will probably take a the economic crisis created by it. out there.
good week to move across the floor of In the meantime, we are seeing the My friend, the Democratic leader,
the Senate. It typically does. It is economy start to open up again, which would just want to put a whole bunch
something we have to do on an annual I think is a very good thing. I am hope- more money out there without know-
basis, but there is nothing more impor- ful we will see, as the economy opens ing what the need is, and I think, at a
tant and more critical to the national up, that people will get out, consumers time when we are already running a $21
security of the United States than the will spend, investors will invest, and trillion—now $25 trillion—debt, we
National Defense Authorization Act. we will see that economy start to grow ought to be very circumspect and pay
We will be passing a major parks bill again, jobs to come back. attention to what is happening in our
this next week, which will help fund Obviously, we have very high unem- economy, what the needs are, what we
the backlog in a lot of our national ployment right now—a major concern. need to keep the economy opening up
parks—something that has been a pri- We also have a major unemployment and responding, what we continue to
ority for many Democrats here in this insurance piece of legislation that was need to do to help people who are un-
Chamber for a long time. In fact, it is moved by this Congress earlier to pro- employed, what we continue to need to
a great bipartisan bill. In fact, I think, vide assistance and help for those who, do to help families in this country who
out of the Democratic caucus, there through no fault of their own, have had are struggling through this crisis.
are somewhere on the order of 43 of the to go on unemployment. But we ought to do that based on the
47 Democrats who are cosponsoring the To suggest for a moment that we need, not just somebody saying: Well,
piece of legislation that will be called aren’t focused on the coronavirus is let’s just throw a bunch more money
up later this week and be on the floor completely missing the point—as is to out there and hope that it has an im-
most of next week. suggest, also, that we haven’t done a pact. We have done that. We have
So it is something that has been lot already. We passed four major flooded the zone with dollars. There is
around here for a while. It is going to pieces of legislation, totaling almost $3 a tremendous amount of resources out
be a major legislative accomplishment. trillion, and that is $3 trillion if you there right now, a lot of which has yet
It will be a bipartisan accomplishment don’t include the amount of leverage to be spent, and it strikes me, at least,
when it passes. we gave to the Federal Reserve and the that, in the eyes of most Americans,
So I would just say that the fact that Treasury to extend credit and create li- they would view it as pretty impor-
we aren’t doing the things the Demo- quidity out there. With the power of tant, before we spend more tax
cratic leader wants to do doesn’t mean that leverage, it is somewhere on the money—all of which, I might add, is
the Senate isn’t very busy. The things order of about $6 trillion in assistance going to be borrowed money—that we
he wants to do, the things he talks that we have put out there through dif- see how what we have done already is
about wanting to do, are things that we ferent legislative vehicles to the Amer- working, if it has been effective and is
are doing. We are dealing with the ican people. having the desired impact.
coronavirus on a daily basis around So you are seeing that translated There is so much going on around
here. into the Paycheck Protection Pro- here dealing with the coronavirus, it
I am a member of the Senate Finance gram, which is keeping people em- just completely defies any sort of logic
Committee. Yesterday, the Senate Fi- ployed, keeping jobs in this country, to what the Democratic leader sug-
nance Committee had a hearing in keeping businesses functioning and op- gested was happening here in the Sen-
which officials from the FDA, for ex- erating. It has been a very successful ate.
ample, critical agencies when it comes program. He made one other comment, which I
particularly to pharmaceuticals in this You are seeing it in the form of di- think I have to respond to. He said that
country, attended, and the subject of rect assistance to State and local gov- the Senate is in the process—Repub-
the hearing was the pharmaceutical ernments. And $150 billion has been put licans in the Senate are processing
supply chain and what we need to do to out there, much of which hasn’t been rightwing judges who have antipathy
shore that up, to make sure that in fu- spent, and that is on top of a lot of for the very civil rights issues that we
ture pandemics, with lessons learned other assistance to State and local gov- are dealing with right now.
from this one, we aren’t dependent ernments, which totals somewhere on I don’t know how you can make a
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upon unreliable supply chains in places the order of about $500 billion. Almost statement like that. I don’t know how
around the world that, frankly, may half a trillion dollars, so far, sum total, you can ascribe motive or intent to
not be dependable. That is a pretty im- has gone out to State and local govern- judges. You don’t know who these
portant issue when it comes to dealing ments. judges are.
