Congressional Record, Senate, June 25, 2020 — Unanimous Consent Request on S. 3947
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Senate, dated June 25, 2020, beginning at page S3290. Mr. Van Hollen thanks Mr. Toomey for bipartisan work on a measure about Hong Kong, and Mr. Kaine then asks unanimous consent that the committee be discharged from S. 3947, a bill to clarify the flexibility colleges and students have under the higher education emergency relief fund. He notes that the CARES Act included $13.9 billion for it, about $12.5 billion going to all institutions, with half for student aid. Mr. Scott of Florida, reserving the right to object, asks that the request be modified to take up S. 2559, the Student Training and Education Metrics Act, Mr. Kaine declines, and the objection is heard. The page also has a request by Mr. Brown, remarks on global vaccine pledges, and a list of names under the Executive Calendar.
Summary drafted by a model from the document's text below and checked by script against that text before publication. It is a navigation aid, not a reading of what the document proves. Where AI is used
Cite this document
“Congressional Record, Senate, June 25, 2020 — Unanimous Consent Request on S. 3947.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-06-25-crec-2020-06-25-pt1-pgs3290-050d1ab210/
, SHA-256 336e7feacf2b2c6b0c286488e9bf5f3d03770a35371a242c7cdf0eb5a20be559.Full text
S3290 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 25, 2020
the free people of this Nation and the On the institution side, colleges had using a very narrow interpretation of
free people of the world are with you to quickly transition their programs the law and refusing to allow colleges
and that we will not sit idly by; that online, many doing so on a widespread to use money for revenue losses.
we will stand up; that we will take ac- scale for the first time, without the On to the student side of the equa-
tion; and that your cause for your basic technology capacity and staff training tion, 50 percent of the money was to be
rights, your cause for your basic lib- to conduct those classes. used for student aid. This is even more
erties, is our cause as well. Colleges have also had to quickly concerning. The unauthorized guidance
It is a privilege to stand with you as send students living on campus home, that the DOE has issued outlines that
an American and as a Missourian, and bring students home who were study- the financial aid for students can only
it is a privilege to see this work accom- ing abroad, clean and sanitize their fa- be provided to students who qualify for
plished today on the floor of the Sen- cilities, and provide refunds to stu- aid under title IV of the Higher Edu-
ate. dents for room and board charges. They cation Act, which would exclude any
I thank my colleagues. have had to meet greater financial student who hadn’t filled out a FAFSA,
I yield the floor. needs and basic need challenges from who has a minor drug conviction, or
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- their students, including housing, food, who is not meeting academic progress
ator from Maryland. and childcare costs. requirements. Again, these were not
Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Madam Presi- This has resulted in higher costs for conditions that Congress put on the aid
dent, I want to thank the Senator from to students. Nowhere in the CARES
colleges at the same time as COVID–19
Missouri for bringing us to the floor Act are these restrictions mentioned.
has led to a sharp reduction in normal
last week, for bringing us to the floor The financial aid director at the Uni-
revenue streams: fundraising, housing,
this week, and for working with us to versity of Virginia wrote my office as
dining, event space, athletic, book-
make sure that we could make impor- follows:
store, conferences, and much more—in-
tant changes to an important resolu- When the CARES Act was signed into law,
cluding State funding that has been
tion that he brought before us today. we, along with many others in the financial
I agree it is a good day for the Sen- hurt. These revenue losses are likely to aid community, believed that the funding
ate. Again, I thank the Senator from continue as students drop out and tui- source would be available to provide assist-
Pennsylvania, Mr. TOOMEY, for his bi- tion revenue decreases in the fall. ance to our students using school discretion.
partisan work on this. Hopefully we get This would come as schools imple- Schools have long operated in this manner.
ment costly safety measures for re- Because of COVID–19, the parents of many
it to the President’s desk as soon as students who suddenly lost their jobs or have
possible and send a strong message to opening, like testing and PPE distribu-
tion. Many institutions have already reduced employment realized that their in-
the Government of China and send a come had changed dramatically and wished
message to the people of Hong Kong cut pay and benefits, laid off full-time to appeal.
that we stand with them. staff and student employees, and
In other words, students who never
slashed to reorganize academic and
f had to fill out a FAFSA or who never
athletic programs. This is all in addi-
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- did one because their parents were em-
tion to the potential cuts colleges will
TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR ployed are now facing parents who are
likely see from State budgets.
2021—Continued I got a letter from the president of not employed.
It is not right for the DOE to put new re-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- one of my community colleges, Dr.
quirements on the students and bar them
ator from Virginia. John Downey, president of Blue Ridge from receiving aid.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST Community College in Weyers Cave.
