Congressional Record, Senate, June 9, 2020 — Great American Outdoors Act and Air Force Nomination
Summary
Congressional Record, Senate, June 9, 2020, beginning at S2785. The Senate considers the nomination of General Charles Q. Brown Jr. to be Chief of Staff, United States Air Force; the announced vote is yeas 98, nays 0 (Rollcall Vote No. 115 Ex.), and the Vice President states that the nomination is confirmed. Mr. Alexander speaks on racism and relates a story told by Senator Tim Scott about being stopped by police. Mr. Heinrich speaks in support of the Great American Outdoors Act and the Land and Water Conservation Fund.
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“Congressional Record, Senate, June 9, 2020 — Great American Outdoors Act and Air Force Nomination.”
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June 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2785
of Staff, United States Air Force, and LEGISLATIVE SESSION During the 1980s, I saw Tennessee
appointment in the United States Air adopt a Martin Luther King holiday
Force to the grade indicated while as- and swear in its first Black supreme
signed to a position of importance and TAXPAYER FIRST ACT OF 2019— court justice. In the 1980s, the Univer-
responsibility under title 10, U.S.C., MOTION TO PROCEED—Continued sity of Tennessee hired its first two
sections 601 and 9033: to be General. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs. Black vice presidents, and it hired its
Thereupon, the Senate proceeded to CAPITO). The Senator from Tennessee. first Black basketball coach who, as a
consider the nomination. RACISM teenager in Alcoa, once sat in the ‘‘col-
Mr. ALEXANDER. Madam President, ored’’ section at UT football games.
The VICE PRESIDENT. Under the U.S. Senator TIM SCOTT, who is an Afri- I saw the Voting Rights Act help to
previous order, the question is, Will the can-American Republican from South elect thousands of African-American
Senate advise and consent to the nomi- Carolina, once told our Bible study public officials, including President
nation of General Charles Q. Brown, that police in his hometown had Barack Obama and Senator TIM SCOTT.
Jr.? stopped him several times for being a Last week, I asked Senator SCOTT if I
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask ‘‘Black man in the wrong place’’ even could tell the story that he told us pri-
for the yeas and nays. though, at the time, he was serving as vately in the Bible study. He said:
chairman of the Charleston City Coun- Sure. It happened again just last
The VICE PRESIDENT. Is there a
cil. month.
sufficient second? During these last few days, I have So despite a half century of profound
There appears to be a sufficient sec- been thinking a lot about what TIM change, an African-American U.S. Sen-
ond. SCOTT told us, and I wondered how ator is stopped again by police for
The clerk will call the roll. many White Americans know things being a Black man in the wrong place
like that happen—White Americans in his hometown. So what do we do
The senior assistant legislative clerk
like me. I wondered how I would feel if now? Bringing those who killed George
called the roll.
I were stopped for being a White man Floyd to justice will help. Dealing
Mr. DURBIN. I announce that the in the wrong place in my hometown, firmly with looters who hijack peaceful
Senator from Maryland (Mr. CARDIN) especially if most of the people in the protests will help. Some new laws and
and the Senator from Massachusetts town were Black. Would I feel hurt? government actions will help, such as
(Mr. MARKEY) are necessarily absent. Scared? Disillusioned? Angry? Weary? criminal justice reform and permanent
The VICE PRESIDENT. Are there Disappointed? Intimidated? Probably funding for historically Black colleges
any other Senators in the Chamber de- all of those things. that became law in this Congress. It
siring to vote or to change their vote? One result of George Floyd’s killing would also help to open schools and
is that Black Americans are telling colleges in August and to open them
The result was announced—yeas 98, more stories like TIM SCOTT’s. A pro-
nays 0, as follows: safely because a good education is the
fessor of religious studies in Nashville surest ticket to a better future for mi-
[Rollcall Vote No. 115 Ex.] wrote in The Tennessean that he car- nority students, and those students
ries a licensed firearm with him when will suffer more from schools being
YEAS—98
he goes for a run. A columnist remem-
Alexander Gillibrand Portman closed.
Baldwin Graham Reed
bers that, as a 6-year-old, a White Benjamin Hooks, the former NAACP
Barrasso Grassley Risch woman outside a Dallas gas station president from Memphis—he was the
Bennet Harris Roberts restroom said to him: Now, you don’t national president of the NAACP; he
Blackburn Hassan Romney belong here.
Blumenthal Hawley Rosen lived in Memphis. He taught students
Well-educated Black businessmen
Blunt Heinrich Rounds this. Dr. Hooks said: America is a work
Booker Hirono count the times they have been
Rubio in progress. We have come a long way,
Boozman Hoeven Sanders profiled because of their race. One of
Braun Hyde-Smith but we have a long way to go.
Sasse my friends in Memphis, who is now
Brown Inhofe That long way to go, I would say, will
Schatz vice president of Memphis’s largest
Burr Johnson
Schumer not be as easy as passing laws. It will
Cantwell Jones hospital, told me that when he went to
Scott (FL) take changing behavior. One way to do
Capito Kaine
Scott (SC) Memphis State in the 1960s, it was
Carper Kennedy that could be last week’s peaceful pro-
Shaheen clear to him that almost everyone
Casey King test organized by Nashville teenagers,
Cassidy Klobuchar
Shelby thought that he didn’t belong there.
Sinema During my lifetime, I have seen pro- which was a textbook example of First
Collins Lankford
Coons Leahy Smith
found changes in racial attitudes. In Amendment citizenship, and it hope-
Cornyn Lee Stabenow fully will encourage more victims of
Sullivan 1958, when I enrolled at Vanderbilt Uni-
Cortez Masto Loeffler
Tester versity, I had no Black classmates. Af- racism to tell their stories and more
Cotton Manchin
Cramer McConnell Thune rican Americans couldn’t sit at lunch White Americans to adjust our atti-
Crapo McSally Tillis
counters in Nashville. Blacks driving tudes.
Cruz Menendez Toomey
across Tennessee couldn’t stay in most I am grateful that TIM SCOTT gave
Daines Merkley Udall me permission to tell his story. Per-
Duckworth Moran Van Hollen motels; they couldn’t eat at most res-
Durbin Murkowski Warner taurants; they couldn’t ride at the haps a good first step to changing atti-
Enzi Murphy Warren front of most public buses. tudes toward racial discrimination
Ernst Murray Whitehouse
Then, in 1962, in the spring, the Van- would be for each of us who is White to
Feinstein Paul Wicker ask ourselves this question: How would
Fischer Perdue Wyden derbilt University Board of Trustees
Gardner Peters Young changed its policy and admitted Black I feel if police in my hometown repeat-
undergraduate students. edly stopped me for being a White man
NOT VOTING—2 In August of 1963, I remember stand- or a White woman in the wrong place,
Cardin Markey ing in the back of a huge crowd late especially if most of the other people
that month. I was an intern in the U.S. in the town were Black?
The VICE PRESIDENT. On this vote I yield the floor.
Department of Justice, and I heard a
the yeas are 98, the nays are 0, and the The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mrs.
booming voice—which was Dr. Martin
historic nomination of Gen. Charles Q. BLACKBURN). The Senator from New
Luther King’s voice—say: ‘‘I have a
Brown, Jr., as the U.S. Air Force Chief Mexico.
dream.’’
of Staff is confirmed.
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
In 1968, I was a Senate aide here, and H.R. 1957
The VICE PRESIDENT. Under the I remember being in the room, which is Mr. HEINRICH. Madam President,
previous order, the motion to recon- today the Republican leader’s office, during these past months, in the midst
sider is considered made and laid upon where Senators were around a big of a pandemic that has kept most of us
the table, and the President will be im- table, and Senator Everett Dirksen and inside our homes, Americans have
mediately notified of the Senate’s ac- then-President Lyndon Johnson were grown to appreciate, in new ways, how
tion. writing the Civil Rights bill. critical each moment of fresh air can
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S2786 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 9, 2020
be to maintaining both our physical this place. Today, that landscape is structure alone would generate nearly
health and our mental well-being. something that the local community 110,000 new jobs. These investments
More people are getting outside than and visitors from afar share on a daily will also create a lasting heritage that
ever before, whether for a quick walk basis. will grow the outdoor recreation econ-
in their local neighborhood park or by LWCF also funds recreation areas in omy and provide us all with more op-
seeking solitude on the many public neighborhood parks, sports fields, and portunities to get outside. We know
lands held in trust for each and every communities all across our State and this can work.
American citizen. Coming from a State all across the Nation. The last time we as a nation faced an
that is blessed with expansive skies Last year, I was proud to be part of a economic downturn on the scale of
and remote open spaces, I am con- successful bipartisan effort here in the what we are experiencing today, Amer-
vinced that investing in the future of Senate to permanently reauthorize icans turned to our public lands. At the
our parks and our public lands will be LWCF. However, without guaranteed height of the Great Depression, Frank-
a key path for our Nation to recover permanent funding, Congress still lin Delano Roosevelt understood well
from the challenges we currently face. needs to approve LWCF expenditures that out-of-work Americans were not
That is why I am so proud that we each year, year after year after year. without worth but, rather, that they
are coming together this week to bring This has resulted in us falling far, far could leave an indelible mark on our
the Great American Outdoors Act to short of the $900 million per year com- country.
the Senate floor for a vote. Our bipar- mitment that was originally intended Now, over the years, I have been
tisan legislation will permanently and when LWCF was established over five lucky to have met many of the men
fully fund the Land and Water Con- decades ago. Permanently and fully who served in the New Deal’s Civilian
servation Fund and finally dedicate funding LWCF will be a monumental Conservation Corps, or ‘‘CCC boys,’’ as
real resources to begin tackling the victory for conservation and the places they often referred to themselves as.
multibillion dollar infrastructure where we all get outside. While most of these men have now
backlog in our national parks, our na- It might well be the greatest invest- passed away, sadly, the trails, the vis-
tional forests, and our wildlife refuges. ment that we can make that will pay itor centers, and the other important
If you have spent time enjoying your off for many generations to come be- infrastructure on our public lands that
local parks, trail systems, ballfields or cause every $1 spent on LWCF creates they had so much pride in building al-
open space in the last 50 years, you an additional $4 in economic value just most a century ago continue to serve
have almost certainly experienced the in natural resources, goods, and serv- this Nation.
impact of the Land and Water Con- ices. That doesn’t account for the long- Throughout our long recovery, we
servation Fund. In New Mexico, LWCF term growth in the outdoor recreation will be a stronger nation if we can pro-
has been instrumental in protecting sector and the tourism industry. vide a new generation of Americans
some of our most treasured public Teddy Roosevelt once said: ‘‘Con- with meaningful opportunities to serve
lands—places like the Valles Caldera servation means development as much their country and leave their mark.
National Preserve with its trout as it does protection.’’ I believe that There is so much work we need to do to
streams, its high altitude meadows, this type of investment in conservation rebuild our country.
and its massive elk herd. I know it is is exactly what President Roosevelt In the midst of a real national reck-
hard to tell, but this is actually me not meant. oning on race over these recent weeks
catching a trout in the Valles Caldera Now, to the second leg of our land- and as we continue to face the most se-
National Preserve, but it is OK because mark Great American Outdoors Act: vere economic and public health crises
any day in the preserve is a good day. We all know how important it is to re- in generations, we should all be think-
It also helped us establish the Valle build the infrastructure in all of our ing about how we can rebuild our coun-
de Oro National Wildlife Refuge in Al- national parks. You can’t enjoy vis- try in a way that includes all of us.
buquerque’s South Valley, a place iting these iconic American places if I firmly believe that this urgent goal
where young people will be introduced the bathrooms don’t work, if the trails is intertwined in our efforts this week
to nature, many for the first time in a and the campgrounds aren’t open, and in the Senate to grow opportunities in
really meaningful way, in a place that if the roads are in disrepair. These are our great American outdoors. That is
is at the heart of the local community places that we are so proud of, that we because our public lands and outdoor
now. cherish. From our oldest national spaces are fundamental to who we are
It purchased and protected the en- parks, like Yellowstone and Yosemite, as Americans. They are the places
tirety—the entirety—of Ute Mountain, to our Nation’s newest national park— where we can each find a real sense of
which is now a centerpiece of the Rio one I am particularly close to—White belonging in this great country of ours.
Grande del Norte National Monument. Sands National Park in New Mexico, I think we must frankly acknowledge
It almost boggles the mind to think they all deserve better. the uncomfortable truth that the out-
about the scale of that, but this entire I am proud that the Great American doors has not always seemed like such
mountain used to be private, and there Outdoors Act also includes dedicated a welcoming and accessible place for
was no public access. Today, it is one funding to address similar infrastruc- all Americans. Many of our national
of the most treasured places in Taos ture needs in our national forests, our parks have a fraught history with the
County, a rural county that relies on wildlife refuges, and our Bureau of Tribal nations whose ancestral lands
recreation and fishing and boating and Land Management lands. We have also they are on. In New Mexico, many of
camping to drive its economy. included dedicated funding to address our national forests were established
The Land and Water Conservation the unacceptable maintenance backlog on the very same lands that were deed-
Fund is also our most effective tool for at schools managed by the Bureau of ed as land grants to families by the
opening up public access to our public Indian Education. There are many BIE Spanish Crown.
lands. Just recently, the Land and schools that serve students across In- Our public lands agencies have not
Water Conservation Fund helped the dian country that are in truly dan- always recognized that history, and
Bureau of Land Management acquire gerous states of disrepair. there remains much more hard work
land parcels that finally opened up Through this legislation, we are fi- ahead to provide meaningful seats at
public access to the rugged Sabinoso nally going to make major progress on the table in the management of these
Wilderness in Northeastern New Mex- providing these students the kinds of landscapes to the communities whose
ico. This is Sabinoso, with its narrow safe schools and educational facilities heritage and living cultural ties date
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
mesas and spectacular canyon walls, that they truly deserve. back hundreds and, in some cases, even
which had previously been completely In the wake of our current economic thousands of years on these lands.
off limits to the public despite being crisis, rebuilding all this critical infra- We must also recognize that outdoor
part of the national wilderness system. structure will provide tens of thou- excursions, which many of us, frankly,
It had become entirely surrounded by sands of new jobs across the Nation. It just take for granted, are not always
public land, so there wasn’t a legal is estimated that just investing in fix- within reach for all of us. I grew up ex-
trail or a legal road to be able to enjoy ing the National Park Service’s infra- ploring the outdoors on my family’s
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June 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2787
ranch and on surrounding lands, and I When you see all of these names and A friend of Mr. Floyd’s for more than
strongly believe that just one oppor- images left behind on El Morro’s In- 35 years said:
tunity to get outside can change a scription Rock, you begin to appreciate Everybody in the world knows who George
child’s whole world. It can inspire a how varied and also how messy the his- Floyd is today. Presidents, Kings, and
lifetime commitment to conservation tory of just this one place in our Na- Queens—they know George Floyd.
and encourage the health benefits that tion is. You begin the process of learn- It is true. His name and face are ev-
come with an active lifestyle. ing that we have always been a country erywhere. He is the subject of incred-
Far too many kids don’t have access filled with diverse, resilient people but ible artwork, passionate speeches, and
to parks or open spaces. According to also a country riddled with conflicts dinner table conversations. He is the
the Trust for Public Land, more than and shortcomings. That is why it is so reason for marches and demonstrations
100 million Americans—and that in- important to protect our parks and to in the cities from Houston to Min-
cludes 28 million children—do not have protect our public lands. neapolis, to London, to Sydney. And
access to a park within a 10-minute These are the places where new gen- today, after 2 weeks of grieving, the
walk of their home. That number erations of Americans will learn about Floyd family will finally lay their be-
should be zero. Especially during the both our natural and our human his- loved brother, father, and friend to rest
pandemic, that number should have tory. It is where they will go to find in- in his hometown of Houston, TX.
been zero. spiration to chart new paths forward Over the past 2 weeks, I have joined
On top of physical accessibility, the chorus of voices calling for justice
for our great Nation. For all of these
many children grow up in households for Mr. Floyd. The first step is under-
reasons, I am so proud that we have
where their parents cannot afford a va-
come together on this legislation. We way now that the officers have been
cation or they may feel rightly unsafe
can all understand why investing in re- charged, but this alone is not enough.
in these spaces, fearing an experience
storing and expanding opportunities in Our country has a responsibility to do
much like that of Christian Cooper in
our parks and public lands has to be the best we can to prevent another
Central Park recently. We are not solv-
ing all of these challenges with what part of our national recovery. These family from burying their son or
we are voting on here this week, but are the places where all of us belong. daughter as a result of excessive force
the increased investment in the Great These are the places where all of us by a police officer.