with the effects and the impacts of the Much of that, as I said, is in the pipe- We have a judge we are going to be
coronavirus. line, hasn’t been spent yet. It can be processing here for the DC circuit. It is
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June 3, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2663
a pretty important circuit in this coun- But like any new technology, 5G net- We have noticed. As many of my col-
try. He is the district judge from Ken- works will present new risks and vul- leagues and I have expressed, we stand
tucky. He has been rated as very ‘‘well nerabilities. And because 5G will mean with Hong Kong. We must carefully
qualified’’ by the American Bar Asso- a vastly greater number of connected consider an appropriate response, one
ciation. The American Bar Association devices, the risks with 5G will be great- that will rebuke the Communist Party
isn’t a rightwing group at all. In fact, er. That is the why a central part of de- of China without negatively affecting
many on our side think they certainly ploying 5G networks has to be looking the people of Hong Kong, their well-
drift the other direction. Yet they have at how we can mitigate security risks. being, and their democratic aspira-
said this judge is a well-qualified judge. We need to ensure that our compo- tions.
Do you think they would be saying nent parts of our devices and, criti- We didn’t need COVID–19 or China’s
something like that about a judge who cally, the component parts of tele- recent actions in Hong Kong to know
had antipathy for civil rights? I mean, communications networks, like cell that giving the Chinese Government a
that is just, I would say, a reckless and towers and the small cells that will be backdoor into American communica-
irresponsible statement unless you required for 5G, are secure. A primary tions networks is a bad idea. But it cer-
have something to back that up and way to do that is by ensuring that 5G tainly underscores the need to make
support it. equipment comes from trusted vendors. sure that 5G infrastructure is not made
So I just thought it would be impor- Currently, one of the biggest sup- by companies beholden to the Chinese
tant to respond to some of the things pliers of 5G equipment worldwide is a Government. The United States has
that the Democratic leader just said Chinese company, Huawei, which is taken a number of steps to prevent
with respect to the agenda here in the supported by the Chinese Government. equipment from Huawei and another
Senate, which, as I pointed out earlier, China’s 2017 national intelligence law suspect Chinese company, ZTE, from
is a very full one. If you compare it to requires Chinese companies to support being used in U.S. communications
the agenda of our colleagues in the the Chinese Government’s intelligence networks, but these companies still
Democrat-controlled House, which is activities. American security officials pose a risk to the United States.
zilch because they are not here for the have raised concerns that much of For starters, some U.S. broadband
entire month, it seems to me the Sen- Huawei’s equipment is built with back providers, often in rural areas, still
ate is getting a lot of work done. doors that give the Chinese Govern- have equipment from Huawei and ZTE
5G ment access to global communications in their communications networks. A
So, Madam President, what I came networks. number of our allies and trade part-
here to talk about—I came down to the I don’t need to tell anyone that we
ners—entities with whom we regularly
floor a couple of weeks ago to talk should be wary of China’s motives and
share information, including sensitive
about how the coronavirus is high- that China’s interests are frequently
national security information—have
lighting the importance of strong opposed to those of the United States.
China’s handling of the coronavirus used or are using technology from
internet networks. Huawei and ZTE.
Despite the surge we have seen in is a striking current example of the
What can we do? An initiative is al-
internet traffic that the coronavirus Chinese Government’s prioritizing its
ready underway to replace suspect tele-
has produced, with Americans using own interests or pride over the public
good. As a New York Times article communications components in U.S.
the internet for everything from work
noted in February, ‘‘The [Chinese] gov- networks with hardware from trusted
to school to family dinners, U.S. net-
ernment’s initial handling of the epi- companies.
works have held up tremendously well. In March, the President signed legis-
Americans have been able to enjoy demic allowed the virus to gain a tena-
lation developed by the Commerce
the same speed and streaming quality cious hold. At critical moments, offi-
Committee chairman, ROGER WICKER,
that they typically enjoy, something cials chose to put secrecy and order
that hasn’t happened in a lot of other the Secure and Trusted Communica-
ahead of openly confronting the grow-
countries, and that is a direct result of ing crisis to avoid political alarm and tions Network Act, to help speed up
the United States’ light-touch ap- political embarrassment.’’ this process. This legislation, which I
proach to internet regulation, which Whether it was driven by the hubris cosponsored, will help small tele-
has encouraged American companies to of the Communist Party or merely the communications providers with the
invest in the latest communications in- callous indifference the Communist cost of replacing network components
frastructure and new technologies to state has for the well-being of its own that pose a security risk.