Some students have written. Here is
Mr. KAINE. Madam President, before Here is what he said: ‘‘We anticipate
a third-year undergraduate student
I get to the motion I am going to devastating lost revenue and state
from Fairfax: I was studying abroad
make, I am going to take just a few budget reductions, and we have no way, this past semester but had to return
minutes to discuss the importance of with the possible exception of the home in March. My study-abroad pro-
why the Senate must pass the CARES Act institutional funds, to off- gram is unsure whether they are going
Coronavirus Relief Flexibility for Stu- set those losses. The current CARES to be able to refund any of the semes-
dents and Institutions Act, which is S. Act restrictions mean that community ter’s worth that I paid for fees, includ-
3947. college will likely only be able to offset ing housing, meals, tuition. Due to the
This has to do with an action that we $100,000–$300,000 of [additional PPE ex- travel ban, I had to book a ticket home
took as bipartisan colleagues—a most penses while we] open up. . . . Without on 1-day’s notice, initially costing me
important action—in March, passing the ability to offset revenue losses $1,800, but I was able to receive a par-
the CARES Act. The CARES Act in- looming for FY21, we are concerned tial refund of $900. My father has been
cluded $13.9 billion for higher education that we will be forced to close vital the primary source of income for my
emergency relief for institutions to di- programs and layoff hard-working per- family, but he loses his job this month.
rectly support students facing urgent sonnel.’’ Since we don’t know when he will be
needs related to this pandemic and also Moody’s Investors Service has reemployed, this has resulted in sig-
to support the institutions as they changed their outlook for higher ed to nificant financial challenge to my fam-
cope with the effects of COVID–19. negative, indicating that 5 to 10 per- ily.
From this amount, about $12.5 billion cent of institutions—particularly re- There are similar stories from other
was provided to all institutions of gional public schools and small private students—graduate students in engi-
higher ed, and they had to use half colleges—could face significantly in- neering in Henrico, undergraduates
their dollars to award emergency aid to tensified financial challenges. from Halifax.
students and half the funds to cover In Virginia, one such institution, Again, Congress intended these dol-
the institutional expenses and needs. Sweet Briar College, a small, rural, pri- lars to be used flexibly. The DOE is
Congress was very careful in crafting vate college, says the impact is likely getting in our way.
this bipartisan provision to provide to be $10 million. VCU, a large, public What the act would do that I am
flexibility so that the institutions university, said it is likely to be $50 about to call up—it would ensure that
could make their own decisions about million in the next fiscal year. the Secretary in the Department of
how to use and reward those funds— This is why we acted together as Education just follow congressional in-
both for students and how to use them Congress to provide CARES Act fund- tent by providing institutions of higher
for institutions. Unfortunately, the De- ing that could be used for revenue
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
ed and students with the increased
partment of Education is not following losses experienced by colleges. We flexibility they need during this time.
congressional intent and is including didn’t specifically exclude using these The bill would allow colleges to use
additional restrictions and conditions dollars for revenue losses, as we did in their revenue from the CARES Act for
that Congress did not include that are the State and local government aid; we lost revenue—the higher ed funds for
making these funds more difficult to allowed such a use, as we did with the lost revenue. The bill would ensure
access by students and by the institu- PPP program and the aid to hospitals. that emergency financial aid to stu-
tions. But the Department of Education is dents is made available to all students
VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:49 Jun 26, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00014 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JN6.019 S25JNPT1
June 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3291
in need, letting the institutions decide be raising costs on students even one an appropriate and important topic for
how to make that determination. Fi- bit. Businesses have to get more pro- the committee to grapple with as we
nally, it would better target funds des- ductive every year; so should our col- work on the HEA reauthorization. But
ignated for colleges hardest hit by leges and our universities. in that sense, I am a little puzzled be-
COVID–19. Second, my STEM Act holds colleges cause there is a venue for his proposal
Colleges and universities are major and universities accountable for a por- right now in the HEA reauthorization
economic drivers. Placing arbitrary re- tion of student loans. discussion as we go forward and look at
strictions on them is a challenge at By forcing universities to take more what more accountability we would
any time—especially now. We should be responsibility, they will have more of ask of our colleges.
working together to ensure that the in- an incentive to actually prepare stu- I don’t think we should jump Senator
stitutions and our students get the dents for careers, instead of encour- SCOTT’s bill ahead of that reauthoriza-
help that Congress wanted them to get. aging mountains of debt and degrees tion and impose new restrictions on
Again, the bill I have before you that don’t lead to jobs after gradua- universities in the middle of this pan-
doesn’t create a new program, and it tion. demic, as we are trying to help them
doesn’t cost a penny. All it does is ask Third, the STEM Act creates a met- get through COVID. For that and other
the Secretary of Education to simply ric system for accountability to make reasons, while I would certainly pledge
follow what Congress intended. sure all higher education institutions to work with the Senator on this mat-
Madam President, with that, I would are doing their most important job— ter in the committee on which we both
ask unanimous consent that the preparing our students for the oppor- sit, during HEA reauthorization, I do
Health, Education, Labor, and Pen- tunity to get a great job, build a ca- not agree to modify the request that I
sions Committee be discharged from reer, and become more self-sufficient. made regarding S. 3947.