American Outdoors Act will create belong. These lands are our lands, and People of all races are now actively
more outdoor opportunities that I hope they heal us in a way that few things engaged in a national conversation
will truly benefit all of our Nation’s can. about the racial injustices that exist in
children. I think of all the generations of our country—one that is deeply needed
Our public lands are places we should Americans who have cared for these and long overdue.
all be able to access regardless of how places so my family and I can enjoy I want to assure the people of Texas
thick or thin our wallets are, where we them and learn from them today. With that these conversations are happening
grow up, or the color of our skin. To this historic legislation, the Great in the U.S. Senate as well. Our friend
learn about the natural wonders all American Outdoors Act, we are going and colleague Senator TIM SCOTT, from
around us, to really learn about our to help do our part to, literally, pay it South Carolina, briefed the Republican
history by exploring the stories that forward. conference today on the package of
reside in these places, I don’t know of We often invoke Teddy Roosevelt bills he is developing, with help from a
any easy answers to the numerous his- around here when working on con- group of our Members, to combat the
toric challenges we are facing as a na- servation legislation. That legislation racial injustice that still exists in our
tion today, but I do know that the rarely measures up to the level of ac- country today—particularly, as it ap-
right answers will come only if they complishment that you see written in plies to law enforcement.
are based on an honest appraisal of our the story of his Presidency. This is a product of discussions that
deep-seated history—the good and the While I am not superstitious, I have Leader MCCONNELL and I and others
bad, the inspiring and the painful. to admit that I always visit his bust have had that would make real and
I believe one of the best ways for here in the Capitol just outside this lasting changes in communities across
kids—really all of us—to learn about Chamber before an important conserva- the country. I am proud to be part of
that complex history of our country is tion vote. This bill—this bill—is the the discussion led by Senator SCOTT,
by visiting our public lands. Let me first time in my career that we have and I want to commend both him and
share just one example. When you visit done something truly on the scale of the majority leader for their leadership
El Morro National Monument in West- Teddy Roosevelt’s work, and I stand and sense of urgency—one we all feel.
ern New Mexico, you walk up to a mas- here proud to be a part of it. I think the necessary changes begin
sive sandstone rock wall that domi- I yield the floor. within our criminal justice system. De-
nates the high desert landscape around I suggest the absence of a quorum. spite calls from some to defund or even
it. As you approach the cliff face, you The PRESIDING OFFICER. The disband the police, I believe these steps
begin to clearly see etchings and mark- clerk will call the roll. would do far more harm than good. It
ings carved into the stone. These in- The legislative clerk proceeded to is not the right answer. Instead, we
scriptions give physical form to the call the roll. need to do a top-to-bottom review of
history of many, many generations of Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, I our criminal justice system—some-
people who have come to our State or ask unanimous consent that the order thing that has not happened in more
called it home. There are petroglyphs for the quorum call be rescinded. than 50 years.
from indigenous cultures, and right The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Senators PETERS, GRAHAM, and I
next to them—in some cases, even objection, it is so ordered. have introduced a bill to create a Na-
carved over them—are signatures of CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM tional Criminal Justice Commission
Spanish priests and conquistadors dat- Mr. CORNYN. Madam President, if that would do just that. Over the
ing back to the late 1500s and early you were to approach a random person course of 18 months, the Commission
1600s. There are records left by Amer- on the street in any city in America would examine our criminal justice
ican homesteading families traveling today and say: Who is George Floyd, I system and provide recommendations
westward on wagon trains. You can could all but guarantee you that you on specific changes that should be
find the names of U.S. Army soldiers, would be met with a quick response. made by Congress.
including the strange but true Army They would tell you about their horror I have recommended this bill be in-
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
Camel Corps that trained nearby in the at seeing this video of him being killed cluded in the legislation Senator SCOTT
late 1850s. And, yes, you heard that at the hands of a Minneapolis police of- is developing, and I am eager to work
right, Camel Corps. The military was ficer; that, sadly, he was not the first with him and all of our colleagues in
testing out camels in the New Mexico victim of this type of crime; and that the coming days in the hope of gaining
desert long before they started testing his death has now mobilized Americans broad bipartisan support. As we know,
out fighter jets, rockets, and satellites of all races, ages, and backgrounds to the only way things get done around
in New Mexico. demand action. here is with bipartisan support. I can’t
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S2788 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 9, 2020
think of anything more urgent, at this program to ensure that it delivers the in the future. After all, we are not in-
particular time, than we demonstrate most efficient and maximum benefit. terested in handing out meals now only
we can come together and rise above Last week, we took the first step in to slap people on the hands later for
our partisan differences and address making some of those changes through taking free food.
this very real need. the Paycheck Protection Flexibility The bill has bipartisan support in the
Of course, there is nothing we can do Act, which was signed into law by the Senate. In fact, I introduced it with the
to reverse what happened in Min- President on Friday. It extends the chairman and ranking member of the
neapolis, but there is a lot that can be amount of time businesses can use Finance Committee, Senators GRASS-
done to prevent the name of another these funds from 8 weeks to 24 weeks LEY and WYDEN, as well as Senator
Black person in America from becom- and reduces the portion of the loan RUBIO, who chairs the Small Business
ing a trending hashtag. A former class- that must be used on payroll in order Committee, and Senator CARPER. It has
mate of Mr. Floyd’s at Jack Yates High to be forgiven from 75 percent to 60 per- gained the support of organizations
School said he always would say: ‘‘I’m cent. Many of our restaurants and that advocate for small businesses, in-
going to change the world.’’ While this other businesses that simply closed cluding the U.S. Chamber of Com-
is certainly not the way he or anyone their doors said there is no way they merce, the National Association of
could have fathomed, his story is sure can spend our PPP loan on payroll Manufacturers of Manufacturers, and
to have a lasting impact on our coun- when our business isn’t even open. This the National Federation of Independent
try’s history. provides flexibility for them and for Businesses. It also has been endorsed
Today, I would like to offer, once others. In a nutshell, it gives small by groups in the financial services in-
again, my condolences to the entire business owners the ability to use dustry, including the Texas Society of
Floyd family for their loss. I had the these loans when and where they are Certified Public Accountants, the
privilege of speaking with them on the needed. American Institute of CPAs, and the
telephone yesterday. Rodney Floyd re- In the short term, these changes will Independent Bankers of Texas. Most
minded me that the family was from be critical to protecting jobs and sup- importantly, this bill is an answer to
Houston, TX, and he said: We want porting small businesses as they reopen the real concerns that businessowners
Texas-size justice. their doors following the coronavirus- are facing.
I said: Mr. Floyd, you will have it. induced shutdown. The jobs report we As we work to strengthen our
In the wake of this tragedy, I hope got this last week provides great hope coronavirus response and recovery,
we can come together and deliver that and promise that this recovery will that should be the guiding principle in
change. I appreciate Senator SCOTT and come soon. the Senate—figure out what is work-
Leader MCCONNELL leading the charge In the longer term, we need to ensure ing, what isn’t, and act appropriately.
in the Senate and look forward to shar- that these loans don’t end up creating This is a big contrast between the ap-
ing more details of this proposal soon. any more burdens for small businesses proach we are seeing from our House
PAYCHECK PROTECTION PROGRAM down the road. Under normal cir- colleagues. A few weeks ago, they
Madam President, on another mat- cumstances, businesses can deduct passed a bill that was chock-full of ide-
ter, since the CARES Act was signed their expenses from their taxable in- ological policy proposals they know
into law more than 2 months ago, mil- come. Of course, the Paycheck Protec- has absolutely no chance of gaining
lions of small businesses—I think 4.5 tion Program covers the cost to many any traction in the Senate, but they
million businesses—have gotten loans of these expenses, and there is some didn’t seem to care. They did a driveby
from the Paycheck Protection Pro- confusion—particularly, at Treasury— vote on a Friday and left town and
gram. This program has allowed res- with how businesses should handle haven’t been back since.
taurants, retailers, manufacturers, their taxes. Tax breaks for blue State million-
farmers, and small businesses from vir- I believe the intent of Congress was aires—they actually want to cut taxes
tually every sector of the economy to to allow businesses to continue deduct- on the richest people in America by re-
stay afloat and keep their employees ing those expenses. Basically, we were ducing or raising the cap on the State
on payroll. trying to get the money where it was and local tax deduction. They want to
Dr. Nora Walker operates a pul- needed most the fastest. By allowing support marijuana banking, environ-
monary practice in San Antonio—my them to continue to deduct those ex- mental justice grants, soil health stud-
hometown—which experienced a near penses, we do that, but the guidance re- ies, changes to election laws.
stop on patient visits once COVID–19 cently issued by the IRS said the oppo- Forget about solving the problem at
began to soar in March. Payroll is her site. hand. Our Democratic colleagues in the
largest expense. Without that source of While it is fair to say this has led to House, with this so-called Heroes Act,
revenue, she and her husband were wor- confusion and frustration among many, are attempting to use this pandemic as
ried they wouldn’t be able to pay the Congress needs to take action to elimi- an opportunity to slip their liberal
practice’s three employees, but then nate the misunderstanding. Last wish list into must-pass legislation.
the lifeline came in the form of the month, I introduced a bill to make They are eager to stick taxpayers with
PPP loan. They applied for a $26,000 clear that small businesses can still de- another $3 trillion tab. This isn’t going
loan, and they received the funds 2 duct their expenses that were paid for to happen. It has no chance of passing
weeks later. Because of that funding, with a forgiven Paycheck Protection in the Senate, and they actually know
these three employees could stay on loan for their taxes. I know this is an it.
the payroll as Dr. Walker continued unusual circumstance, but isn’t the These unwanted, unaffordable, and,
her practice via telemedicine. pandemic the most unusual cir- frankly, laughable proposals are not
Her practice is a great example of cumstance we experienced in our life- the types of solutions America needs to
PPP beneficiaries who don’t receive time? It calls for extraordinary meas- recover from this crisis. Indeed, I think
enough attention—the small employers ures, and I believe, under the cir- it would be wise for a number of folks
who took out small loans to help with cumstances, trying to get money to in the House Democratic leadership to
a small number of workers in a very these small businesses is necessary. start listening to their constituents for
big way. From the truly small busi- Our goal with this loan program was a change rather than try to figure out
nesses to those that have grown their to help them remain solvent and keep how do you posture and position your-
footprint in our State, the PPP has their employees on payroll so they can self favorably for the next election.
been essential to the survival of these recover as soon as possible. Without I have lost count of the number of
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
businesses and to the livelihood of this change, the PPP loan will fail to video calls I have held—and I know my
their employees. deliver the maximum on this most colleagues have had the same experi-
As I have spoken to small businesses basic objective. ence—with small business owners, med-
throughout the State, I have repeat- The bipartisan Small Business’s Ex- ical professionals, farmers, educators,
edly heard how vital the PPP has been, pense Protection Act will ensure that mayors, and representatives from near-
but that praise has been coupled with small businesses have the cashflow ly every corner of my State. I appre-
requests to make improvements in the they need to survive today and prosper ciate the countless Texans who have
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June 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2789
shared their feedback with me to help eral Bureau of Investigation of all Chi- derstand who they are engaged with—
me do a better job on their behalf and nese student visa holders taking part as students, in accepting donations—
who will no doubt continue to point in activities related to COVID–19 vac- then we can do so without attacking an
out the gaps that need to be filled in cine research. entire group because of their ethnicity
the months ahead, particularly when it We need to know who in our country or national background but with little
comes to the next installment of is working on vaccine research so that other basis or rationale.
COVID–19 legislation. we can make sure American efforts are We can do better. We as a nation
I yield the floor. protected. The United States and all must do better. We cannot and should
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Americans need to get serious about not go back to the days when there
BOOZMAN). The Senator from Florida. the threat from Communist China. were signs that said ‘‘No Irish Need
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—S. 3837 The COVID–19 Vaccine Protection Apply’’ or when we had quotas for dif-
Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President, Act is a great first step, and I look for- ferent races and religions at our major
I rise to speak today about the growing ward to all of my colleagues supporting universities, let alone the days of the
threat of Communist China. this effort. Chinese Exclusion Act. That is not the
Xi, the General Secretary of the Chi- I am also urging everyone to buy right direction for America, and it is
nese Communist Party, is a dictator American products. It is the single not the America any of us should be
and human rights violator who is deny- most important thing we can do to seeking to build.
send a message to Communist China Unfortunately, there are too many
ing basic rights to the people of Hong
that their behavior is unacceptable. today who would rather see us frac-
Kong, cracking down on dissidents,
Mr. President, I ask unanimous con- tionalized as a nation—who would
militarizing the South China Sea, and
sent that the Judiciary Committee be rather see us divided, not united. In
imprisoning more than 1 million
discharged from further consideration fact, few things would make the PRC
Uighurs in internment camps simply happier than to see this sort of legisla-
of S. 3837 and the Senate proceed to its
because of their religion. tion go forward because it achieves
immediate consideration. I ask unani-
General Secretary Xi is interested in
mous consent that the bill be consid- their end.
one thing—global domination. It is So let’s take a serious approach to
ered read a third time and passed and
time we all open our eyes. Communist the challenges that we face with the
that the motion to reconsider be con-
China despises the freedoms Americans PRC, with safeguarding our univer-
sidered made and laid upon the table.
cherish. The PRESIDING OFFICER is there sities, our intellectual property, and
The threat we face from Communist our scientific research. But let us also
objection?