make more efficient use of spectrum. citizens, China was not transparent Also, In March, I introduced legisla-
Our Nation is currently preparing for about the grave danger of COVID–19. It tion to help address the other part of
the widespread adoption of the next failed to release accurate information the problem, and that is the use of
generation of internet technology— about the nature and spread of the Huawei technology by our allies and
what is known as 5G. We need to make virus, and it took active steps to make our trading partners. We regularly ex-
sure that our 5G networks will be as sure the truth did not get out in other change information, including sen-
strong as our current networks, but we ways. Whistleblowers were punished; sitive national security information,
still have some work to do to get to the centers were censored; and journal- with our allies and trading partners.
that point. ists were expelled. And this information can only be se-
I come down here frequently to the Despite the fact that its negligence cure if networks on both ends are se-
floor to discuss that work, which in- undoubtedly contributed to the global cure. That is why the United States
cludes paving the way for the wide- spread of COVID–19, China still con- has called for other countries to reject
spread installation of the small cells tinues to be less than forthcoming telecommunications technology from
that are necessary for 5G networks, en- about the virus. Unfortunately, this is Huawei and ZTE.
hancing the availability of the mid- run-of-the-mill governing in China, as A number of countries have com-
band spectrum that is necessary for 5G we saw with the SARS outbreak in the mitted to using trusted companies to
deployment, and investing in a 5G early 2000s and as we have seen in build out their telecommunications
workforce. many other instances. networks, but other countries are still
But there is also another aspect we Not content with its role in aggra- planning to make use of Huawei’s tech-
need to think about when it comes to vating the spread of the coronavirus, nology. My legislation, the Network
5G, which is sometimes not talked the Chinese Communist Party has also Security Trade Act, would make tele-
about as much, and that is network se- taken advantage of the pandemic to communications security a key objec-
curity. With its incredible speed and strip Hong Kong of its autonomy and tive when negotiating future trade
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
connectivity, 5G will usher in a new freedom. China’s hope is that our Na- deals.
era of innovation: advances in medical tion is too preoccupied with this pan- We should be using trade agreements
care, the large-scale deployment of pre- demic to notice its efforts to under- to push for enhanced network security
cision agriculture, safer transportation mine what should be Hong Kong’s au- globally, which would benefit not only
technologies. 5G will bring all of these tonomy under the one state, two sys- our country but every country with
things and more. tems construct. which we do business.
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S2664 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 3, 2020
We recently opened negotiations on a lying about it. But keep in mind that they don’t work as hard. It is not be-
new trade deal with the United King- we are 5 percent of the world’s popu- cause of individual choices. We all
dom, which has been using Huawei lation, and 30 percent of the deaths work hard. We are all trying to do
technology to build its 5G networks. I from the coronavirus have been Ameri- something productive for our families
am pleased that it now looks like the cans. This President continues to make and our communities. We all want to
UK is reconsidering its use of Huawei excuses and point fingers. And the build a better country for our daugh-
components. I hope they will decide to compliant, always obedient, sheeplike ters and our sons. No; it is because of a
reject the suspect technology. Members of the Republican caucus con- racist system that is making it harder
I hope the trade negotiations will ference of the Senate continue to stay for their work to pay off and putting at
emphasize the importance of using quiet, continue to do nothing about risk their lives for generations, long
trusted companies to build out the this President’s behavior and the before this virus appeared.
UK’s telecommunications networks. 105,000 deaths from coronavirus in this A grocery store worker in Cincinnati
The security of our communications country. said to me: They tell me I am essential,
with our trading partners and allies— PROTESTS but I feel expendable. I don’t feel safe
particularly those allies like Britain— Mr. President, the protests around at work, and they don’t pay me very
needs to be a priority. our State, throughout our country, are much. I feel expendable.
As we move forward into the 5G fu- an expression of fear and grief and frus- Long before this pandemic, millions
ture, we need to make sure that our tration and of anger. Black commu- of Americans knew we had a system
technological advancements are nities led the Nation in mourning the that treats them like they are expend-
matched with advancements and net- killings of George Floyd and Breonna able. Their hard work isn’t paying off.
work security. That starts with keep- Taylor over the last week. They are For some, it feels like the system is
ing Huawei and other suspect tech- now leading calls for justice and long- broken. For Black and Brown workers,
nology out of our networks and, if at term changes to dismantle the systems it never worked to begin with.