further consideration of S. 3947, a bill Our higher education system doesn’t The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there
to amend the provisions relating to the serve the student, and we need to objection to the original request?
higher education emergency relief fund change that. Our students deserve The Senator from Florida.
more than just throwing money at our Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Reserving the
to clarify the flexibility provided to in-
institutions with no checks and bal- right to object, I look forward to work-
stitutions and for students under the
ances. ing with my colleague from Virginia to
fund, and that the Senate proceed to
It is time we get something done to do what we both tried to do as Gov-
its immediate consideration.
fix the problems in our higher edu- ernors and we were both focused on. It
I further ask unanimous consent that
cation system and realign incentives. I is hard to keep tuition down and to
the bill be considered read a third time
look forward to working with my col- make sure kids get jobs at the end. It
and passed and that the motion to re-
leagues to do this. is a very difficult job.
consider be considered made and laid I don’t think what we are doing
upon the table. Madam President, I ask unanimous
today with Senator KAINE’s proposal is
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there consent that Senator KAINE modify his
going to help our students get the jobs
objection? request and, instead, the Committee on
they need and help keep our tuition
The Senator from Florida. Health, Education, Labor, and Pen-
down. I don’t think we ought to be giv-
Mr. SCOTT of Florida. Madam Presi- sions be discharged from further con-
ing a blank check to our institutions
dent, reserving the right to object, I sideration of S. 2559, the Student
that raise tuition on our students. We
appreciate my colleague’s focus on Training and Education Metrics Act, all know the mountains of debt—over
higher education. We both had the and the Senate proceed to its imme- $1.7 trillion—which is ridiculous. I
same opportunity as Governors to do diate consideration; further, that the think my STEM Act is a solution to
what we could to drive the cost of tui- bill be considered read a third time and help make our higher education system
tion down and help make sure all of passed and that the motion to recon- affordable and ensure kids have a fu-
our students had the opportunity to sider be considered made and laid upon ture. But, unfortunately, we are not
get jobs. the table. able to do that today. I respectfully ob-
My goal as Governor of Florida and The PRESIDING OFFICER. Does the ject. I look forward to working with
now as a U.S. Senator is to keep edu- Senator from Virginia so modify his re- Senator KAINE to try to do everything
cation affordable and obtainable and quest? we can to get this tuition down and
make sure students are able to get a Mr. KAINE. Madam President, I ap- help our kids get jobs.
job when they graduate. preciate my Senate colleague’s desire The PRESIDING OFFICER. The ob-
I know we all are focused on giving to increase accountability and trans- jection is heard.
our students every opportunity to suc- parency of student outcomes. As Gov- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
ceed. My colleague has not shown how ernor, I was doing the same thing with ator from Ohio.
giving a blank-check bailout to higher Virginia institutions. I view his re- UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST
education institutions helps our stu- quest as a little bit of a non sequitur. Mr. BROWN. Madam President, for a
dents—students who are burdened with It is not really connected to mine. bit of good news, last year we finally
mountains of debt from these same 4- He mentioned that we shouldn’t be provided certainty to American export-
year colleges and universities. throwing more money at colleges. Let ers and their workers by enacting a 7-
The solution is not to give more me make plain again that my request year reauthorization of the Export-Im-
money to support the bloated bureauc- does not cost a penny. It is not about port Bank’s charter. This is a big vic-
racies of our public and private col- an additional penny for colleges. It is tory after years of obstruction by a
leges and universities. And these very about implementing the CARES Act, handful of our Republican colleagues.
institutions continue to raise tuition which was passed on an overwhelm- We know what happened here in this
year after year on our students and ingly bipartisan vote by this body on Congress. In 2015, during the last de-
their families. That is why I am in- March 26. bate on reauthorizing the Bank, a
stead offering my STEM Act, which is Senator SCOTT’s bill does not deal small group of opponents, supported by
a real solution to make higher edu- with something we have already done. far-right special interests, tried to kill
cation more affordable and ensure It does not deal with the COVID emer- the Bank altogether. When that didn’t
schools are preparing students for jobs. gency. It does deal very directly with work, they decided to block all nomi-
We made similar reforms in Florida, something that we are in the process of nees to Ex-Im’s Board, denying it the
and our students are getting a world- doing. The HELP Committee right now
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
quorum needed to approve transactions
class education at a price they and is considering the reauthorization of greater than $10 million. Their obstruc-
their families can afford. My goal is to the Higher Education Act. Senator tion cost us more than 130,000 jobs a
bring this success to our Nation. SCOTT’s proposal, dealing with trans- year by 2018.