China is the new Cold War. This is a Ms. DUCKWORTH. Reserving the take an approach that is consistent
Cold War created by General Secretary right to object. with our values as a nation. We can do
Xi. It is a Cold War fought with tech- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- both. We can and will do better.
nology, misinformation, and political ator from Illinois. I object.
persuasion. And Communist China’s Ms. DUCKWORTH. Mr. President, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec-
latest weapon of choice is the none of us in this body is naive enough tion is heard.
coronavirus. not to understand the challenges the Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Mr. President,
Communist China lied about what People’s Republic of China represents I appreciate my colleague’s remarks.
they knew and spread misinformation to our country and to the world. But Florida and the United States are
around the world, costing hundreds of this bill, which threatens to further in- amazing melting pots, and our States
thousands of lives, millions of jobs, and cite the tensions already tearing at the and country have both benefited great-
creating massive economic impact. fabric of our Nation—this time tar- ly from the contributions of people
All freedom-loving nations around geting Asians and Asian Americans—is from all over the world.
the world need to come together to not the answer. This bill isn’t about race. This is a
hold Communist China accountable Yes, we know about how the PRC has commonsense bill to protect American
and financially liable. targeted our intellectual property and citizens from the Government of Com-
One thing we can do today is make sought to benefit from the research ex- munist China, which has decided to be-
sure Communist China can’t steal or cellence and technological insights de- come our adversary.
sabotage American COVID–19 vaccine This is about protecting Americans
veloped by our universities and our
research. We know Communist China from a regime that is actively trying
companies—all for its own scientific
steals U.S. research and intellectual to sabotage our efforts to create a vac-
and military advancement, all to sup- cine. We have evidence from our intel-
property. We have seen this at our uni- port an authoritarian system that is
versities; we have seen it at our re- ligence community that China is try-
dangerous both to living within and ing to do this.
search institutions and hospitals. outside its borders.
U.S. officials have been warning My bill would help identify who in
But taking advantage of this moment our country is trying to steal or, more
American firms to safeguard their re- of fear and division in our country to importantly, delay, sabotage our suc-
search against China and others known stoke xenophobia and paint an entire cess of a vaccine, and that is Com-
for stealing U.S. technology. The FBI people as guilty by association is not munist China’s goal.
and the Cybersecurity and Infrastruc- the right way to address this challenge. My colleague has even introduced her
ture Security Agency recently warned It is not the American way. own resolution recognizing the impor-
organizations researching COVID–19 of If we have specific counterintel- tance of vaccinations and immuniza-
likely insider threats, targeting, and ligence threats, let’s have our intel- tions in the United States, and we all
network compromise by Communist ligence and law enforcement commu- agree with her, so blocking my pro-
China. nities target the threats. I have faith posal today makes absolutely no sense.
Communist China wants to be first in and confidence in their ability to do so Why would my colleague not want to
vaccine development, and unlike the if provided the right leadership. save American lives and make sure we
United States and other freedom-loving Rather than take that sort of dis- have a vaccine done as quickly as pos-
countries, Communist China will not criminate approach, this bill just dis- sible? American lives are on the line
be quick to share. criminates. Even setting aside that and depend on this vaccine.
Communist China wants to be the blanket moratoriums are the wrong I am clearly disappointed my col-
dominant world power, and they have way to deal with the situation at hand, league objected to passing this bill
made clear they don’t care who is the AAPI community is right to be sus- today, but I am completely committed
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
harmed in the process. That is why I picious that Senate Republicans aren’t to working with her to get it across the
led my colleagues in introducing the putting forth any bills today barring finish line.
COVID–19 Vaccine Protection Act, visas for nationals from our other ad- As long as our vaccine research re-
which will require a thorough national versaries, such as Russia. They are mains vulnerable, Communist China
security evaluation and clearance by doing it only when it comes to China. will not hesitate to use any tool nec-
the Department of Homeland Security, If we need to work more closely with essary to obtain this sensitive informa-
the Department of State, and the Fed- our universities to make sure they un- tion.
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S2790 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 9, 2020
I yield the floor. ter, Mount Katahdin. He did this as one That is a big number. It is a really big
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- of the greatest acts of private philan- number when you realize that more
ator from Maine. thropy in the history of the United than twice the population of our whole
H.R. 1957 States. It was the legacy of a lifetime. State comes to visit this one small,
Mr. KING. Mr. President, someday, Few of us will have an opportunity to beautiful, incredible spot on the coast
100 years from now, a family will camp do what Baxter did, but we have that of Maine on Mount Desert Island. So
on a mesa in Utah or a hillside in opportunity now. Where does the what we are talking about today is
North Carolina or a canyon in New money come from? It comes from the paying a debt and making a contribu-
Mexico or they will hike the rocky people, in the sense of revenues from tion to the well-being of the American
coast of Maine. They will play on a the use of Federal lands for mineral ex- people for generations to come.
ballfield in Kansas, and it will be be- traction. This is an idea that was When Baxter completed the acquisi-
cause of the work that we are going to brought forth in 1965 when the Land tion of Katahdin and the area that is
do this week in this Congress. and Water Conservation Fund was cre- now Baxter State Park, he had an
They will not know KING or DAINES ated, and the idea was this: We are amazing quote that I think applies to
or ALEXANDER or PORTMAN or WARNER using the public’s resources and assets, what we are talking about today. He
or MANCHIN or GARDNER or all the oth- and, therefore, the money that flows said:
ers who are going to support our ef- from that should go back to the people Man is born to die. His works are short-
forts. Our names will be long forgotten, and should go back into conservation. lived. Buildings crumble, monuments decay,
and wealth vanishes, but Katahdin in all its
but what we do will be benefiting this It is a beautifully symmetrical idea.
glory forever shall remain the mountain of
country for generations. The problem is that the fund that the people of Maine.
There are very few things we can do was created in 1965 has been systemati-
Areas across our country in all their
in our work here that are permanent. cally looted by the Congresses in suc-
glory will forever be part of the legacy
Bills can be repealed. Programs can be cessive years. There have been only 2
for the people of America.
amended. Times change, and all can years since then that it has been fully I yield the floor.
change with it. funded with the funds that are avail- I suggest the absence of a quorum.
What we are talking about this week able. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
in the Great American Outdoors Act is Today, this week, we are going to clerk will call the roll.
making a gift to our fellow Americans. correct that historic error and make a The senior assistant legislative clerk
Setting aside special places, setting commitment not only to the people of proceeded to call the roll.
aside opportunities for outdoors and the United States today but to people Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I ask
recreation is a sacred trust, and it is we don’t even know—the children and unanimous consent that the order for
one that goes back to the beginning of grandchildren and great-grandchildren the quorum call be rescinded.
this country. of today’s citizens. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
As I said, there is very little we can The other thing this bill will do is objection, it is so ordered.
do that is permanent, but this is one of begin to fund the backlog of mainte- POLICE DEPARTMENTS
those things. It is the right thing to do, nance at our national parks, bureau of Mr. BARRASSO. Mr. President, I
but it also makes sense from the econo- public lands, and other public lands come to the floor today at a time that
my’s point of view in all of our States. across the country. This sounds pretty you and I have heard the Democrats’
Acadia National Park in Maine gen- boring, pretty mundane, and some of latest rallying cry. Astonishingly, the
erates more than $300 million a year in my friends are going to say: Well, you rallying cry is: Defund the police.
economic activity in the surrounding can’t do this. We are going to raise a Defund the police. That is what I am
communities. Our new Katahdin Woods budget point of order. hearing from Democrats all across
and Waters National Monument is al- This is money, again, coming from America. This comes on the heels of a
ready generating economic activity in excess funds in the generation of min- previous battle cry: Abolish ICE. That
the area where it is located. A visit to erals, oil, and gas. But they are going is what the Democrats are calling for
Maine to see the seacoast and the for- to say: No, no. You can’t do that. today.
est at those two sites would be reward- What we are doing here is paying a Leading Democrats—radical leftwing
ing for any family. debt. Deferred maintenance is a debt. lawmakers like ALEXANDRIA OCASIO-
What we are doing today will enable When I was Governor, I used to go to CORTEZ—are pushing these very dan-
families to continue to make these New York to kiss the ring of the rating gerous ideas. Let me say it again. Lib-
kinds of journeys—the next generation agencies and hope and beg that they eral Democrats all across the country
and the next and the next. That family would give us a high bond rating so are asking all of us to defund law en-
will see a sunrise on the coast of that our interest costs for our State forcement in America. If we did that—
Maine, a sunset on a mesa in Arizona. debt would be low. At one point, I was if we did that—crime would go through
They will not know who it was, but making a presentation about how pru- the roof, school safety would cease to
they will know what we did. dent Maine was. We didn’t have much exist, and the most vulnerable in our
In Maine there is a wonderful moun- debt. We paid it off in 10 years, and we society would have no one to turn to or
tain, Mount Katahdin, the highest really needed this high bond rating. call in case of an emergency. Yet
point in the State, and it was proposed One of the analysts stopped me, and Democratic mayors across the country
to be set aside for the people of Maine he said: Governor, don’t forget that if seem to be on board.
by the Governor named Percival Bax- you are not maintaining your infra- Last week, the Democratic mayor of
ter in the twenties, one of my prede- structure, that is debt just as sure as if Los Angeles said that he plans to slash
cessors. you borrow money from the bank, and the LA Police Department’s budget.
The legislature of Maine said: No, we it is debt that is going to have to be New York City Mayor de Blasio has
don’t have to do that. We shouldn’t paid, and it is going to have to be paid vowed to cut funding for the New York
really do that. Who is going to pay for in the future, which means it is going Police Department. The Minneapolis
the roads? We are going to take prop- to cost more. City Council announced Sunday that it
erty out of the tax base. What about I had never thought of it that way, would vote to disband—disband—the
the trees? but that is what we are doing here. city’s police department and said they
There were all kinds of reasons for That is why what we are doing here is had a veto-proof majority.
not doing it, so it didn’t happen. eminently fiscally responsible because House Democrats have now just re-
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
It didn’t happen while Percival Bax- we are paying off a debt, and we are leased a new bill that supposedly seeks
ter was Governor, but he dedicated the preserving these wonderful, incredible police reform. This is from a party that
rest of his life to making it happen. In- places for people to visit and enjoy. just last month pushed a trillion dol-
dividually, privately, he purchased full Believe me, after this spring, people lar—the total bill was $3 trillion for
parcels of land to assemble what is now really want to get outdoors. In Maine, the Heroes fund to support the police.
Baxter State Park, one of the gems in for example, Acadia National Park has Well, now funding for police has pur-
this country that contains, at its cen- more than 31⁄2 million visitors a year. posely been left out of the bill.
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June 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2791
As our economy begins to recover— We can never abandon those who pro- centage of the people believe that they
and I will tell you the jobs numbers are tect us. are treated unjustly is a society that
very promising—we need to make sure I yield the floor. has a problem, a society that can never
that our communities are safe. This I suggest the absence of a quorum. fulfill its full potential unless those
starts at the local level with Governors The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. CAS- grievances are addressed.
and mayors in cities like Minneapolis SIDY). The clerk will call the roll. None of this excuses radical, violent
and New York and Los Angeles. The senior assistant legislative clerk extremists setting fires, looting build-
Last week, the Wall Street Journal proceeded to call the roll. ings, and hurting innocent people, but
had an editorial that was titled ‘‘Lib- Mr. RUBIO. I ask unanimous consent it also shouldn’t lead us to stupid ideas
eral Cities, Radical Mayhem.’’ Demo- that the order for the quorum call be like defunding the police.
cratic mayors and Governors seem un- rescinded.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without And this is not going to be fixed by
able to stop the lawlessness. It in- endless emails from corporation after
cluded a warning. It said: objection, it is so ordered.
corporation trying to prove how woke
This isn’t merely about damage to prop- RACISM
they are, even as they outsource your
erty. It’s about destroying the order required Mr. RUBIO. The murder of Mr. Floyd
for city life. job to China.
at the hands of law enforcement offi-
They went on to say: cers was an outrageous crime that has It is also not going to be fixed by pre-
Non-criminals are afraid to go into these shocked this Nation, but it would be a tending that race is no longer an issue
cities in order to make a living. mistake to conclude that the unrest of and by accusing everyone who dis-
Now you have seen New York Gov- the last 2 weeks are only about his agrees and says it is of hating America.
ernor Cuomo blaming Mayor de Blasio, death or are only about relations with Yes, there are still vile racists among
as well as the New York Police Depart- the police. us, although few of them will ever
ment, for failing to stop the violence in At its core, what this unrest is about openly admit it, but in 21st century
New York City. The Manhattan Insti- is the question of what kind of society America, few people consider them-
tute says that the riots likely caused we are and what kind of society do we selves racist.
New York businesses tens of millions of want to be. The primary reason why race re-
dollars last week alone. This is in dam- A society is a voluntary agreement, mains relevant today is that the Afri-
ages. by people, to live together. For a soci- can-American community faces a
Nationwide, at least 12 people have ety to thrive, those in it must believe unique set of challenges that far too
been killed in the riots last week, in- that their interests are protected and few people in positions of power and
cluding police officers. The rioters their voices are heard, but when a sub- politics fully understand.
have committed many acts of violence stantial number of people in a society If a child is raised in a stable home,
against police officers, as well as come to believe that they are not val- in a safe neighborhood, attends a good
against innocent bystanders. In New ued; that they do not matter; or that school, and they have a private tutor
York City alone, 292 officers have been they are not wanted, then that society to help them with the SAT, while an-
injured last week. One New York police will have big problems. other child 2 miles away is raised by
officer was stabbed in the neck, and For decades, African Americans have one parent, or maybe even a grand-
two others were shot last Wednesday complained that they feel their voices parent, they live in substandard hous-
night in Brooklyn. In Los Angeles, 27 are being ignored, their problems not ing, in a dangerous neighborhood, they
officers were injured during just one being addressed, and their lives not attend a school that is failing, or fail-
night of rioting. One officer suffered a valued. ing them, and they don’t have a private
fractured skull and another a broken Given our Nation’s history with race, tutor for the SAT—on most days they
knee. this is an uncomfortable grievance— don’t have access to Wi-Fi—do these
On Thursday, Attorney General Bill one many would rather avoid. Like a two kids really have an equal oppor-
Barr gave a briefing on the administra- bad debt that must eventually be paid, tunity to go to the same college?
tion’s efforts to end the violence. The it is a grievance we can no longer ig- If one college student has the connec-
Attorney General also said that Presi- nore. tions or the money to do unpaid intern-
dent Trump has directed him to spare Like before, the latest unrest has ships in the summer or to study abroad
no effort in seeking justice in the given rise to voices arguing that the and another student has to work in the
George Floyd case. foundations of our Republic are built summer just so they can afford to go
The State has filed criminal charges on systemic racism and must, there- back to school in the fall, do they real-
against the four officers, and Federal fore, be brought down. The only dif- ly have an equal opportunity to get
authorities are investigating civil ference is that, this time, claims like hired when they graduate?
rights violations. The Attorney Gen- these don’t just come from the fringes
of our politics. Like before, we also If one young adult does something
eral is claiming and now has said that
have voices that say that, today, race stupid and gets arrested, but his par-
there is clear evidence that extremist
is only a factor in individual cases, dis- ents hire good lawyers, and he is able
groups like antifa were inciting the
tinct from our society at large. Both of to avoid having a criminal record, but
riots. The lawlessness, he said, must
these views are wrong. another young adult who does the
and will stop.
