Business Before the Senate (Cong. Rec., June 15, 2020)

Summary

The opening Senate proceedings in the Congressional Record, Volume 166, No. 110, for Monday, June 15, 2020. The Senate met at 3 p.m., was called to order by the President pro tempore, Mr. Grassley, and heard a prayer by the Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black. In remarks a speaker notes the World Food Prize laureate, Dr. Rattan Lal, and discusses the killing of George Floyd. Other remarks refer to the Justice in Policing Act, and Mr. Schumer asks unanimous consent that the order for the quorum call be rescinded.

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“Business Before the Senate (Cong. Rec., June 15, 2020).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-06-15-crec-2020-06-15-pt1-pgs2959-6-cda4f54522/, SHA-256 95513d75d19d172073b7f65c180aa689867d368bc729e5804d04d53a8b5333a2.

Full text

Congressional Record
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116 th CONGRESS, SECOND SESSION
United States
of America PROCEEDINGS AND DEBATES OF THE

Vol. 166 WASHINGTON, MONDAY, JUNE 15, 2020 No. 110

Senate
The Senate met at 3 p.m. and was years, the World Food Prize has an- stay-at-home orders as the coronavirus
called to order by the President pro nounced a laureate. The laureate an- spread throughout our country. Three
tempore (Mr. GRASSLEY). nounced this year is Dr. Rattan Lal. He months ago, George Floyd was still
f will receive the prize for his work on alive, and the killing of Breonna Tay-
soil health at the annual ceremony lor in Louisville had just begun to re-
PRAYER that has taken place in Des Moines for ignite a national discussion around po-
The Chaplain, Dr. Barry C. Black, of- the last 30 years in October. licing.
fered the following prayer: Often called the Nobel Prize for Agri- Our country has confronted what
Let us pray. culture, the World Food Prize is award- feels like several years’ worth of up-
O God, our righteousness, as each ed for exceptional achievements that heaval in just 3 months. Small busi-
new day seems to bring the unexpected, advance human development by in- nesses and childcare centers are trying
we thank You for Your power that creasing the quantity, quality, avail- to figure out how to safely reopen.
keeps us from stumbling on life’s road. ability of, or access to food. The award Schools and universities are trying to
Today, give our lawmakers the wis- was created by Iowan Dr. Norman plan for the fall. Healthcare profes-
dom to find in You their refuge and Borlaug, who is credited with saving sionals and essential workers are con-
strength. Lord, as they face complex more lives than any other person who tinuing to man their posts, help
challenges, may they plead to You for ever lived through his pioneering work strangers, and keep our country going.
guidance and fellowship. Remind them in developing new, more productive Peaceful protesters have continued to
that in the multitude of counselors, plant varieties and particularly plant express outrage over the killings of
varieties free of disease. The Green
there is safety. May our Senators plant Black Americans, and our Nation’s po-
Revolution sparked by Dr. Borlaug
seeds of righteousness in order to reap lice officers—overwhelmingly good, de-
made it possible for India to feed its
our harvest of goodness and grace. May cent, and brave people who put every-
people.
they make You the foundation of their Dr. Lal, also from India, is being rec- thing on the line for their neighbors—
hope and joy, as You empower them to ognized for his work, which will be of have continued to faithfully serve
meet every trial without weariness. interest to Iowans and others around under trying circumstances.
Lord, have mercy upon the loved the world. Dr. Lal said: These are the kinds of challenges our
ones of Rayshard Brooks and the many Achieving hunger-free humanity, soil deg- Nation should meet with unity, like
others who are buffeted by the winds of radation neutrality, negative emission farm- when the Senate wrote and passed the
despair. ing, and pollutant-free water are among historic CARES Act unanimously in
We pray in Your sovereign Name. principal challenges which can never be ig- March. But unfortunately, in some cor-
Amen. nored. . . . Sustainable management of soil ners of the country, our Nation’s stra-
and agriculture is also essential to keeping tegic reserve of sanity appears to have
f global temperatures within the safe range
run a little low. We have seen peaceful
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE and restoring the environment.
protests hijacked by violent riots. Ap-
The President pro tempore led the If people want to know who Dr. parently, rioters thought the best way
Pledge of Allegiance, as follows: Borlaug is, he is one of the two statues to argue against a strong police force
that Iowa has put in Statuary Hall. He was to terrorize innocent people and
I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the
is one of five people in our country who
United States of America, and to the Repub- small businesses for nights on end.
lic for which it stands, one nation under God, have received a Nobel Peace Prize, the Then, completing the absurd cycle,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Congressional Gold Medal, and the
we have seen the far left hold up these
Presidential Medal of Freedom.
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. riots as proof that we should defund or
I yield the floor.
HAWLEY.) The Senator from Iowa. disband the police in this country—as
f
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, I ask though the vast majority of Americans
unanimous consent to speak for 1 RECOGNITION OF THE MAJORITY in the country would not interpret the
minute in morning business. LEADER anarchy in precisely the opposite way.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ma- As I noted last week, we have seen
objection, it is so ordered. jority leader is recognized. some big-city mayors use health re-
f f
strictions to construct constitutionally
dubious double standards, where mas-
WORLD FOOD PRIZE BUSINESS BEFORE THE SENATE sive protests are blessed and encour-
Mr. GRASSLEY. Mr. President, this Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, 3 aged, but small, careful church services
time of year for the last roughly 30 months ago, States were implementing are still banned. In Seattle, we have