The STEM Act does three things: parency and accountability, fits Unfortunately, a few Republicans
One, it eliminates all Federal funding squarely within the discussion that the continue to undermine American man-
for institutions that raise tuition. HELP Committee is currently having ufacturers and our workers by pre-
There is no reason universities should about reauthorization of HEA, and it is venting Ex-Im from having a full Board
VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:49 Jun 26, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00015 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JN6.020 S25JNPT1
S3292 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 25, 2020
of Directors. It is time for the Senate was first nominated almost 4 years American product, when they buy an
to consider the long delayed nomina- ago. Neither is controversial. Mr. American export. The Ex-Im Bank is in
tions of Republican Paul Shmotolokha Shmotolokha has decades of experience the business of forcing taxpayers to
and Democrat Claudia Slacik. in the telecom industry. He deeply un- subsidize foreign, often state-owned,
Today’s economic damage from derstands how China competes. Ms. entities buying American products. I
COVID builds, and Senator MCCON- Slacik previously served at Ex-Im and object to that activity and so do many
NELL, the leader of this body, refuses to has more than 30 years of commercial of my Republican colleagues.
let us do our jobs and pass additional banking experience. This is a controversial entity. It is a
help for families and communities of Ex-Im has an effective management controversial idea that we would ex-
small businesses. Ex-Im will be called team under President and Chair Kim- pand the population on the Board be-
on—it is more important than ever—to berly Reed, but the Bank needs to oper- cause doing so diminishes the likeli-
help ensure the survival of our manu- ate at full capacity during this unprec- hood that they might be at a point, at
facturing base and thousands of small edented crisis, not missing two of its some point in the future, where they
businesses and their workers. five members with critical expertise. would not have a quorum.
Ex-Im, during the last crisis, added Don’t just take it from me. This My own view is that what we ought
515 new small business clients in 2009 shouldn’t be partisan. It is not an ideo- to be doing is having a mutual negotia-
alone. The stakes are even higher logical question. The Banking Com- tion with our trading partners to phase
today. There are more than 100 export mittee chair—my counterpart, the out all of these export subsidy banks
credit agencies. I believe President chair of the committee—MIKE CRAPO, all around the world. And, unfortu-
Reed, head of the Ex-Im Bank, who is supports filling the Ex-Im Board. The nately, neither this administration nor
doing a very good job, said 118 in com- U.S. Chamber supports it. The National the previous administration has had
mittee this week. There are more than Association of Manufacturers supports any interest in pursuing that.
100 export credit agencies and credit confirming these two particular nomi- In the meantime, I have asked for
programs around the world that sup- nees. improvements in the operations of the
port foreign manufacturers. But our On Tuesday, Ex-Im’s President and Export-Import Bank—operations such
greatest challenge is China. China’s ex- Chair, Kimberly Reed, nominated by as transparency and controlling tax-
port finance activity is larger than all President Trump, testified to the payer risk and the extent to which it
of the export credit provided by the G– Banking Committee that she wants a crowds out private financing and other
7 countries combined, and we can ex- full Board because Ex-Im is working to areas. I will say that I appreciate Ex-
pect China to continue using export make small business transactions 30 Im Bank President Reed’s efforts in
credit as a weapon to end manufac- percent of its portfolio, as Congress di- these areas, but there is a long way to
turing business in critical sectors. I rected. She said: ‘‘That takes a lot of go. It doesn’t solve the fundamental
asked President Reed about that in boots on the ground and a lot of work.’’ problem, which is the mission of the
committee, and she is certain that Chi- I agree with Ex-Im President Reed Bank.
na’s threat will continue and perhaps completely and Senator CRAPO com- The defenders of Ex-Im will some-
grow. pletely. We need a full Board. We need times argue that Ex-Im Bank—the sub-
The President and many of my Re- boots on the ground to help small busi- sidy that taxpayers are required to pro-
publican colleagues want to blame nesses at Ex-Im. We also have a quali- vide to foreign purchasers—is essential
China for darn near everything, includ- fied inspector general nominee, Peter for our exports, that we need it and
ing the virus that has taken the lives Coniglio, who is waiting for confirma- jobs depend on it. It is interesting be-
of 120,000 of our brothers and sisters tion. These nominations are long over- cause we have a controlled experiment
and parents and sons and daughters. due. I will ask the Senate to consider that addresses that question directly.
That is 30 percent of the world’s them immediately. If we want Ex-Im to From 2015 through the early part of
deaths. We are 5 percent of the world’s support more small businesses and help 2019, the Ex-Im Bank didn’t have a
population, and we are 30 percent of America manufacturers compete quorum, so it could not legally engage
the world’s deaths. That is not because against China, there is no excuse for in large-scale transactions. It couldn’t
we don’t have good doctors and medical more obstruction. do anything, and they didn’t.
workers and all of that. It is because of Madam President, I ask unanimous You have a period of about 4 years,
Presidential leadership. consent that the Senate proceed to ex- and during that time, the volume of fi-
China has not been a model of re- ecutive session to consider the fol- nancing—the volume of transactions
sponsibility, but President Trump lowing nominations: Calendar No. 128, that Ex-Im Bank was doing—dropped
needs to stop blaming China for his No. 336, and No. 557; that the nomina- by about 80 percent. That is huge. The
own failures to do more at home to pre- tions be confirmed, en bloc; that the Ex-Im Bank for several years was a
vent the spread of the coronavirus. motions to reconsider be considered shadow of its former self.