The foundations of our country are exact same thing has to use a public
Our free society depends on the rule
not irredeemably racist. Abolition, defender, pleads guilty to a lesser
of law, and the Attorney General has
women’s suffrage, desegregation, the charge but now has a criminal record,
said that the rule of law will prevail.
civil rights movement—these were not do they really have an equal oppor-
We need to continue to focus on social,
appeals to overthrow our values; these tunity when they apply for the same
economic, educational, and police re-
were demands that we fulfill them. job?
forms. Still, no sensible reform in-
volves defunding the police. Police are The Constitution that once consid- When policymakers encourage send-
civil servants. Their job is difficult, ered slaves three-fifths of a human ing manufacturing jobs that once em-
and their job is dangerous. being was ultimately the vehicle that ployed African-American men overseas
They may need more resources, not was used to free them and, eventually, in an effort to benefit those employed
fewer, as Democrats across the country to secure their most basic rights. in technology and finance, how can we
are calling for defunding. I am saying It is also true that we have made tre- truly expect widespread prosperity for
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
they may need more. They may need mendous progress on racial equality all Americans?
more training. They may need more re- over the last 50 years, but there remain When a disproportionate number of
sources for body cameras. They may shocking racial disparities on health, those with these disadvantages comes
need more resources to help recruit of- on education, on housing, on econom- from one race while a disproportionate
ficers who match their communities. ics, and on criminal justice, and there number of those with the advantages
There is much more that needs to be remains the fundamental truth that comes from another, the result is a ra-
done, and defunding is not part of it. any society in which a substantial per- cial disparity.
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S2792 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 9, 2020
Some suggest that these disparities This may not be your fault, but this are wanting to be outside, do things
are the result of institutionalized rac- is our problem because, until we heal with their family, do something that is
ism or of a deliberate effort designed to this divide, we will never ever have the not expensive but is fun and healthy.
harm African Americans. kind of society we want, and we will Our national parks are the perfect
What I truly believe is that it is the never fulfill the full promise of our Na- place. As our parks begin to reopen, we
product of something far less sinister tion. are going to get more and more visitors
but sometimes equally damaging. It is There is reason for hope, even in a to those parks.
the result of racial indifference, of the deeply divided country where the polit- The problem is, when they go to
fact that many in positions of power ical and cultural lines that divide us these parks, they are going to find that
and influence are oblivious—are un- continue to harden. there are some issues. These issues are
aware—of the unique challenges that A clear consensus has emerged that that our national parks over the years
disproportionately face African-Amer- we can no longer ignore matters of race have not kept up with their mainte-
ican communities across this country. in America, but it is a fragile con- nance, with the basics of what you
We must now acknowledge these sensus, already being tested by loud would expect in any organization—the
challenges and address these dispari- voices appealing to our most basic water systems, the roads, the bridges,
ties that they create because, when dis- fears or those who see the opportunity the bathrooms, the visitor centers, the
parities go unaddressed, they become to advance divisiveness and extreme trails. Many of these are now closed in
grievances. When grievances are ig- ideas. some of our parks because they haven’t
nored, it leads to friction and division If this is the path we choose, we will had the funding to do the capital im-
and, ultimately, unrest. all look back at this time with pro- provements, the things you would
By no means do these disparities found regret, and we will be left with a think about in deferred maintenance at
alone fully capture the entirety of the society that is even angrier and more your home. For instance, if your roof
challenge before us. There still remain divided than it is now. We will be left starts to leak, you want to fix it be-
points of friction, more reminiscent of with an America that no longer resem- cause if you don’t, then your wall be-
a different and shameful era in our his- bles the one we honor when we stand
gins to get moldy or your floor begins
tory. during the National Anthem.
to couple. That is what is happening in
Here, too, we can also suffer from in- Ironically, we will ultimately be left
our national parks.
difference because the vast majority of with an America even further away
Not only has Congress not provided
Americans simply do not personally from the one some kneel to demand.
The only way forward is to treat each the money for these more expensive in-
know the sting that comes from im- frastructure changes in our parks, but
other with the empathy and respect re-
plicit and sometimes explicit reactions that has caused additional damage.
quired of the people who have decided
to the color of your skin, which is why Every day it is causing more and more
to share a nation and a future.
true progress requires that we listen to I yield the floor. damage. It is the biggest challenge we
the viewpoints of those who do. I suggest the absence of a quorum. have in the parks.
Listen to the young man I know who The PRESIDING OFFICER. The I was a member of what is called the
sees reports of a young man who looks clerk will call the roll. Centennial Commission for the na-
like him—like his uncles, like his The senior assistant legislative clerk tional parks, which is a private sector
grandfather—being murdered by vigi- proceeded to call the roll. group that was formed when I was not
lantes in a case of mistaken identity. Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I ask in public office a few years ago, and it
Who knows, had they had not taken unanimous consent that the order for was working up to the 2016 centennial.
video of themselves doing this, they the quorum call be rescinded. The top issue was this deferred mainte-
would have gotten away with it. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without nance.
Listen, and he will tell you that he objection, it is so ordered. I have been on the Energy and Nat-
feels his life wouldn’t matter either if H.R. 1957 ural Resources Committee and have
it wasn’t because he played profes- Mr. PORTMAN. Mr. President, I am been passing legislation related to the
sional football. here tonight on the floor to talk about parks. The Centennial Act we passed in
Listen to the police officer I know a historic opportunity for our country 2016. That was very important because
who was pulled over while off duty at and for our national parks—a true it provided more funding for the parks.
least seven times by his own depart- treasure of this country. When Teddy Frankly, we could not come up with
ment for no reason, and he will tell you Roosevelt started the national parks, enough money through the appropria-
of the humiliation of having to explain he wanted to preserve some of the most tions process to deal with these long-
this to his teenage son. beautiful, pristine lands in America for term problems. Why? Because they are
Listen to what it feels like to see on public use. so expensive. In the parks, it is be-
the news that, when a mother in Miami It was a good decision. Now we have lieved there is now a $12.5 billion short-
recently drowned her own autistic son 84 million acres of parkland all around fall—a $12.5 billion deferred mainte-
in a terrible tragedy—do you know how the country. Some of them are histor- nance project.
she tried to cover it up? By falsely tell- ical parks, battlefields, or Presidents’ We fund the parks every year, but we
ing the police that he had been ab- homes. Some of them are like Yosem- fund them for the rangers, for the nat-
ducted by two African-American men ite or Yellowstone. The Tetons are uralist programs. We fund some of the
demanding drugs. known as spectacular, beautiful vistas. good work that is being done with
Listen to what it feels like to read Others, like Cuyahoga Valley National schoolchildren and so on, but these big
about the indictment of the chief of po- Park in Ohio, are really suburban expenditures, like a new road or a new
lice of Biscayne Park, FL, who, in an parks. It sits between Cleveland and bridge or, in the case of Cuyahoga Val-
effort to brag about having a perfect Akron, OH. It is the 13th most visited ley National Park, a new railway sys-
crime-solving record, ordered his offi- park in the United States of America. tem because the rails themselves need
cers to arrest anybody Black walking It is a fantastic park—for fishing, for to be improved and replaced—those
through their streets and, if they had hiking, for bicycling, for going on a things are too doggone expensive for
any kind of criminal record, pin one of scenic railroad. annual appropriations.
their unsolved crimes on them. People love the parks. There is a Several years ago, some of us came
Listen not because it is your fault, good reason for that—because they are up with an idea of providing more pub-
not because you are to blame; listen spectacular. In fact, visitation at the lic-private partnerships with the parks.
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
because this is what people who want parks is up. During the 10 years just be- The Centennial Act, which I authored,
to live together in harmony must do. fore the park centennial, which was in does that. In fact, we have been able to
This is the respect we owe one an- 2016, we had about a $58 million in- provide a match of greater than 1 to 1
other as colleagues, as coworkers. This crease in visitors to our national for money that is put into what is
is the empathy that is required of us as parks. called our Centennial Challenge Fund.
neighbors, as friends, and as children of As the coronavirus begins to fade— The money goes in from the Federal
the same God. thank goodness—more and more people Government, and it has been matched
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June 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2793
more than 1 to 1 by private sector Howard Taft birthplace in my home- that. That is a huge expense to do a
money. That is helpful, but it cannot town of Cincinnati, Ohio. As you can seawall. They have to do it to protect
again handle these huge expenditures. see, the ceiling is leaking. What hap- the monument itself. The visitor cen-
Another idea—Senator MARK WAR- pens is, the ceiling leaks. And then, the ter there is not ADA compatible, the
NER of Virginia actually came to me on walls are getting damaged, the floor is Americans with Disabilities Act. They
this several years ago and said: Why getting damaged, and some beautiful need funding to do that, which is a
don’t we take some of the revenue that furniture from the Taft era is getting major expense.
is coming from our oil and gas and damaged. We need to fix it. It is a big These are the kinds of things we are
other energy projects that are on Fed- expense. It is the entire roof that has talking about. This is not just my
eral land, both onshore and offshore, to be repaired. home State of Ohio. This is about $100
and take some of those royalties—the Their annual budget is not nearly million that needs to come out of this
revenue the Federal Government de- enough do that. They have an annual fund just for the State of Ohio.
rives from that, which is not going to budget. It takes care of a few park Again, there are other States that
another purpose—and say that a part of rangers who are naturalists and inter- have bigger national parks and more
those revenues, not all but a part of it, preters. They have a lot of school kids needs and more infrastructure and
should be focused on this issue of infra- who come through, as an example, and more roads and bridges that need help,
structure, of this deferred mainte- others who want to see the history of but for us this is really important. We
nance, that is growing and growing in William Howard Taft’s upbringing, who have to be sure that we are protecting
our parks and getting more expensive was a Chief Justice as well as President this incredible treasure from future
every year if we don’t fix it. of the United States. There is no way generations.
I love that idea because that is ex- the annual appropriation from Con- That is what this legislation is
actly what the oil and gas revenue gress able to do something like that. It about. It is going to be on the floor this
money ought to be used for—to help in needs these additional resources. week and voted on as part of the Great
terms of our natural resources. It is Here we are at the Cuyahoga Na- American Outdoors Act, which in-
not everything. The $12.5 billion has tional Valley National Park. This is cludes, also, money for the Land and
about $6 billion of immediate projects one of the buildings. As you can see, it Water Conservation Fund.
I will say, with regard to the na-
that need to be handled right away. is not in great repair. They don’t have
tional park funding, this funding is di-
These are the priority projects. Those money to take it down and not enough
rected at stewardship. In other words,
are the ones we focus on. For the next money to repair these kind of build-
not a single penny of the money we are
5 years, in our legislation, we are re- ings. All they want to do with this
talking about with Restore Our Parks
quiring that enough of those resources building, by the way, is to take it
Act that I have been describing can go
from the royalties come in to handle down. It is a hazard. As you can imag-
to expansion of a park—not one penny.
that $6 million, assuming that the roy- ine, it is attracting crime and drug use
All of it has to go toward restoring the
alties are there. Right now, the cost of and other issues. They have several parks, toward stewardship of the parks.
oil is so low that it would be tough to buildings like that. I think that is important because
meet that. We think, over time, that Here is another one. This is the rail- whether you are a Republican or a
will even out, and we will have enough. way I talked about at the Cuyahoga Democrat, I think you should agree
If there is not, then the money will not Valley National Park. I am here with that to the extent we have these parks
be there, but if it is, the money will be the park director. This ranger is a guy and have this land, we need to take
there to do exactly what we ought to who has been all around the country. better care of them. It is our responsi-
do, which is, in the end, to save tax- He told me that in every single one of bility. We are the stewards. Our gen-
payers’ money by fixing some of these our parks, he has had to work through eration is the steward for future gen-
problems before they get worse. this issue. How do you take our budget erations. We have not done it. This is
Some people say: Well, it is better to and make sure you have the rangers, an opportunity to right that wrong. We
do it with an annual appropriations in have the naturalist programs, and keep need to get back on track.
Congress. I would say to that, in many things in order but then don’t have My hope is that we will continue to
respects, this funding for our park is a enough to pay for these big expenses? see support for this on both sides of the
debt unpaid. In other words, it is We are right near a bridge here that aisle, both sides of the Capitol. It is
money that we should have been pay- is also falling down. When the bridge is really important. We saw on Monday
ing all along to keep up with the roads, falling down, the people will not be night there was a first trial vote to be
the bridges, the buildings, the railway able to access the trail and the bike able to proceed to the debate on this
systems, the seawalls—which I will trail. It is a big expense. You have to bill. That vote was overwhelming—80
talk about in a minute—but we do it. Senators voted for it out of 100. That is
haven’t. We have allowed this to build Here I am at the Perry Monument. unusual around here. That shows,
up. This is on Lake Erie. For those of you again, the bipartisan nature of this and
In a way, this is a debt that is on our who have been to Put-in-Bay, you the fact that this is carefully thought
books that we have to deal with. Think know it is a great place to go. The out. We spent a lot of time on it. We
about it in your family or in your busi- Perry Monument is awesome. It not got it out of committee not once but a
ness, if you allow these deferred main- only talks about William Perry and his couple of times. We have done a lot of
tenance problems to continue to grow, history and legacy but the War of 1812 research on it. We made sure the parks
you end up having additional costs. We and all of the veterans of that war and are providing us with good data to
need to take care of it. This is a great the relationship now between Canada know what these projects are, what are
way to do it, taking these revenues and and the United States and the UK, now their highest priorities.
applying it to these immediate prob- being our great allies. That was not al- There is a lot of discussion in this
lems. ways so. The War of 1812 was essential Chamber about putting more money
By the way, there was a lot of discus- for the United States and something as into infrastructure, and maybe that
sion in Congress over the years about part of a historical park to be remem- will be done as part of the next legisla-
shovel-ready projects. When you do in- bered. tion. They have been talking about it,
frastructure spending, you want it to The seawall that protects that me- in terms of the next stimulus package,
be shovel-ready. These are shovel-ready morial is crumbling. The seawalls don’t to have infrastructure funding. Wheth-
because they have been vetted. We re- last forever. This one is not lasting for- er it is rural broadband or whether it is
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
quire the Park Service to provide us ever, particularly as the Lake Erie our ports or our roads or our bridges, I
every year what their infrastructure water level is increasing. You can see think there is an opportunity there. If
needs are, what their priority infra- that not only is the seawall crumbling, you put a dollar in, you get more than
structure needs are and to rank them. but there are potholes behind me that a dollar back if you do the right kind
For every single national park prop- cause sinkholes, they call them. People of smart economic infrastructure.
erty in America, we know what it is. are not allowed to go out on the lake- There are two problems with it. One,
As an example, this is the William front here in many places because of often it is not merit-based if Congress
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S2794 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 9, 2020
does it. Remember the Bridge to No- tion, our generation, to be able to right back home. Also lucky were those who
where years ago where there was a the wrongs and fix the problems and worked with him and called him a
bridge in Alaska that didn’t go any- get our parks back on track so they friend. I am honored to count myself
where, but we were going to pay mil- will be there for future generations. among them.
lions of dollars for it. These are not I also want to thank the President of Lawrence Michael Walsh, born on a
‘‘bridges to nowhere.’’ These projects the United States and his Cabinet be- farm in Elwood, IL, about 10 miles out-
have all been vetted. It is a merit-based cause they have been helpful in this— side of Joliet. He was the second of
process. the Secretary of the Interior, the Di- eight children. His parents were farm-
Second, sometimes they just aren’t rector of the Office of Management and ers, as were his grandparents and
shovel-ready. In other words, the pri- Budget. President Trump himself actu- great-grandparents. He carried on that
ority is to fix something, but you don’t ally increased the size of this program family tradition. Farming was in his
have the permits; you don’t have the by saying: Let’s not just include our blood.