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∑ This ‘‘bullet’’ symbol identifies statements or insertions which are not spoken by a Member of the Senate on the floor.

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S2960 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 15, 2020
seen the local officials cede several efited from the Land and Water Con- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
blocks to a rag-tag band of demonstra- servation Fund investment; and for objection, it is so ordered.
tors who call themselves the Capitol Ohio, where the Cuyahoga Valley puts BOSTOCK V. CLAYTON COUNTY, GEORGIA
Hill Autonomous Zone. Fear of the far parkland in the backyards of millions Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, this
left has literally caused local officials of people. The list goes on and on. morning, the long march for equality
to let a chunk of their own city devolve Public lands hold a unique place in for LGBTQ Americans took a step for-
into a no-go zone for their own cops. the life of every State in America— ward. The Supreme Court handed down
Naturally, left-leaning media outlets from their natural beauty, to their use a landmark decision that Federal em-
have been quick to shower praise on for recreation, to their pivotal roles in ployment discrimination protections
this legacy and slow to amplify reports local economies. In the communities do, in fact, extend to LGBTQ Ameri-
of arson and other unchecked crimes. just outside of the gates, public lands cans. Believe it or not, before today, it
One story from the New York Times drive over $40 billion in economic ac- was not a settled legal matter that you
praised the ‘‘liberated streets’’—liber- tivity every year, and they play a big could sue your employer for firing you
ated, as if spray-painting a boarded-up part in the entire outdoor recreation solely on the basis of sexual orienta-
business were the equivalent of the industry that creates hundreds of bil- tion or sexual identity.
Normandy landings. lions of dollars in national prosperity In 2020, in America, it was still OK to
Amid all this, our Democratic coun- every year. discriminate against people because of
terparts in the House of Representa- Once again, I am grateful to our col- their sexual orientation or identity. Is
tives have mostly continued to keep leagues who have stewarded the Great that unbelievable that in the 21st cen-
their doors locked and their lights off. American Outdoors Act thus far; to tury it was still allowed? Well, now it
But here in the Senate, we came back Senator GARDNER and Senator DAINES isn’t because of the Supreme Court,
in over a month ago. We have taken for their leadership; and to Senators and they deserve credit for that case.
smart precautions, but we have not let ALEXANDER, PORTMAN, MANCHIN, and One of the cases that formed the
the people’s business come to a halt. WARNER for their efforts as well to basis of today’s ruling originated in my
Our committees have been overseeing steer this strong, bipartisan product home State of New York, where a sky-
the CARES Act and working on other toward the finish line. I look forward diving instructor was fired for admit-
essential business, like the National to continuing to advance this legisla- ting his sexual orientation. So, today,
Defense Authorization Act. tion today and passing it this week. the Supreme Court did the right thing
Our colleagues are considering what and ruled that workplace discrimina-
f
else might help the country reopen, tion on the basis of sexual orientation
like strong legal protections for RESERVATION OF LEADER TIME is just as unlawful as discrimination on
schools, colleges, employers, and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under the basis of gender, race, or religion.
healthcare workers. the previous order, the leadership time Of course, the ruling in no way di-
Under the leadership of Senator TIM is reserved. minishes our efforts here in Congress
SCOTT, our conference is developing a to pass the Equality Act led by my col-
f
serious proposal to reform law enforce- leagues, Senators MERKLEY, BALDWIN,
ment in smart ways without lashing CONCLUSION OF MORNING and BOOKER, which would be a great