For my Republican colleagues who made and laid upon the table with no What happened to American exports
profess concern about China, I wish intervening action or debate; that no during the time when the Ex-Im Bank
they had shown the same concern with further motions be in order on the was basically out of business? I will
standing up to China during our 4-year nominations; that any related state- tell you what happened. American ex-
fight to support American manufactur- ments be printed in the RECORD; that ports grew and hit an all-time record
ers. If you say you are concerned about the President be immediately notified high in 2018. That is what happened.
China, then, you should support filling of the Senate’s action; and that the The fact is, Americans make great
Ex-Im’s Board so our manufacturers Senate then resume legislative session. products, and we can sell them over-
can better compete with China. The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there seas without having to subsidize the
A core role of Ex-Im Board members objection? buyer. Buyers and sellers arranged pri-
is educating the business community The Senator from Pennsylvania. vate financing. There are lots of banks
about how to use the Bank’s export fi- Mr. TOOMEY. Madam President, re- and institutions that are in the busi-
nancing to expand sales abroad and serving the right to object, I think it is ness of providing this financing. Tax-
create more jobs in the United States. worth reminding my colleagues exactly payers shouldn’t have to subsidize it.
Many small businesses are just trying what the Ex-Im Bank is all about. The proof is in the pudding. When Ex-
to survive right now. Some of them What this is, then, is a Bank by which Im Bank was effectively closed, Amer-
don’t know that Ex-Im is a tool that taxpayers are required to subsidize big ican exports grew and hit an alltime
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
can help. We need a full Board that can corporations. That is what Ex-Im Bank record high.
be proactive about offering support. is. It is also a fact that when the Ex-Im
Mr. Shmotolokha—as I said, a Repub- The precise way that it works, Bank gets into the business of sub-
lican nominee—has been nominated as though, is to provide the subsidy di- sidizing some, it inevitably does dam-
the First Vice President and was re- rectly to foreign entities—often state- age to others. There was a case wherein
ported out of the Banking Committee owned entities, often Chinese state- the Ex-Im subsidies created a competi-
more than a year ago, and Ms. Slacik owned entities—when they buy an tive advantage for Air India that cost
VerDate Sep 11 2014 02:49 Jun 26, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JN6.016 S25JNPT1
June 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3293
jobs at Delta Air Lines because the two tax cut for the rich 3 years ago that re- search engine, and then conduct those
competed directly on routes. The Air duced the corporate tax rate and re- transactions online. At the same time,
India route was subsidized by virtue of duced it even further for companies technology firms were carving out
the Ex-Im subsidy, of its acquisition of that shut down production in Shelby or their place in the market.
planes, and Delta didn’t get that sub- Lima or Akron, OH, and companies I don’t have to tell you that this dy-
sidy. According to the CEO, who testi- moved overseas to get their tax breaks namic has really changed from those
fied before the House, just that one and access to low-wage workers. I am early days and those first experiences
deal cost 1,000 jobs at Delta. just disappointed that we couldn’t ac- with the virtual space. We walk around
I have a substantive objection here. I tually move forward. with computers in our pockets. That
have an objection to this institution’s It is the law of the land to have an level of convenience and connectivity
mission, and growing its Board is part Ex-Im Bank. There are two out of five is great, but it has thrown off the bal-
of advancing that mission. I have to slots that are empty. The President ance of power between what is now
say that this is in contrast to the ob- and Chairman of the Ex-Im Bank, Kim- called Big Tech and consumers. Over
struction that we are seeing from our berly Reed, a Trump appointee, said the past few years, these companies
Democratic colleagues with respect to very strongly that she needs more help, have treated the American people to a
nominees about whom they often have more boots on the ground, because she series of scandals that have opened the
no objection at all. could create more jobs that way. floodgates to mainstream concerns
The fact is, there has been a mission Lastly, I was a bit surprised to hear over issues like data privacy, child ex-
on the part of many of my Democratic complaints about the Democrats’ slow- ploitation, a national security risk,
colleagues to just block President walking of nominees. I mean, instead and blatant, anti-competitive business
Trump’s nominees just because they of actually doing the people’s business practices.
are President Trump’s. In fact, Presi- here—getting help for unemployed Just this week, I sent a letter to the
dent Trump’s nominees have had to un- workers and helping people stay in Attorney General about Google’s latest
dergo the delaying tactic of the cloture their homes as courts open up and attacks on conservative media outlets.
vote—a procedural vote that is de- more evictions are on the horizon and As a reminder to everyone, Google
signed to just chew up time and pre- as layoffs in local governments and threatened to remove the Federalist
vent us from functioning. State governments around the country and ZeroHedge from the Google Ads
In the first year of his Presidency, loom—this Senate spends most of its platform after determining that these
there were over 300. That is more than time on confirming judges. outlets’ comments sections—did you
the cumulative number of these delay- My wife and I watched almost the en- get that? It was their comments sec-
ing tactics for the first terms of his tire rally in Tulsa. It was the first big tions, which are the areas you go to
four predecessors, and it continues. In Trump campaign rally—not that big— participate in public debate—contained
fact, earlier this year alone, we had our or the first purportedly big Trump content that violated company policy.