approval. These are on national park national parks; let’s also include our He won his first election to the
lands. They have the approval. They national wildlife; let’s include our na- school board about 3 weeks before his
are ready to go. They are shovel-ready. tional forests. first child was born. Three years later,
They are merit-based. This is even a broader program than he was elected to the local board of su-
Discussion around here often about just national parks now. This is really pervisors. He was elected to the Will
infrastructure is not to pay for it with important. It was in the President’s County board in 1974 and again in 1992.
an offset but rather—because infra- budget each of the last 3 years, and I From 1997, until the year 2005, Larry
structure spending returns capital, appreciate that. That gives us a chance served in the Illinois State Senate in
which it does if it is done properly. to talk about how to get this not just Springfield. His Senate district—the
This would return a lot because this is through the Senate and through the 43rd—included most of Will County,
stuff that is going to involve more visi- House but actually signed into law be- parts of Kankakee and Iroquois Coun-
tors, more revenue being raised— cause the President is prepared to sign ties.
through people coming to the parks it if we can get our work done here. There were cities, suburbs, and
and attendance at the parks—for the I hope my colleagues will do again farms. In Springfield, he sat in the
communities, certainly, that the parks what they did on Monday night—recog- back row of the chamber. He became
are in but even for the parks them- nize that this is an important initia- good friends of another senator who sat
selves. We are talking often about not tive at a time when our country is once in the seat right next to him.
paying for it. Here, we actually do have again polarized. We have plenty of To some, it was an amazingly odd
it paid for. It is not a traditional pay- issues between the coronavirus and couple to see the two of them, Larry
for—I acknowledge that—but it is fund- what is happening on the streets. Isn’t the farmer and conservative Democrat
ing that comes from the royalties, it good to see something that can bring and his seatmate, a very liberal, left-
again, from offshore and onshore oil our country, our Senate, our House, leaning lawyer from Hyde Park in the
and gas and other energy projects that and our President together to do some- city of Chicago.
goes into fixing our national parks. It thing that is important for future gen- Both men had an ability that is all
is our responsibility as stewards to do erations? too rare in today’s brand of politics.
that. I yield back. They could see beyond labels. They
My hope is that what we will see to- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- were both passionate about building
morrow and the next day and maybe ator from Illinois. coalitions and finding common ground,
into next week, depending on how long REMEMBERING LARRY WALSH and they both liked a good game of
people want to debate this, is that we Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, this poker. So they became good friends.
can continue to have the support we week, my State of Illinois is saying a In 2004, when his friend decided to
saw on Monday night for our parks. It fond and final farewell to a deeply run for the U.S. Senate, Larry Walsh
is one of the true treasures of our coun- loved and respected public servant, was the first Senator to endorse him.
try. It is a great asset that if we don’t Larry Walsh. He devoted 50 years of his Larry took his seatmate to meet the
fix it, it will not be there for future life to serving, as he called them, the farmers and other folks in small towns
generations because these things—once folks back home. He won his first elec- in Will and Kankakee Iroquois coun-
they start to crumble, once the seawall tion to the local school board in 1970 at ties.
is gone, the monument is gone. When the age of 21. Four years later, that seatmate of
you have a situation where bathrooms He served in local and county govern- his was elected President of the United
are closed or trails are closed, people ment positions and in the Illinois State States, and Larry Walsh was right here
are going to show up and be, under- Senate. For the last 16 years, Larry in Washington to see Barack Obama in-
standably, disappointed that the U.S. was county executive for Will County, augurated as the leader of our great
Congress did not take advantage of this the fourth largest county in my State Nation.
opportunity if we do not vote for this of Illinois and one of the fastest grow- Larry Walsh was a fine and decent
to be able to fix the parks for future ing. man. He was thoughtful and witty,
generations. Larry Walsh was as good at retail loyal and trustworthy. He seemed to
Finally, I would like to thank not politics as anybody I have ever seen. radiate joy, and his joy would fill a
just my colleague Senator WARNER, He loved politics and he loved people room. He was grounded in reality and
whom I talked about earlier, who has and it showed. People loved him back. modest. He had a big booming voice—
been a champion on this issue, but also Democrats, Republicans, farmers, city you couldn’t miss it—and you sure as
Senator LAMAR ALEXANDER and Sen- folk—they all loved Larry. heck could not miss his laugh, and
ator ANGUS KING. Senator ALEXANDER He was one of the longest serving there were plenty of them.
has been involved in these issues for county executives in Will County his- His friends included a President, Cab-
many years. Back in the Reagan ad- tory. When he announced last August inet members and Governors and men
ministration, he was on another Com- that he would not run for a fifth term and women who swept the floors in his
mission. I mentioned the Centennial as executive because the cancer he was offices.
Commission for the parks. He was on battling for 5 years was gaining the In 2007, Will County Democrats cre-
another Commission for the great out- upper hand, there was hardly a dry eye ated a new award to honor those work-
doors, which recommended dealing in the room. Everyone with whom he ing to promote progress and the com-
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
with this issue. Again, it has been the had worked was saddened by that an- mon good. They named the award after
top issue for our national parks. nouncement. the man who exemplified those quali-
If we can pass this legislation—$6.5 He said at that press conference: ties—the Larry Walsh Lifetime
billion over the next 5 years for our na- ‘‘I’ve been a very blessed man and a Achievement Award.
tional parks—this will truly be his- very lucky man.’’ Well, fittingly, the first recipient of
toric. This is, in a sense, a Teddy Roo- From where I am sitting, I think the the Larry Walsh Lifetime Achievement
sevelt moment for us, in this genera- really lucky ones were Larry’s folks Award was Larry Walsh. I laughed
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June 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2795
about that so many times and never let A couple of final thoughts about my When we met, I asked questions of
him forget it. Every time he visited my friend Larry: He was a bridge builder. some of them. I wanted to know a little
office, I would remind him that he was He had inexhaustible patience when it bit more about them and their lives
the first recipient of the Larry Walsh came to searching for common ground and what brought them to this mo-
Award. in order to make government work and ment.
Larry’s admirers transcended party solve big problems. Don’t we need more I asked each of them about the con-
labels. George Pearson, chairman of leaders like him today? versation—you know, that conversa-
the Will County Republican Party, told Larry loved life. Every Christmas tion when young people are called in by
a reporter that Larry ‘‘greeted me each season, for years, the local theater their parents and warned about the
time we met with a handshake, a smile company in Joliet put on a stage pro- perils and challenges of being Black in
and a pat on the shoulder. You would duction of that classic movie ‘‘It’s a America.
never have known we were on opposite Wonderful Life.’’ The show was always One young woman remembered her
sides of the political aisle, and that is broadcast on a local radio station, and mother cautioning her to always ask
what made Larry popular with Will for many years, right up to this last for a receipt with every purchase to
County residents.’’ Christmas, Larry Walsh played the prove, if ever challenged, that the item
The other thing that made Larry part of Clarence. You will remember had not been shoplifted. Many talked
Walsh so popular with the people of his Clarence at the end of the movie. He about hairstyles and clothing that they
county was that he was just incredibly was the guardian angel. Clarence was learned to be dangerous in the eyes of
good at his job. always hoping to earn his wings. Clar- some White Americans.
As county executive, Larry worked ence was assigned to watch over They were even warned about the
hard to professionalize and modernize George Bailey, who is so despondent danger of any contact with the police
county government and make it more one Christmas Eve he is thinking about and how their tone of voice and every
responsive. He built a strong financial move had to be carefully considered—
jumping off a bridge. Clarence the
foundation for this great county, which every one of them.
guardian angel’s assignment was to get
improved its bond rating and enabled Every one of them remembered the
George to change his mind.
him to lead the largest capital im- Clarence did that by showing George first time they were called the ‘‘N’’
provement program in the history of how much the people in his hometown word.
the county. The county built new roads would have missed had George not been That graphic video of the last mo-
and bridges, a new public safety com- ments of George Floyd’s life, when he
part of their lives. Clarence tells
plex, new county health facilities, and was pleading ‘‘I can’t breathe’’ and the
George:
a new courthouse scheduled to open in
Strange, isn’t it? Each man’s life touches cold stare of the policeman, with his
October. so many other lives. When he isn’t around, knee on George Floyd’s neck, ignoring
In the Illinois State Senate, he was he leaves an awful hole, doesn’t he?
instrumental in, among others things, the pleas for mercy—those images
developing the Abraham Lincoln Na- Many of us are feeling an awful hole touched the conscience of America and
tional Cemetery in Elwood; the rede- today with the passing of Larry the world, and these young people were
velopment of the Joliet Arsenal into a Walsh—this good man and devoted pub- touched by it.
modern intermodal freight terminal, lic servant. They know and we all know, sadly,
Even though we can’t schedule the that what happened to George Floyd
the CenterPoint Intermodal Center;
and the designation of the Midewin Na- kind of Irish wake that Larry so richly was not an exception.
tional Tallgrass Prairie—the first na- deserved, there is something we can do. Since 2015, the Washington Post has
Besides his family, his faith, his com- been following the number of people
tional tallgrass prairie in the United
munity and public service, there was shot and killed by police. Through 2019,
States.
There was a time when we thought it something that Larry was also fond of. the total number has hovered near 1,000
was the end of the world for Will Coun- After a hard day of work, Larry was annually. Ninety-four percent of the
ty when Joliet Arsenal was given up by known to enjoy a Pabst Blue Ribbon victims were armed.
the Federal Government, but thanks to beer. In his honor, if you are so in- The Post reports:
Larry Walsh and his buddy George clined, may we raise a PBR to Larry The number of black and unarmed people
Sangmeister and many others, it be- and a life well lived, and may we re- fatally shot by police has declined since 2015,
came a showpiece for the rest of the solve to fill the hole he has left by fol- but whether armed or not, black people are
lowing his uncommon example. shot and killed at a disproportionately high-
United States to see how this piece of er rate than white people.
Federal real estate had a bright, bright CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM
future. Mr. President, this past weekend, I They note in their newspaper this
Larry was most proud of his family. went back to Illinois and visited with morning the death rate by race in un-
My wife Loretta and I offer our deepest two different groups—one on Friday, armed shootings was 7.3 percent for
condolences to Irene, Larry’s wife of 50 another on Saturday. They were young Whites, 10.7 percent for Hispanics, and
years, and the love of his life. I called African Americans on the South Side 30.3 percent for Blacks.
her on the phone just the other day of Chicago and in my hometown of The anger and pain that we have seen
when Larry passed, and we talked Springfield. on the streets in recent days is a reflec-
about the rough period toward the end I wanted to sit down with these tion of generations of trauma. People
of his life, but we knew it was coming. young people, some just barely high are fed up with racism that has led to
Today, we look back on it as a moment school students, who had been engaged this injustice, and many of these young
of trial that he endured until that mo- in protests and demonstrations in their people leading this protest are deter-
ment when he left and left behind not hometowns and ask them what it was mined not to live in its shadow any
only that love of his life Irene but their about, what it meant to them. I wanted longer.
daughter Sarah, their five sons, Larry to hear it firsthand. There are hundreds of thousands of
Jr. and Shawn—both of whom followed They talked about the killing of police officers in our Nation. Most will
dad into public service—Frank, Mat- George Floyd in Minneapolis and how never use their firearms. Many who do
thew, and Brian and 20 grandkids. He it changed the conversation about jus- must make split-second, life-or-death
was so proud of every single one of tice in America, and it moved them to decisions. I know many of them person-
them. stand up and speak up. ally. I believe the ones I know are pro-
Because of the pandemic, the sendoff I am proud to say that those I met fessional and humane.
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
for Larry is going to be much smaller with have engaged in peaceful dem- If we are honest, we know that with-
than it would have been in Will Coun- onstrations consistent with American in their ranks are police officers who
ty. There will be visitation from 2 to 8 values and our Constitution. do not have the training or tempera-
on Thursday, followed by a private fu- I am proud of them because there ment to be entrusted with the author-
neral mass on Friday, and local folks were no distractions. They were fo- ity and power they have been given. We
are expected to line the route from the cused on Black Lives Matter and true need an honest conversation with po-
church to the cemetery. justice in America. lice chiefs and law enforcement leaders
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S2796 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 9, 2020
on inherent bias, use of force, training sequences for wrongdoing. We need to Profiling Act—legislation I have co-
and accountability for unjust actions. prohibit police misconduct that is dis- sponsored for many years, finally pro-
Prosecutors and judges need to join criminatory and deadly. We must re- hibiting the scourge of racial profiling.
us in the pursuit of real justice, and cruit and train the next generation of In 2012, I held a hearing on this bill
legislators like myself need to undo law enforcement to protect and serve to end racial profiling. This was the
the damage of a criminal justice sys- everyone in America. We need to invest only hearing that the Senate has held
tem fraught with racial disparity. in social services instead of expecting on racial profiling in 20 years.
The Obama Task Force on 21st Cen- law enforcement to intervene in crisis Our bill would ban choke holds—like
tury Policing released a report in 2015 situations that they are not equipped the one that killed George Floyd. It
to strengthen community policing and to deal with. will ban no-knock warrants—like the
restore trust between law enforcement This will require us—Senators, other one that led to the death of Breonna
and the communities they serve. The legislators—to continue to undo the Taylor.
Trump administration shelved this ef- damage of a criminal justice system In 2014, many Americans were
fort in 2017. It is time to take it off the that is unfair, in many respects—most shocked to see tanks rolling through
shelf. importantly, require those of us with the streets of Ferguson, MO. Shortly
This week, I join Senators BOOKER privilege and power to step back and afterward, I held a hearing in the same
and HARRIS in cosponsoring the Justice listen to African Americans affected by subcommittee where we heard compel-
in Policing Act of 2020—a comprehen- pervasive, systemic racism. ling testimony about the shocking re-
sive approach to bring accountability What can we do? A good place to ality that local police departments all
to policing, change methods and prac- start is President Obama’s task force. over the country are armed to the
tices, and build trust. It draws the line As I mentioned earlier, it was that ad- teeth with billions of dollars of mili-
on odious police practices and sets ministration’s response to deal with tary surplus equipment.
goals and standards for recruitment, community policing and trust in the Our bill will limit the transfer of
training, and retraining. community. It was shelved by the military-grade equipment to State and
Even that is not enough. Justice in Trump administration, and I think it local police so the weapons of war do
America requires more than improving would be a good start—a bipartisan not become commonplace in the
law enforcement. We cannot put racism start—for the Trump administration to streets of America.
behind us until we invest in opportuni- bring it down from the shelf and start The Justice in Policing Act also re-
ties for quality education, medical care a conversation. quires the use of dashboard cameras
that meets the highest standards, jobs We have an important role to play and body cameras for Federal officers,
with livable wages, opportunities, and right here in Congress. Unfortunately, State, and local law enforcement.
safe affordable housing. since Republicans took the Senate ma- Our bill establishes a National Police
The young people I met with want an jority in January 2015, the Senate Judi- Misconduct Registry to prevent offi-
America that is more just. Let them ciary Committee has rarely addressed cers who have engaged in misconduct
lead us into a future where we can all issues of racism in our Nation. from simply moving to another depart-
breathe more easily. The last hearing on policing in the ment without accountability. It will
I held hearings on race in America Judiciary Committee was actually 5 ensure that individuals whose constitu-
when I was chairman of the Sub- years ago—November 2015—chaired by tional rights are violated by police offi-
committee on the Constitution and the junior Senator from Texas. It was cers can recover in court.