out needlessly and counterproductively BUSINESS leap forward on equality that we are
at the first responders who are a credit The PRESIDING OFFICER. Morning all looking for. It passed the House
to their communities. business is closed. over a year ago, but it has been gath-
f f
ering dust in Leader MCCONNELL’s leg-
islative graveyard. Senate Republicans
GREAT AMERICAN OUTDOORS ACT LEGISLATIVE SESSION are still not in the 21st century. They
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, just must think it is OK to discriminate
this week, on the floor, we will com- against people because of their orienta-
plete a major piece of legislation that TAXPAYER FIRST ACT OF 2019— tion or identity. Unbelievable. But
will benefit generations to come. Resumed maybe now, the fact that even a few
Thanks to a number of our colleagues— The PRESIDING OFFICER. Under Justices appointed by Republican
particularly the junior Senators from the previous order, the Senate will re- Presidents believe that it was against
Colorado and Montana—the Senate is sume consideration of H.R. 1957, which the law—maybe that will prick the
poised to take historic action for the the clerk will report. hearts of our Republican colleagues
future of the Nation’s public lands. The legislative clerk read as follows: and Leader MCCONNELL and they will
I haven’t been the only one coming A bill (H.R. 1957) to amend the Internal allow a vote on the Equality Act here
to the floor to highlight how my con- Revenue Code of 1986 to modernize and im- on the floor. Even without the Senate
stituents prize our State’s national prove the Internal Revenue Service, and for and its backward ways, it is clear that
parks, wildlife refuge, and other man- other purposes. the country is moving in the right di-
aged areas—for recreation and for Pending: rection.
many livelihoods. We Kentuckians are McConnell (for Gardner) amendment No. JUSTICE IN POLICING ACT
proud that our Commonwealth is home 1617, in the nature of a substitute. Mr. President, these are not ordinary
to one of the National Park Service’s McConnell amendment No. 1626 (to amend- times in America. For 21 straight days,
crowning jewels at Mammoth Cave. We ment No. 1617), to change the enactment hundreds of thousands of Americans
are proud of our historic sites like Mill date.
have taken to the streets to protest po-
McConnell amendment No. 1627 (to amend-
Springs Battlefield and our wildlife ref- ment No. 1626), of a perfecting nature. lice violence and racial injustice.
uges at the Clarks and Green Rivers. McConnell Amendment No. 1628 (to the Clashes between police and peaceful
And I am proud that the Senate this language proposed to be stricken by amend- protesters over the past few weeks, in
week will provide permanent, steady ment No. 1617), to change the enactment which some police departments have
support to maintain these treasures for date. responded with overly aggressive tac-
generations to come. McConnell amendment No. 1629 (to amend- tics, have only articulated further the
As we have heard, the same is true ment No. 1628), of a perfecting nature. need for bold and wide-reaching reform
for Colorado, where entire regional Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I of police practices.
economies are driven by outdoor recre- suggest the absence of a quorum. Being killed by police is now the
ation in alpine wonderlands; for Mon- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The sixth leading cause of death for young

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tana, where Federal and State manage- clerk will call the roll. Black men in America. Let me repeat
ment work hand in hand with local The legislative clerk proceeded to that. Being killed by police is now the
sportsmen and Native American Tribes call the roll. sixth leading cause of death for young
to preserve millions of acres of pris- Mr. SCHUMER. Mr. President, I ask Black men in America, and that is why
tine, Big Sky wilderness; for West Vir- unanimous consent that the order for the House and Senate have drafted leg-
ginia, where 54 of 55 counties have ben- the quorum call be rescinded. islation, the Justice in Policing Act,

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