Democratic colleagues force this delay- campaign rally. We watched numbers Well, how about that?
ing tactic—this cloture vote—on of my colleagues with no masks in an A representative from Google ran to
judges, and then they voted for them, arena in which public health officials the press and insisted that both outlets
some of whom were confirmed unani- said: Please, don’t do that. had published dangerous, hateful con-
mously. District Judge Silvia Carreno- I heard the President brag about all tent. It really makes you wonder: What
Coll was forced to go through the de- of the judges he has gotten confirmed. was their real reason for this threat?
laying tactic and was then confirmed So when I hear any of my colleagues What was the real reason for the
96 to 0. There was a cloture vote—a de- complain that the Democrats have Google representative’s breathless ac-
laying vote—on Robert Anthony been obstructionists—have tried to cusations to the press?
Molloy to be a U.S. district judge, who stop Trump nominees—just remember In my letter, I encouraged Attorney
was then confirmed 97 to 0. what Senator MCCONNELL did with a le- General Barr to meet with representa-
There were still 68 reported nominees gitimately chosen Supreme Court tives from both the Federalist and
on the Executive Calendar as of yester- nominee and, equally as important, ZeroHedge so that they could explain
day. There are 13 of these nominations what this body has done in confirming firsthand what a permanent ban from
that are over 12 months old, and many judge after judge, many of them young the Google Ads platform could lead to
of them are nominees about whom and many of them far right and out of in terms of loss of traffic and revenue.
there is no objection. the political mainstream. The Repub- Of course, the answer to that inquiry is
With this case, there is an objection. licans dutifully vote for them because that a ban would be catastrophic for
It is a substantive objection to pro- Senator MCCONNELL tells them to. We any outlet, and here is the reason:
viding a cushion to a quorum of a bank know how that works around here. We Guess who dominates online adver-
with whose mission I disagree. If people have so much more work to do than tising. Google. It is called a monopoly.
want to go through the process of that, but this Senate doesn’t seem to It is called ‘‘they control those ad plat-
bringing this to the floor and filing clo- be interested. forms.’’
ture, it can be processed, but this isn’t I yield the floor. This Friday, State attorneys general
the way to do it. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- are meeting with Justice Department
So I object. ator from Tennessee. officials to discuss this, and if I were
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- COMMUNICATIONS DECENCY ACT Google, I would be a little bit nervous
tion is heard. Mrs. BLACKBURN. Madam Presi- about that. I think it is fair to say that
The Senator from Ohio. dent, in the early days of the internet, many of these attorneys general have
Mr. BROWN. Madam President, I am when we were all just beginning to get just about had it with some of these
disappointed but not surprised that we online and experience what it was like online practices.
are not able to confirm the Ex-Im to have at our fingertips an entree to This particular scandal is interesting
nominees today. There is great bipar- the entire world—all of the informa- because it implicates both antitrust
tisan support for this agency. We did a tion you could want—everything at concerns and the section 230 protec-
long reauthorization that was close to that point really felt like a novelty. It tions that are laid out in the Commu-
unanimous in its support. It is a place had a newness about it. Technology nications Decency Act. Lately, we have
in which we have worked together to was new, and consumers were able to heard quite a bit about section 230, and
create American jobs. take their time carving out a comfort we have already discussed at length
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
I understand Senator TOOMEY’s dis- zone for what they wanted to do online. whether it should be left alone, re-
cussion about corporate interests. I am They were signing up for Facebook, formed, or scrapped entirely.
a bit surprised by that when this body and they were trying to figure out When section 230 was implemented in
passes trade agreement after trade which of their retail merchants they the early days of the internet, the vi-
agreement that supports corporate in- wanted to visit online, how they want- sion was that it would shield emerging
terests and that costs workers their ed to shop online, what transactions and new technology firms from law-
jobs and when this body passed a huge they wanted to begin to put into that suits. It would give them the ability to
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:06 Jun 26, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00017 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JN6.022 S25JNPT1
S3294 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 25, 2020
kind of stand up, if you will. It would, We also need to clarify once and for about reform and change, our col-
in good faith, allow platforms to re- all that section 230 immunity does not leagues on the other side of the aisle
move content that they would find to apply to actions brought by the Fed- simply walked away. I was under the
be obscene, violent, harassing, or oth- eral Government. But what about impression we were all in agreement
erwise objectionable even if the mate- those startups, those up-and-coming that the matters addressed in this leg-
rial would be otherwise constitu- tech companies that are looking for islation were, at the very least, worth
tionally protected speech. At the time, the next great idea? How will reform debating. By refusing to even consider
when all of these businesses were in treat them differently from the a debate, Senate Democrats leave the
their infancies, when they were new Facebooks and the Googles of the American people with irresponsible de-
starts, this worked pretty well. world? mands to defund the police and de-
Startups were allowed to innovate What we can do is limit liability struction of public property.