Civil Rights—one in December of 2014. entitled ‘‘The War on Police: How the After the Civil War, the Congress
The hearing was held just a month Federal Government Undermines State passed the Civil Rights Act of 1871 to
after the death of Tamir Rice, a 12- and Local Law Enforcement.’’ It was a ensure that any person acting in offi-
year-old boy shot and killed by a police thinly veiled attack on the efforts of cial capacity who deprives another of a
officer in Cleveland while he played the Obama administration’s Civil constitutional or legal right can be
with a toy gun. Rights Division. held liable in court. However, judges
I said then, and, sadly, I must repeat The Senate Judiciary Committee have strictly limited the use of this
today, when unarmed African-Amer- chairman, LINDSEY GRAHAM, has an- statue to recover damages for police
ican men and boys are killed in our nounced the Senate will hold a hearing misconduct by creating what is known
streets, there is much work to be done on police misconduct next week. I was as qualified immunity for police offi-
to find justice in America. glad to hear it. I hope it is not just one cers.
This followed a hearing I had held and done. We need multiple hearings— The Justice in Policing Act will end
the previous year where we heard long overdue. this. This is a doctrine created by
heartbreaking testimony from Sybrina It is critical that we also hear from judges and never approved by Congress.
Fulton, the mother of Trayvon Martin, Attorney General William Barr. We I call on Senator MCCONNELL to do
and LUCY MCBATH, the mother of Jor- need to know whether the Justice De- more than just join in speeches about
dan Davis. LUCY has been elected to the partment will revive the efforts of the George Floyd. I call on him to bring
U.S. House of Representatives from Obama administration to address po- the Justice in Policing Act to the floor
Georgia since. lice misconduct, and we need answers of the Senate as soon as possible.
Both of these innocent young Black about what happened at Lafayette Wouldn’t it be amazing, with all the
men were gunned down by violent Square last week—right outside the protestations and all of the statements
White vigilantes. White House, when the Attorney Gen- made by all of the people in the streets,
Now we again grieve the lives of two eral reportedly ordered Federal law en- by representatives in this administra-
Black men and a Black woman—lives forcement to clear peaceful demonstra- tion from the Department of Justice
cut far too short in incidents of inex- tors. They used rubber bullets and who came before our committee today,
plicable and inexcusable violence— some form of gas. The Attorney Gen- and each and every one standing up
Ahmaud Arbery out for a jog; Breonna eral insists it wasn’t tear gas, but I and saying they are concerned about
Taylor at home in her bedroom; and have seen it, and it looks like some George Floyd, if we in the U.S. Senate
George Floyd on a curbside in Min- sort of a gas spray designed to push the actually considered a bill on the sub-
neapolis. demonstrators away. ject—actually considered passing a law
Once again, those gut-wrenching Hearings aren’t enough. We need to on this matter?
words ‘‘I can’t breathe’’ bring tears to do something the Senate rarely does We owe it not just to the Senate, we
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
our eyes. How many more names of anymore—pass a law. How about that? owe it to George Floyd, Breonna Tay-
Black men, women, and children will We need legislation on this subject, not lor, to Ahmaud Arbery, and all of the
we cry out in protest before things lamentation. Black and Brown lives we have lost in
change? We need to have an honest I am proud to join Senators CORY these brutal acts of racial injustice.
American conversation with law en- BOOKER and KAMALA HARRIS in intro- I yield the floor.
forcement officers about training, in- ducing this Justice in Policing Act. The PRESIDING OFFICER (Ms.
herent bias, use of force, and con- Our bill includes the End Racial MCSALLY). The Senator from Alaska.
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June 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2797
H.R. 1957 So I would like to take a few minutes Within Denali National Park we have
Ms. MURKOWSKI. Madam President, to discuss how the policy that we will a pretty significant visitor center, the
last night, I had the opportunity to be considering can help us do just that. Eielson Visitor Center, and the roof
join probably more than 80 of my col- The Great American Outdoors Act and the furnaces in various buildings
leagues in voting for a motion to pro- combines two bills, again, that we re- need to be replaced there. We have a
ceed to S. 3422, the Great American ported from the Energy and Natural water treatment center at the
Outdoors Act. Resources Committee last year. The Wrangell-St. Elias headquarters that
This bill is sponsored by a strong first one is S. 500, the Restore Our need to be replaced. I think it is impor-
group of Senators here—Senator GARD- Parks Act, as I mentioned, led by Sen- tant for people to realize because those
NER of Colorado, Senator DAINES of ators PORTMAN, ALEXANDER, WARNER, are not things you are going to notice.
Montana, and Senator MANCHIN have and KING, which aims to tackle the You are not going to notice that the
been working very hard on the LWCF Park Service’s $12 billion deferred road is in disrepair or you don’t have
piece. maintenance backlog. restroom facilities, but when you are
The second one is S. 1081, from Sen- going into the park toward the end of
Senator ALEXANDER, Senator
ators MANCHIN, GARDNER, and DAINES, the summer—in early September—and
PORTMAN, and Senator WARNER are to provide full and mandatory funding
working on the parks’ deferred mainte- there is no heat in the visitor center,
for the Land and Water Conservation you are probably going to notice that.
nance aspect of this measure. There Fund.
has been lot of work from a lot of Mem- I think it is important to recognize
To tackle deferred maintenance that the current list of deferred main-
bers and a lot of good thought that has needs, the Great American Outdoors
gone into it and some good policy be- tenance does not account for some of
Act establishes a new National Parks the very major challenges we are fac-
hind it, but I would like to share with and Public Land Legacy Restoration
colleagues some of the reservations I ing in Alaska, such as the situation
Fund. That fund will provide up to $1.9 with the Denali route. It is the only
have, albeit this is good policy, solid billion per year for 5 years to relevant
policy in so many areas. route in and out of the park. It needs
Federal land management agencies.
As with much of everything that we substantial improvements due to ongo-
The Great American Outdoors Act
can do on the Senate floor, we can al- also expands the list of agencies that ing subsidence. The estimates are all
ways seek to improve. With some of my can receive funding beyond the Park over the map, but, in fairness, we are
colleagues, I think we have some ideas Service to include the Forest Service, talking tens of millions, perhaps in ex-
in areas where we can improve our Fish and Wildlife Service, BLM, and cess of $100 million, to help repair or to
Great American Outdoors Act. the Bureau of Indian Education, which perhaps even reroute that access.
When thinking about deferred main-
I come from a State where we know also has significant maintenance needs.
tenance in Alaska in the parks, we can
a little bit about our great outdoors. I This was something we recognized
within the Energy Committee as we account for only a fraction of that sys-
know we all like to advertise our sce-
were looking at the status and situa- tem. Recreation is the biggest user of
nery, the wildlife that we have, but
tion on the maintenance of national our national forest system lands, but
back in Alaska we have some pretty
parks. It begs the question, What about our forestlands, trails, and camp-
unrivaled scenery. We have the moun-
our other public lands? grounds need about $5 billion in re-
tains. We have got the glaciers. We
In Alaska, our forest lands are great pairs. In Alaska, we have about $105
have some of our State’s most impor-
sources of recreation and opportunity, million in backlog up there.
tant natural features that have been BLM manages nearly 50,000 buildings
conserved in some world-famous na- but they, too, have seen a maintenance
backlog just continue to accumulate. and structures—bridges, trails, and
tional parks, from Katmai and Denali roads mostly in Western States, but
to the Kenai Fjords, Wrangell-St. When you visit Denali, the Grand Can-
yon, or Yosemite, you may not nec- they also have a growing backlog. In
Elias, Glacier Bay—names that so total in the Department of the Inte-
many Americans know and have vis- essarily notice immediately the de-
ferred maintenance issues. Likewise, as rior, we have about $17.3 billion in de-
ited or hope to one day visit before ferred maintenance in fiscal year 2019.
they die. you drive into Washington, DC, you
might not even realize that the George When combining that with the Forest
We actually had an advertising cam- Service, their maintenance backlog is
paign: See these majestic landscapes Washington Parkway is part of our Na-
tional Park System, let alone a major $22.5 billion in our Federal land man-
before you die. agement agencies.
Americans recognize the importance contributor to the agency’s mainte-
nance backlog. The reality is that the The Great American Outdoors Act is
of preserving our very best lands and attempting to remedy the issue by pro-
Park Service, in particular, has carried
making the most of our ability to expe- viding a downpayment to upgrade and
substantial backlogs for a long time.
rience their natural splendor. We are to improve the aging infrastructure on
As chairman of the Interior Appro-
not welcoming visitors this year in a priations Subcommittee, this is some- our public lands. I kind of outlined the
very different time, as we are dealing thing we have been working to try to need for why we are here today. I indi-
with COVID, but we have no doubt that get on top of, but it is like getting on cated that I support funding to address
the tourism industry will be back. It top of this wave. If you can’t get on top the maintenance backlogs, making
will be back better than ever before. In of it, it is just going to bury you. That sure visitors are able to enjoy our land-
fact, in yet another advertising cam- is what has happened when you think scapes and have the safest, most enjoy-
paign, we remind people that Alaska about the $12 billion backlog. These de- able experience as they see America’s
waits for you, and we would welcome ferred maintenance needs just aren’t beauty. That is important. I think it is
you at any time. possible to resolve through the annual also important that we are cognizant
We have more than 223 million acres appropriations process despite the con- about how we pay for this mainte-
of Federal lands in total. Included siderable best efforts we have made. nance, how we address that.
within that are more than 76 million The longer they last, the more they As I mentioned, I am on the Appro-
acres that are managed by U.S. Fish jeopardize the visitors’ ability to safely priations Committee. We are trying to
and Wildlife Service, more than 71 mil- enjoy our national treasures. get ahead of this by making sure we
lion acres managed by the Bureau of In Alaska, the National Park Service are not seeking to add more to the ac-
Land Management, more than 52 mil- has $106 million in deferred mainte- count without making sure we are car-
lion acres managed by the National nance. When you think about what I ing for the lands already under our ju-
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
Park Service, and more than 22 million just outlined to you in terms of the risdiction.
acres managed by the Forest Service. number of acres we have in Federal The second part of the Great Amer-
So we have a lot. We have a lot of land and parks and BLM refuge, $106 ican Outdoors Act focuses on the Land
Federal land, and that means that the million out of $12 billion doesn’t seem and Water Conservation Fund. LWCF
Federal Government has a major re- like that much. It is a lot to us back provides for both Federal and land ac-
sponsibility to help us maintain it and home, and $33 million of that is consid- quisition and financial assistance for
preserve it, just like in every State. ered critical. States’ recreation development. You
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S2798 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 9, 2020
will hear me talk a lot about LWCF but that are subject to aggressive ero- from offshore development. We are the
stateside programs because I think it sion. To be able to use funds from the ones that host it, we bear the impacts,
recognizes the role that States play in LWCF account to deal with a coastal and the benefits the entire country de-
facilitating recreational access and resilience initiative is something my rives from it simply wouldn’t be pos-
leverages funds to build out those op- colleague from Louisiana and my col- sible were it not for these host States.
portunities. league from Rhode Island—we have I think that this bill, this Great
We have certainly seen the benefits been talking about how we can help American Outdoors Act, is the right
in Alaska. Providing a few local exam- improve that. place to address offshore revenue shar-
ples, the State of Alaska has used I think these discussions are not only ing because everything within it relies
LWCF matching funds to build ball- timely but smart policy. I think it on oil and gas revenues and LWCF, the
fields in Utqiagvik, an accessible urban would be unfortunate if the Senate fund that will help with our deferred
playground in Anchorage, and a ski chooses not to allow good ideas to be maintenance. Everything relies on oil
area in Cordova. incorporated. and gas revenues.
I do think it is important for us to We have a measure in front of us that So, for as much vitriol as there may
remember how LWCF was established, has strong bipartisan support. We rec- be out there, and criticism, as the in-
the core purpose of why it came about ognize that, and that is good at a time dustry takes, I think this might be a
in the first place. Congress established when we are trying to come together as good time to recognize that oil and gas
this program in 1965 to build a national a Congress and as a nation. I take production generates Federal revenues,
recreation system primarily in the great pride in the fact that, once again, and it is these Federal revenues that
East. To accomplish that, the Federal leadership turns to the Energy and fund these conservation priorities for
Government determined that it needed Natural Resources Committee for good dozens and dozens of Members on this
the ability to acquire this private land. ideas that have come out of our com- floor and for hundreds of stakeholder
So our predecessors provided LWCF mittee. The opportunity to include groups.
with the authority and financial means strong measures that will enhance this Again, that is what has been hap-
to do so through revenues from off- bill is something I think we need to be pening within the LWCF, and it is
shore oil and gas. focusing on. about to be true for the deferred main-
We had a lot of discussion in the En- I would like to address the amend- tenance backlog, that where you are
ergy and Natural Resources Committee ment that my colleague from Lou- getting this funding source is from the
about the Land and Water Conserva- isiana, Senator CASSIDY, has filed and oil and gas revenues. Those funds
tion Fund. I was a proud sponsor of last that I am cosponsoring. This is an ini- wouldn’t come were it not for places
year’s lands package, which made per- tiative that he has worked on, and he like Louisiana, the Gulf Coast States,
manent the collection and deposit pro- has explained that it is a matter of eq- and again, hopefully, one day, Alaska.
visions in the LWCF and put an end to uity. It is a matter of equity and fair- When it comes to offshore revenue
years of uncertainty and lapses in ness as to how revenues are shared sharing, Alaska faces a disparity not
those deposits. I was pleased to be able with the coastal States that enable off- only with onshore rates but with other
to help offer a series of commonsense shore energy development. coastal producers. So you have got the
reforms, which included a requirement Adding key portions of the COASTAL four Gulf States—Alabama, Mis-
that at least 40 percent of the funding Act, S. 2418—which I am proud to co- sissippi, Louisiana, and Texas—that
go to stateside programs every year. sponsor and was reported out of the En- currently have a limited revenue shar-
I also believe that LWCF’s ability to ergy and Natural Resources Com- ing program established by the Gulf of
acquire new Federal lands should be fo- mittee—to the measure we have in Mexico Energy Security Act of 2006.
cused on the eastern States where the front of us, I think, makes sense. Sen- Alaska, however, receives no revenue
proportion is dramatically lowered. I ator CASSIDY has spoken to how this sharing, zero revenue sharing beyond
also believe that it is better—much would expand offshore revenue sharing the near-shore areas that all coastal
better—to decide LWCF’s funding in for States along the Gulf of Mexico, States receive under section 8(g) of the
the appropriations process each year in which post and support some of the Outer Continental Shelf Lands Act.