all possible, out of the networks of our of oppression that hold them back. In the midst of the trauma and the
allies. Instead of listening to those calls grieving, millions of those same Ameri-
I will continue to do everything I can from the people who built this country, cans still go to work day after day,
to ensure that we have not only the in- instead of offering leadership and ris- week after week, in grocery stores, as
frastructure but the security needed to ing to meet this moment—as every one delivery people, in drugstores, as bus-
keep American networks at the fore- of his predecessors of both parties did drivers, and the people who do the
front of the telecommunications revo- in times of trouble for our country— linen and change the beds in hospitals,
lution. President Trump fails yet again. In- the food service workers, the
Before I close, let me just say one stead of uniting, he divides. Instead of custodians, the security people, the
more word about China. As I said ear- comforting, he stokes fear. He points first responders. In the midst of the
lier, China’s coronavirus deception is fingers. He places blame. Instead of trauma and grieving, those same Amer-
undoubtedly partly responsible for the healing, he rubs salt in the open icans—millions of them—still go to
fact that this virus has now spread to wounds of Black Americans. work day after day, week after week.
every corner of the world. China’s re- On Monday night, the President of Our job is to show the victims of sys-
cent actions with regard to Hong Kong the United States turned the arm of temic racism at the hands of their own
underscore the hostility of the Chinese the state on peaceful protesters—we government that the same government
Government to the values that free- saw the video—tear-gassing the citi- can and will protect them from this
dom-loving countries hold dear. zens he is supposed to serve, all so he pandemic. We hear them. We see them.
China has a lot of work to do if it could walk across the street and stage We fight for them. Their lives matter.
ever hopes to rebuild trust with other a photo op at a church he doesn’t at- Our response to this crisis must be to
nations. At a bare minimum, we expect tend and hold up a Bible that he stand behind all the people who make
China to uphold its recent trade com- doesn’t read. The timid—you choose this country work, all workers, wheth-
mitments, which are critical to Amer- the adjective—timid, cowardly, spine- er you swipe a badge or punch a clock,
ica’s hard-hit farmers and ranchers. I less Republican colleagues in this Sen- whether you earn a salary or make
will be looking, and our entire govern- ate just remained silent. How offended tips, whether you are raising children
ment will be looking, to see if China’s they would have been if a Democratic or caring for an aging parent; all work-
word on trade agreements can be relied President had done what this President ers, whether your hard work isn’t pay-
upon. I hope that the Chinese Govern- does and fails to do—the tear-gassing ing off now or whether it never paid off
ment will live up to its commitments. of citizens he is supposed to serve, the the way it should.
I yield the floor. photo op at a church, the holding up of Dr. King said:
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- the Bible he doesn’t read, the excuses, One day our society will come to respect
ator from Ohio. the divisiveness, all of that. the sanitation worker. For the person who
Mr. BROWN. Madam President, I ask People are tired. People are angry: picks up our garbage, in the final analysis, is
unanimous consent that following my more Black sons and daughters and as significant as the physician, for if he
remarks, the senior Senator from Okla- mothers and fathers killed by police of- doesn’t do his job, diseases are rampant. All
homa is recognized. ficers—the very people who are sup- labor has dignity.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there posed to protect all Americans; more It is Black and Brown workers who
objection? death, when many are already griev- have too often, far too long, far too
Without objection, it is so ordered. ing—so many in the Black community often been robbed of their dignity on
CORONAVIRUS already grieving the loss of family the job. If we want to be a country
Mr. BROWN. Madam President, I members and friends for the where all people have dignity, we need
note with some interest that one Re- coronavirus, grappling with the eco- to start by recognizing that all labor
publican colleague after another comes nomic stress this pandemic has caused. has dignity. But so far, our response to
to the floor—their ‘‘protect the Presi- The pandemic has been the ‘‘great re- the crisis is not the response of a gov-
dent at all costs’’ colleagues, no matter vealer.’’ We know Black and Brown ernment that believes that. This Sen-
what he does, no matter what he says, communities have been hit hardest by ate, this President, can always find
no matter how he acts, no matter how the coronavirus. They are more likely trillions of dollars for corporations—
incompetent, no matter how divisive— to get sick. They have less access to for tax cuts, for bailouts. But when
and continues to point their fingers at healthcare. They make up the commu- hard-working families need help with
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
the Chinese for the coronavirus. God nities hurt by Jim Crow laws and red- rent or to put food on the table, Presi-
knows, China deserves heaps of blame lining and now the locking in of those dent Trump and Leader MCCONNELL
for the outbreak in the early spread of rules and regulations by the Trump ad- say we can’t afford it.
the coronavirus. There is no question ministration. Black and Brown com- The President and the administra-
they deserve a lot of blame for the out- munities disproportionately make up tion have already made racial and eco-
break in the early spread, and they are our essential workers. It is not because nomic inequality worse and undone
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