without having to worry about law- based on minimum platform user My friend and colleague, the junior
suits sending their companies into thresholds. We would limit those sec- Senator from South Carolina, worked
bankruptcy or threatening their abil- tion 230 protections to platforms with tirelessly to produce very good legisla-
ity to raise venture capital, but, as I fewer than 50 million American users. tion. He and the leadership offered to
said earlier, times have changed. Just for reference, Google has 259 mil- work with our Democratic colleagues
Now, as is the case with most policies lion American users, Facebook has 221 and assure them there would be an
involving Big Tech, heavy-handed gov- million, and Twitter has 64 million open amendment process.
ernment intervention will not fix this American users. Under this standard, a Had we had a chance to proceed, I
problem. Still, many of my colleagues user alleging harm would be able to was prepared to file an amendment
here in the Senate believe that using that would have gotten the top Federal
move forward with a lawsuit against a
strict legislation and policing speech is and State law enforcement officials to-
platform only if that platform’s user
the only path to reform. I will tell you, gether from rural and urban areas and
threshold were above 50 million U.S.
as someone who has been censored by a developed a best practices curriculum
users and a court has reasonable
social media platform, I fully appre- for training incoming law enforcement
grounds to believe that the platform
ciate and understand their points of officers. The amendment would have
contributed to the offending post or re-
view. Not only is it frustrating to be- provided the resources to train the
fused to act on it once notified.
come a victim of that bias, but it is
These are all simple changes that trainers.
also so disheartening to watch our This simply illustrated that Members
will rebalance the relationship between
country devolve into a place where peo- on both sides of the aisle wanted an op-
online platforms and their customers,
ple would rather be shielded from de- portunity to offer meaningful changes
and we shouldn’t delay in our imple-
bate than learn from the people with to the bill, but only one side of the
menting them because the internet is
whom they disagree. aisle thought that opportunity was
You know, there used to be a time more than just a place where we post
our status updates or photos of what worthwhile. I am ready to debate on
when you would engage your friends
we had for dinner; the digital revolu- that and any other amendment should
who had different opinions than you.
You would engage them and partici- tion fundamentally changed the way we do the right thing and have an open,
pate in some point and counterpoint we live our lives, consume the news, purposeful conversation on a very crit-
and have a friendly discussion about and interact with corporations, media ical issue.
outlets, and our local governments. The tragic death of George Floyd in
your take on the issues. Yet, when it
We can’t afford to let these platforms Minneapolis last month exposed an ero-
comes to reining in Big Tech, the
leverage their own biases to arbitrarily sion of public confidence in the rule of
innovators have to be allowed to inno-
decide who is allowed to speak or what law and law enforcement practices.
vate. They need some guardrails, but
information we are allowed to con- There is no doubt in my mind that the
they do not need straightjackets.
This is the same approach I took sume, but we also can’t afford to imple- vast majority of law enforcement offi-
when drafting the BROWSER Act, ment heavy-handed policies that will cers, who are very good friends of
which was the data privacy legislation inevitably collapse the entire industry. mine—many of them across the coun-
I introduced in the Senate last year I look forward to the Senate’s con- try—do their jobs fairly and justly.
but had worked on this since I had been tinuing its work on this on both the However, the bad actions of a few are
in the House, and it is the approach Commerce and Judiciary Committees. enough to cause us as elected leaders
that we are taking with the bipartisan I yield the floor. to consider responsible changes to im-
Tech Task Force. Policies like these I suggest the absence of a quorum. prove police practices and rebuild pub-
take a lot more time and a lot more The PRESIDING OFFICER. The lic confidence in those we trust with
one-on-one communication to draft and clerk will call the roll. ensuring our public safety.
to work through to a resolution, but The senior assistant legislative clerk I encourage my colleagues to recon-
they are much better for the industry proceeded to call the roll. sider and engage in this debate. It
and innovation than something that is Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam Presi- would be a real tragedy not to use this
purely punitive. dent, I ask unanimous consent that the national moment in our history to im-
I am working closely with the White order for the quorum call be rescinded. prove law enforcement through more
House and the Justice Department on a The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without accountability, transparency, and bet-
series of changes to section 230 that objection, it is so ordered. ter training.
will allow us to fix the rules we have THE JUSTICE ACT Let’s stop looking for ways to divide
without having to start from scratch. Mrs. HYDE-SMITH. Madam Presi- the American public. Let’s bring people
First, we can incentivize online plat- dent, it is a shame the Senate has been together and work together toward
forms to address truly illicit content prevented the opportunity to discuss meaningful reform that improves law
by implementing three carve-outs that meaningful legislation to strengthen enforcement, public safety, and the
exempt specific categories of speech and improve our law enforcement sys- confidence Americans deserve in the
from immunity. First, facilitating or tem. rule of law.