the context of the rest of our Nation’s most impressive and expensive coastal If Alaska is granted offshore revenue
conservation and budgetary priorities, facilities anywhere in the world. If any sharing, know that we will put it to
as opposed to mandatory funding. of our colleagues have not had the op- productive use for conservation and en-
I have stated that we should have an portunity to view what happens in the vironmental purposes. I think it is in-
opportunity to discuss these priorities offshore areas of Louisiana, it is a trip structive because I think there is so
related to our obligations to our parks that should be a priority. much rhetoric and concern that we
and to our conservation efforts. Again, Senator CASSIDY has spoken to the can’t be doing further development in
I believe it is only fair and honest, as Gulf of Mexico piece of it. I want to Alaska. It just shouldn’t happen. Well,
we debate this subject, that we recog- speak to what the amendment would let me share with you, again, we are
nize there are areas where we can im- do for Alaska because it includes provi- seeing coastal impact. We are seeing
prove this bill. sions that have been written by myself levels of erosion. We would like to be
I come to this debate from a very and by Senator SULLIVAN to establish a able to address the expenses that are
constructive place. I think I have some revenue-sharing program specific to associated with it.
very commonsense ideas to expand the our State, which has prolific offshore So within the amendment that Sen-
bill to include conservation-related pri- resources that we hope, one day, to be ator CASSIDY has filed, in the Alaska
orities that make sense for Alaska and able to safely produce for the good of provision, we looked specifically to au-
our States across the country, prior- the Nation. But we are in a very, very thorize purposes—coastal protection,
ities such as offshore revenue, which I different position than they are in the conservation, restoration, and assist-
am going to be speaking to in just a Gulf. We need investment to improve ance, including relocation for commu-
moment. There are some pretty simple, our coastal infrastructure, particularly nities that are directly affected by
commonsense things; for example, if in the Arctic. We have some different coastal erosion, melting permafrost,
we are going to allow for deferred conservation priorities from some non- and climate change related lawsuits.
maintenance to be addressed within coastal States, which are enshrined in Another authorized use is mitigation
the LWCF account, why would we not the purposes of the language in the of damage to fish, wildlife, and natural
want to make sure that our States amendment. resources. Adaptation planning, vul-
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
have a similar flexibility? These principles of equity and fair- nerability assessments, emergency pre-
In States like Alaska, where we have ness that we talk about as they relate paredness to build healthy and resil-
significant Federal lands already, it is to the Gulf of Mexico are the same ient communities, and the installation
not that we need to be buying up addi- principles here. and operation of energy systems to re-
tional lands into the Federal account Just like from onshore Federal devel- duce energy costs and greenhouse emis-
in Alaska, but what we do need is to opment, local governments and com- sions, and then programs at institu-
help preserve those lands we have now munities need to share in the revenues tions of higher education, these are the
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June 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2799
primary prescriptions that Alaska you, for Louisiana, for the Gulf Coast, DC, and Virginia and maybe New York,
would use its shared revenues for. and for a lot of other States, this is not then this $7.53 is going to go far lower.
If you support the Great American a great thing in its current form. In If you are not one of those three States
Outdoors Act, you will be able to sup- fact, I will show how this bill currently and you are on the coast, you are not
port offshore revenue sharing and the benefits only certain States at the ex- doing very well on a per capita basis.
significant environmental benefits that pense of others. To make that point, in 2015, about 40
it would provide to the Gulf of Mexico First, it is almost entirely funded percent of the Nation’s population
and to the State of Alaska, but we can with money from the Gulf of Mexico oil lived in a county or parish that was di-
only get there if we have an oppor- and gas production. So 50 to 60 percent rectly on a coastline, and 82 percent of
tunity for the good ideas—substantive of the dollars go to five States. So we people live in a State which has a
ideas—that Senator CASSIDY is leading are going to put up about $9.5 billion, coastline. So 82 percent of the people
with his COASTAL Act that I have in- and 50 to 60 percent of it goes to five live in one of these yellow States, and
troduced with regards to concerns that States. Needless to say, that lacks eq- yet, on a per capita basis, two plus
I briefly outlined and that I know that uity. I would argue that we can make times is spent on those living in States
other Members have raised and shared this bill better in terms of benefiting which are inland.
as well. many more Americans than it cur- Now, my point is that the dollars are
I appreciate the support that we have rently does. not spent relative to where people live.
received for offshore revenue sharing First, let’s speak about where the This disparity disproportionately im-
within the committee process itself. revenue comes from. Again, about $1.9 pacts States such as South Carolina,
We are now asking for the full Senate billion a year comes from energy pro- Georgia, North Carolina, Maine, and
to support the coastal States in equi- duction, redistributing that across the other coastal States. Now, I am a per-
table sharing of revenues. I think this country, as we mentioned, to deferred son who would rather have a solution,
is a key step, and I would urge that we maintenance programs. About 90 per- and the solution I am going to propose
have an opportunity to adopt that as cent of that revenue from which this does not take money away from the
we move forward. money will be extracted comes from oil Great American Outdoors Act. They
With that, I yield to my friend, the and gas production in the Gulf of Mex- will still continue to receive, in rel-
Senator from Louisiana. I thank him ico. This will be about $4.3 billion com- atively sparsely populated States, a
for his leadership on this initiative. I ing from the Gulf of Mexico. Now, this significant sum of the money.
have been so impressed not only by his makes the Gulf of Mexico the primary I worked with Senator WHITEHOUSE
advocacy when it comes to addressing revenue source for this whole project. on a bipartisan solution that would at
the fairness and the equity issues that It adds $900 million to what is already least add some equity for those States
are associated with revenue sharing designated the Land and Water Con- which are coastline, as opposed to
and what we need to do to lift the cap, servation Fund. There is $1.9 billion a being inland. Now, that said, we ac-
but also to his commitment to ensure year for 5 years to go for deferred knowledge national parks have de-
that his State and other coastal States maintenance, and this is in addition to ferred maintenance. At the end of fis-
that are seeing impact from climate $125 million a year, which is currently cal year 2018, this was estimated at
change and seeing impact from erosion, being spent on the Land and Water roughly $12 billion, but those parks are
that the conservation purposes that we Conservation Fund. not uniformly distributed.
have spoken to will have an oppor- Now, some of the advocates, by the I mentioned earlier how a dispropor-
tunity to be addressed. I am thankful way, just for a point of clarity, will say tionate amount of the money is going
to be able to work with him and to fol- or imply that these dollars are not oth- to go to five different States. Accord-
low his lead on this. erwise allocated. Let’s just be clear. ing to the Park Service data, if you
I yield the floor. The dollars are allocated. Right now, just looked at deferred maintenance,
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- the dollars that will be used for this which will presumably guide where this
ator from Louisiana. fund come to the U.S. Treasury and are money is spent, California; Wash-
Mr. CASSIDY. Madam President, used for the priorities of the American ington, DC; Virginia; New York; North
first, I thank the Energy Committee people, and they are allocated for, you Carolina; Wyoming; Arizona; and the
chair for her kind words and for her ad- name it, higher education, debt service, State of Washington make up nearly 60
vocacy. I may be speaking for a bit, paying troops, defense, et cetera. This percent of the deferred maintenance
and then when the majority leader would make it mandatory that a cer- needs at national parks. If you live in
comes, I will interrupt and allow him tain amount of this money would go one of those States, you are doing well,
to close, and then I ask unanimous towards both deferred maintenance and but if you are living in a State other
consent to finish my speaking, if that the Land and Water Conservation than those, not so well.
is OK. Fund. Now, some will say that even though
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without Now, the Land and Water Conserva- almost 60 percent of the money is going
objection, it is so ordered. tion Fund is supposed to be a fund that to seven States, everyone in the coun-
Mr. CASSIDY. Madam President, I functions to benefit, kind of, all Ameri- try benefits because you might visit
am on the Senate floor today to talk cans, but I would argue that it really the park, or we are all in it together,
about the protection and restoration of benefits select regions of America. If so why shouldn’t I support a national
the Gulf Coast, an issue extremely im- you look at this map, where the dollars park in a State which is far away from
portant to those I serve in Louisiana in are spent are not where the people live. my hometown?
the Gulf Coast, but important to the These are the coastal States, and here I suppose there is something to be
rest of the Nation, whether the rest of are the inland States. As it turns out, said to that. On the other hand, if the
the Nation knows it or not. I will ex- the areas that are most benefited by person saying that lived in one of the
plain why that is. this funding are not on the coast. And, States, which is getting just a tiny
In the coming days, the Senate will yet, as you will see in a second, that is fraction of the total sum of dollars,
vote on whether or not to pass the where the people live. and, yes, the people in their State will
Great American Outdoors Act. This bill If you live in a coastal State, on a leave their State and go spend their
dedicates funding over 5 years towards per capita basis, your State receives money in Montana, for example, that
deferred maintenance. We have spoken about $7.53 per person. If you live in will be great. People in Montana, on a
about it at length. It adds an addi- one of these inland States, from the per capita basis, get far more than any-
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
tional $900 million to the Land and Land and Water Conservation Fund, body else.
Water Conservation Fund, an amount you get $17.66, more than two times We are in it together, I suppose, but
which is already authorized but never plus. In fact, from about 2011 to 2015, if you probably wouldn’t reverse it. You
funded. This would make it mandatory you are in one of these inland States, probably wouldn’t say: Wait a second,
that it is funded. you got a ratio of almost 8-to-1 in we think it is unfair that seven States
Many will say that this is a good terms of the dollars spent in the coast- get almost 60 percent of the dollars. We
thing or even a great thing. I will tell al States. If you take out Washington, actually think it is better to be more
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S2800 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 9, 2020
equitably spread, or maybe you would. now, this bill would help prevent that 42 percent of the people live, which are
I hope that you would. flooding. directly upon a coastline, sooner or
States like Kansas, Iowa, and Ne- The COASTAL Act also places mil- later you run out of money. And we are
braska see almost no benefit. Collec- lions of dollars in a coastal fund, which going to—just like a vacuum cleaner—
tively, the deferred maintenance in benefits all coastal States, including suck those dollars down to these
these three States—Kansas, Iowa, and those along the Great Lakes, putting sparsely populated areas where people
Nebraska—is .2 percent of total de- money to protect where people live. love to vacation.
ferred maintenance backlog. It is the Once more, let me just show this. So my point is that, in Louisiana, for
same for Connecticut, Delaware, Min- This is where people live, and 82 per- example, we have a $50 billion, 50-year
nesota, and New Hampshire. Again, cent of the people live in a State with master plan to protect our coastline,
while there is deferred maintenance in a coastline. Yet, where the money is reducing flood risk to communities and
Gulf Coast States, the real benefit to going is, yes, to the coast, if you con- assets so important to the rest of the
our States is investing in the coastline, sider Washington, DC, and Virginia the Nation. The Great American Outdoors
which has a direct impact on sustain- coastline, but typically, it is going to Act will make it more difficult to se-
ability. five or six places, not to the places cure future dollars for this gulf coast
To be fair, by the way, the Gulf of which have had the most flood events. restoration.
Mexico States do currently benefit. I walked around barrier islands in Now, as I mentioned before, a lot of
The Gulf of Mexico Energy Security Georgia. Those barrier islands are people live in coastline communities,
Act shares revenue with the four Gulf evaporating. I hear that barrier islands in counties and parishes, and from 2000
Coast States. We use this revenue, by in South Carolina are similarly under to 2016, the Gulf of Mexico region grew
State constitution, for coastal restora- great duress. In Louisiana, as I already by almost 25 percent, more than any
tion. There is a little bit of irony, as mentioned, we just had a flood event other coastline region.
the Senator from Alaska pointed out, this past week. The COASTAL Act Harris County, TX, and areas in Flor-
that those who strongly support this would put money for resiliency in ida and New York also accounted for
bill oftentimes strongly disapprove of States where 82 percent of the popu- substantial growth along our Nation’s
drilling for oil and gas, particularly in lation lives. I just don’t understand coast. The proposal I filed commits
coastal areas, but they are now reliant what is the objection to spending dollars to these coastal States so that
upon that drilling in order to fund the money to protect where people live. they can have a sustainable revenue
Great American Outdoors Act. Why must we only do something nice stream now and in the future for need-
I do believe that we can address this for places where people vacation. If you ed investments.
inequity, which has been highlighted. I put it to a referendum, people would If you asked the people in New York,
put together a bill, as I mentioned ear- first take care of their homes, and then after Hurricane Sandy, if they would
lier, with SHELDON WHITEHOUSE, called they would take care of the place like to have dollars in New York to
the COASTAL Act. We are working where they vacation. protect against a future flood event,
with other colleagues. We passed it out I am not saying, by the way, don’t they would say yes.
of the Energy Committee. take care of where they vacation, but I Houston and Galveston have really
Actually, by that, Senator WHITE- am saying we should at least give some borne the brunt of major flood events,
HOUSE was not on that bill, but we dollars to where people live. Now, I will of hurricanes striking their coastline.
passed the COASTAL Act out of the quote a statistic once more: 42 percent Do we think that they could use more
Energy Committee with a bipartisan of Americans live in a parish or county money for coastal resiliency? Yes—as
vote. The junior Senator from Alabama that is directly on a shoreline. Why well as Lake Charles, LA, after Hurri-
is my cosponsor. He should cosponsor, don’t we do something to protect that cane Rita, Calcasieu Parish and Cam-
and he did. Alabama benefits exponen- shoreline where 42 percent of Ameri- eron Parish. We talked about Lou-
tially more from the GOMESA Act cans live, not taking any dollars away isiana with Hurricane Katrina, the gulf
than anything that the Great Amer- from those sparsely populated places coast of Mississippi and Alabama, dev-
ican Outdoors Act has to offer. where people vacation? astated after Hurricane Katrina. Would
So all of this is to say that the Gulf By the way, when the COASTAL Act it be wise, as a nation, to put dollars
Coast just wants equity. We want a passed the Energy Committee, environ- there in order to have coastal resil-
more general benefit, not almost 60 mental groups such as the Energy De- iency to prevent, if you will, more
percent of the benefit, going to seven fense Fund, the National Wildlife Fed- flooding in the future so as to actually
States, and we also want the money to eration, Audubon Society, and Lou- save more relief dollars that might be
be distributed nationwide where people isiana-based organizations such as the needed?
live, as opposed to where they might go Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation There are people, there are regions,
on a 1-week vacation every 5 years. and the Coalition to Restore Coastal battling rising sea levels, and I am
I will speak just very briefly about Louisiana signed a letter saying: mindful about their concerns and how
the COASTAL Act. It is a bipartisan As we move to address the significant land, we can address those.
bill, again, passed by the Senate En- water, and wildlife conservation funding I am told recently, by the way, that
ergy Committee, committing more dol- needs in our Nation, it is important that our the Army Corps of Engineers has pro-
lars towards environmental protection, coastlines are also equipped to confront the posed a $3.5 billion flood wall for
unique challenges that climate change pre-
reducing flood risks to businesses and sents. GOMESA has been a critically impor-
Miami. Think about that—$3.5 billion.
industries along the Gulf Coast, pro- tant funding stream for Louisiana and other This is in response to rising sea levels.
tecting regions of the Gulf Coast for Gulf Coast States, and expanding upon this But we are passing legislation now in
public recreation—we talked about success will protect national economic as- which folks refuse to consider spending
recreation elsewhere. But committing sets, providing better protection from money for coastal resiliency. Instead,
dollars for all coastal States for envi- storms, and enhance coastal habitat. we are going to spend money on a $3.5
ronmental protection, once more, does Now, bill sponsors will, rightly, say billion seawall because we don’t want
not take money away from the Great that the Great American Outdoors Act to spend the money on other forms of
American Outdoors Act. does not impact revenues flowing to coastal resiliency.
Colleagues have heard me talk about GOMESA States, but—let’s face it—it I recently spoke to one of my House
the importance of revenue sharing for does cannibalize these dollars in Lou- colleagues, DONNA SHALALA, who rep-
environmental protection. Again, the isiana, so sooner or later you run out of resents the Miami-Dade region, and she
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
COASTAL Act passed out with bipar- money. speaks about the rising sea levels and
tisan support, and its goals are con- So if we are going to take all these the investments they need to make
sistent with the Great American Out- dollars that could be spent elsewhere around South Beach. It is something
doors Act. By the way, the recent flood and put in these sparsely populated touching where people live, not where
event in Louisiana—crystal ball— States where people vacation but not people vacation. I am not sure why we
flooded homes in Mandeville and prop- spend it in States where people actu- emphasize where people vacation over
erty in Grand Isle. If we have flooding ally live, not spend it in counties where where people live.
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June 9, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S2801
To pay for this bill, again, we are to going to places where people only building. I have entire communities
taking dollars from an area of the visit—I am trying to make a case for washed away into the ocean, at risk for
country greatly impacted by coastal those people. great flooding. I am speaking of New
erosion, so these gulf funds actually Will you show the energy assets. Orleans. I could be speaking of Miami,
play a role in restoring or maintain- I have been speaking about these en- of Houston, of New York.
ing— ergy assets that are required. It is one Why don’t we spend money where
You will see a poster later on which thing to say it; it is another thing to people live as opposed to spending it
shows the oil and gas development tak- look at it. All of these are part of the only where people vacation?
ing place off the coast of Louisiana, the gulf coast energy infrastructure that Now, you might be sitting in Iowa or
oil and gas development that funds the the rest of our Nation relies upon. Kansas or Nebraska thinking: Well, I
Great American Outdoors Act. I am a doctor. I think like this. If am only getting 0.2 percent of this
Louisiana’s coast is a working coast you saw a map of the Nation, you money. I am not getting any benefit
in which people from this working would see pipelines coming out of this whatsoever, but why does it matter to
coast go out to maintain that source of region across the rest of the Nation, me to have a coastline? Why does it
revenue, but look what is happening to and in my mind, as a doctor, I think of matter to me at all?
Louisiana’s predicted land loss. Over this as being a heart. If we need energy Well, let’s look at how investing in
the next 50 years, in a reasonable sce- to fuel our lives, the heart is right the coast impacts our Nation economi-
nario, all of this red spot will be lost to here, and it beats here. The aorta, if cally. Let’s look at what happened
erosion. you will, the pipelines that flow out, after Hurricane Katrina. After Hurri-
By the way, look what happens to taking gasoline to Philadelphia, taking cane Katrina, the flooding took out the
New Orleans. It is now directly along natural gas to another part of our port structure in South Louisiana;
the Gulf of Mexico. The next hurricane country, taking the refined fuel prod- therefore, the in place for all the goods
comes, and there goes the port struc- ucts to Atlanta, GA, in the case of jet coming from the Ohio, Missouri, Mis-
ture. There goes the ability for people fuel—you name it, they come out of sissippi, and other rivers for export to
in the Midwest to get their grains to this area. the rest of the world—the rest of the
the international market and the abil- If this area cannot be sustained, we United States—was terribly impacted.
ity of this working coast to support the cannot sustain that part of our energy If you look at this—if we have a lack of
oil and gas drilling and, therefore, to economy. We will not have jet flights coastal investment—corn exports were
support the source of revenue required to Hawaii or jet flights from Atlanta down 23 percent post-Hurricane
and relied upon by the Great American around the world, as the hub, or for Katrina; barley, down 100 percent;
Outdoors Act. It will be lost. New Orleans, people coming in for wheat, down 54 percent; soy, down 25
It is not just me saying it. Of course, Mardi Gras, Jazz Fest, or to Breaux percent; total grain exports, down 24
I am the Senator. I love my State. I am Bridge for a crawfish festival. It will percent after Hurricane Katrina.
going to do whatever I can. You may not happen because this pipeline struc- If that port system in South Lou-
not believe me, but on the other hand, ture cannot be sustained with a coast- isiana and in the lower Calcasieu River
the State’s land loss has been high- line which is eroding. in Houston is damaged by flooding—
lighted in countless feature stories, in- Some of these—let me just speak— that is going to happen under current
cluding in the New York Times and Na- are oil import sites, natural gas mar- scenarios—then our midwestern farm-
tional Geographic, to name two. ket centers, processing facilities, lique- ers are not able to ship to inter-
By the way, Google Maps can’t keep fied natural gas export facilities, stra- national markets. Their livelihood is
up. When looking at the Louisiana tegic petroleum reserve, major work- damaged.
coastline, Google Maps will show an ing ports, such as Port Fourchon. I In moving goods across our country
area with land that has now been re- could go on. These assets and compa- for export, one coalition committed to
placed with open water. Louisiana nies then employ hundreds of thou- ensuring future navigation on the Mis-
loses about, oh, a football field of land, sands of men and women contributing sissippi said that the lower Mississippi
I think it is, an hour. Whenever I say billions of dollars in government reve- has an estimated annual impact of $735
it, I can’t believe it, it is so fast. It is nues with an even greater impact on billion to the Nation’s economy and is
so rapid. So not only does this pose a our annual GDP. responsible for 2.4 million jobs. That
risk to the energy assets, a risk to This is what powers our country. starts with being able to navigate
communities, and a risk to port assets; This is where the revenue is coming goods through the various locks and
it poses a risk to our national liveli- from for the Great American Outdoors port complexes near the mouth of the
hood. Act. This revenue stream will not be river.
Now, folks in Louisiana are going to sustainable if we don’t at least have The USDA recognizes this. It says in
look at this and say: How is the Great some consideration of how to restore a report on the importance of inland
American Outdoors Act going to help this. waterways that farm products are 14
us? We are going to work to produce all The Senator from Ohio had spoken percent of total commodities moved
this oil and gas, and we are not going about a leaky roof and the leaky roof along inland waterways. Further, proc-
to get any of the benefits. increased its leak and now all those as- essed flour, animal feed, milled grain
Senator KENNEDY and I recently had sets are being damaged within a park. products, and fertilizers add another 5
a call with more than 20 Louisiana par- That is great. People like to visit percent to agricultural related prod-
ish presidents. They are, very under- parks, and we should take care of leaky ucts.
standably, concerned about the lack of roofs. I am more concerned about a It is important to remember, the
equity. ‘‘Concerned’’ is diplomatic. coastline that is dissolving, and, as it Mississippi River Valley encompasses
‘‘Ticked off’’ is how better to describe dissolves, you lose the energy infra- almost 60 percent of our country, so
it. structure, which is required to pay for many major rivers connect with the
I had another call with close to 100 that park building to be fixed. Mississippi to deliver those products
businesses. They, too, are pleading for I will also point out the flooding risk around the world. If we are going to
equitable treatment along the gulf. for the folks in my State. Again, I have a port system that is going to
So when I speak about the Great spoke about the communities at risk. take those goods and allow them to be
American Outdoors Act cannibalizing This is predicted future flooding from a transported around the world, it has to
dollars from the Gulf of Mexico to 100-year flood event, without action. be a sustained, reinforced coastline.
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
spend money in places where people Let’s just say, if it is colored, it is bad, In my State, we have some of the
don’t live as opposed to protecting my where you are going to get 0.5 to 5 feet largest barge and container ports in
coastline, which, in turn, ensures that of water north of New Orleans. the country. The Port of South Lou-
we can continue to have the source of If you want to speak about some- isiana is the largest grain exporter in
revenue—but also coastlines around thing that should be done now to pre- the country. The Port of Baton Rouge
the Nation in counties and parishes vent future problems, I have bigger is home to the largest grain operator in
where people actually live as opposed issues than a leaky roof in a park the State. Ports farther to the south in
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S2802 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 9, 2020
Mobile and Texas are, likewise, impor- MORNING BUSINESS renovation of a 9,000-square-foot ware-
tant. house in Burlington’s South End, a
If we are going to have rising sea lev- post-industrial neighborhood with its
TRIBUTE TO DOREEN KRAFT own indigenous art scene. While South
els and spend all of our money on the
inland areas—not where people live but Mr. LEAHY. Madam President, the End artists and businessowners ini-
where people visit on vacation—as op- last few months have presented an un- tially saw the warehouse purchase as
posed to the coastlines, which have the precedented challenge for communities an encroachment by city government
ports that sustain where people live and families across the country, and on their turf, relations have improved
and sustain the vitality of those in the Vermont is no different. It is refreshing as collaboration between BCA and
heartland, we are being foolish with to take a moment to celebrate the peo- South End artists has grown, on issues
our public policy. ple and entities that are at the founda- of art promotion and city planning.
tion of our community identities. I As renovation of the warehouse con-
The same USDA report highlighted
want to take a moment to recognize tinues, I look forward to seeing how
the consequences of an inadequate in-
one of these people in Vermont—Do- Doreen and Burlington City Arts can
frastructure along the waterways, say-
reen Kraft—who was profiled in March continue to give voice to new artists
ing that inadequate infrastructure
for her leadership of Burlington City and perspectives, promoting not only
leads to reduced transportation capac-
Arts. the arts community but also greater
ity, raising shipping rates, meaning For the past 25 years, Doreen has conversation and cooperation between
less income to the farmers who are been the director of Burlington City the government and the people it
shipping—which reduces U.S. economic Arts—BCA—a Burlington city depart- serves. With that, as we make decisions
activity—and a loss of global competi- ment that promotes Vermont artists on how to assist our communities
tiveness. while supporting art exhibition, cre- through this crisis, we must also re-
I could go on. I will just say that as- ation, and education. Doreen is an inte- member the communities that we rep-
sociated industries impacted by the gral member of the Burlington city resent, and individuals that make our
Iowa grain exports support business government and arts community. As communities so remarkable. I want to
from agriculture, forestry, real estate, described by Pat Robbins, the former recognize and thank Doreen Kraft, not
restaurants, and pesticides, to name a BCA Center board chair, Doreen is only for her everlasting support of the
few. This is just in Iowa. ‘‘overcommitted . . . and always over- arts, but as an ardent public servant
The ports in the gulf coast support scheduled, but she is a marvelous fund- whose efforts highlight the importance
those folks in Iowa, and we should sup- raiser. Everybody takes her calls. Ev- of community, equality, and accessi-
port the ports. We should support the erybody goes to lunch with her.’’ As bility.
ports, which support Iowa. the director of the BCA Center, Doreen I ask unanimous consent that her
To summarize, my colleagues and I has raised millions of dollars that have profile be printed in the RECORD.
are fighting for fairness and equity. helped BCA further the arts in Bur- There being no objection, the mate-
That is what this is about. I have high- lington. Something that I most appre- rial was ordered to be printed in the
lighted obvious inequities both in how ciate about Doreen is that she makes RECORD, as follows:
the gulf region is treated and how the arts accessible for all Vermonters. [From Seven Days, Mar. 11, 2020]
other States are treated—spending Jacqueline Posley, a BCA board mem- AFTER 40 YEARS AND FIVE MAYORS, DOREEN
money not where people live but where ber who relocated to our beautiful KRAFT STEERS BURLINGTON CITY ARTS INTO
people visit. State from Mississippi, put it best by THE SOUTH END
saying that Doreen fosters an environ- (By Margaret Grayson)
I am pointing out the consequences
ment at BCA that values people most Doreen Kraft doesn’t really want to talk
to midwestern farmers. They don’t ben-
for the connections they make in the about Doreen Kraft. During a recent recep-
efit very much at all—if you live in tion for new exhibitions at the BCA Center
Iowa, Kansas, or Nebraska—from the community, rather than ‘‘by the depth
on Church Street, she preferred to direct a
Great American Outdoors Act, but they of their pockets.’’ While she has led the reporter’s attention to everyone else in the
would benefit from a sustainable port BCA Center for 25 years, Doreen’s work room: a dedicated board member; Bur-
system, which means that those ports in Burlington began long before she lington’s supportive mayor; the brilliant di-
they rely upon to ship goods around was appointed director. In 1981, as the rector of another local nonprofit.
the world will be there even as sea lev- mayor of Burlington, now-Senator Upstairs in her office, the longtime execu-
BERNIE SANDERS made the accessibility tive director of Burlington City Arts praised
els rise. its successive gallery curators and explained
Now, I am all for, by the way, taking of the arts a priority, and Doreen be-
how willing they had been to do hands-on
care of deferred maintenance in parks, came the first paid employee of the work and volunteer extra time. She talked
but I think, in the relative hierarchy of mayor’s Task Force for the Arts. Do- up a waitress at a restaurant that was
what we should do, we should take care reen established a concert series in partnering with BCA, who, unacquainted
of where people live. And I will repeat Burlington’s Battery Park and the an- with Kraft, recently encouraged her to make
once more: 42 percent of the people live nual Burlington Discover Jazz Fes- a donation to the organization.
tival. By 1990, the task force had be- Kraft excels at this kind of schmoozing,
in a parish or county that is directly probing and promoting at the same time.
on a coastline; 82 percent of Americans come a department of the city govern-
People describe her as a coach, an advocate,
live in a coastal State. That is not ment, renamed Burlington City Arts. a great listener—essentially, who she is to
where the bulk of these dollars are In 1995, the year Doreen was appointed other people, as if her role is to reflect the
spent. as director, BCA opened its first gal- best version of everyone around her. It’s an
lery in the old Firehouse on Church approach that has helped her grow BCA—
We have a bipartisan group of Sen-
Street, Burlington’s main downtown through the administrations of five different
ators supporting; we have environ- mayors—from a janitor’s closet in the base-
area. Since then, the Firehouse Gallery
mentally focused groups supporting as ment of city hall to a municipal department
and BCA have gained substantial rec-
well, and what they are supporting is charged with fostering public art and cul-
ognition. With extensive fundraising
an amendment which would actually ture.
and community investment, BCA ren- Since the organization’s founding in 1980,
help create this equity that would
ovated the Firehouse into a full visual Kraft, 68, has been a driving force. For the
allow dollars to be put into a fund to
arts center, renaming the gallery to last 25 years, she’s led BCA as it has created
help coastal States—where people
BCA Center in 2011. Since 1995, the gal- galleries and studios, developed art classes
live—but would be part of a bill to take and summer camps, curated art in public
lery has become a hub for visual arts in
care of where people visit.
CTELLI on DSK30NT082PROD with SENATE
downtown Burlington, helping the city spaces, won and distributed grants, and orga-
I wish it were the other way around, to become a destination known for its nized citywide events such as Festival of
but those are not the priorities of the Fools and Highlight, Burlington’s New
burgeoning arts scene, due in large
people who are promoting the Great Year’s Eve celebration. The city contributes
part to Doreen’s work as director. a portion of the funds for those cultural ac-
American Outdoors Act. Doreen has continued to expand the tivities.
I thank you for this time. reach of BCA beyond Church Street. Kraft raises at least half of the rest of the
I yield the floor. BCA recently purchased and began the money single-handedly. Most recently, she
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