soliciting third-party activity that vio- The Senate had an opportunity to I yield the floor.
lates Federal criminal law—we call implement public safety measures the The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr.
this one the ‘‘bad Samaritan carve- American people believe are needed YOUNG). The Senator from Colorado.
and the American people want. Most
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
out’’; second, content involving child 70TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE KOREAN WAR
exploitation and abuse, terrorism, and importantly, the Senate was blocked Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I rise
cyber stalking; and third and last, we from working toward helping bind the today to speak about the Republic of
will revoke that immunity if a plat- Nation together. Korea on this June 25, the 70th anniver-
form is caught failing to act when it Sadly, this was due to partisan poli- sary of the start of the Korean war.
has actual knowledge of or was pro- tics by our Democratic colleagues. It is The Republic of Korea is a longtime
vided with a court judgment regarding disappointing that, when given the ally and partner that resides in one of
unlawful content. chance to back up a lot of big talk the most prosperous and one of the
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:06 Jun 26, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JN6.023 S25JNPT1
June 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3295
most dangerous parts of the world. operation and Development, and the gressive. We must come together with
When most of us hear about Korea, we Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperative regional partners to resist this coercive
instinctively focus on the threat ema- forum, just to name a few. behavior.
nating from the bizarre failed state in The alliance has proven to not only Only with a concerted voice can we
the north, and we often forget about be crucial for U.S. economic and na- preserve global norms and inter-
the incredible successes and stories of tional security interests but for our national law, and South Korea plays a
success in the south that was made health as well. This was most evident growing role in upholding this regional
possible largely by the United States- as South Korea led a pivotal response order. Our North Korea policy has for
South Korea Alliance. to the COVID–19 pandemic. I worked decades failed to achieve
When I visited the Korean War Me- closely with our South Korean allies denuclearization of the Korean Penin-
morial in Seoul in July of 2017, I read and the Colorado Governor Jared Polis sula. However, the U.S.-South Korea
the names of Americans and Colo- to obtain hundreds of thousands of alliance has succeeded in deterring
radans that died answering the call to COVID–19 testing kits for Colorado, Pyongyang, retaining regional sta-
defend a country they never knew and which will continue to be vital as we bility, and maintaining conditions for
a people they never met. I think that, get through this ongoing pandemic. the growth and prosperity of every
today, we owe it to our fallen soldiers Weeks ago, President Trump invited country in the region, except for
to recognize what the world has gained President Moon of South Korea to the Pyongyang.
from their sacrifice. upcoming G7 meeting. I fully endorse We stand ready to welcome the peo-
On June 25, 1950, Kim Il-sung’s army this decision, and at the current junc- ple of North Korea into the inter-
crossed the 38th parallel to invade ture, I believe it is time to explore new national community, but this requires
South Korea. In response, the United avenues to broaden cooperation with Pyongyang to commit to economic re-
States mobilized the international South Korea on the global stage, in- form, to treat its people with dignity,
community under the U.N. flag and cluding in global health, the environ- and to refrain from menacing others
sent hundreds of thousands of U.S. ment, energy security, and emerging with weapons of mass destruction.
troops to defend Korea. To this day, technologies. I believe U.S. policy toward North
thousands of U.S. soldiers remain unac- South Korea is situated in one of Korea should be straightforward. Until
counted for. Over 1 million Korean ci- most precarious neighborhoods in the we achieve the denuclearization of
vilians perished. Most survivors have world. Koreans have historically ex- North Korea, the United States will de-
never seen or spoken with their fami- plained their geography of being a ploy every economic, diplomatic, and,
lies across the border. ‘‘shrimp among whales.’’ Indeed, north- if necessary, military tool at our dis-
The U.S. decision to intervene in east Asia holds a number of nuclear-ca- posal to deter Pyongyang and to pro-
that war transformed the future of pable states, economic mammoths, and tect our allies.
Pyongyang recently exploded the
Asia. South Korea has blossomed from the largest standing armies in the
inter-Korean liaison office in Kaesong
a war-torn state to an economic power- world.
In our alliance, we vow to defend one and began rolling back its commit-
house, a thriving democracy, and, in
another from attack, but it often goes ments under the April 2018 Panmunjom
recent months, a global leader in re-
Declaration. Since February 2019, since
sponse to a public health crisis. unstated that South Korea bears the
that summit in Hanoi, Pyongyang has
South Korea boasts the 12th largest frontline burden of this defense. While
rebuffed working-level negotiations
economy in the world and has become North Korea has only recently tested
with the U.S.
a leader in critical future technologies an ICBM capable of reaching the conti- In March of this year, Kim launched
such as telecommunications, elec- nental United States, Seoul has been a record number of missiles in a single
tronics, and semiconductors. They under the threat of artillery, short- month and continues to unveil new
managed to do this despite having a range missiles, an armed invasion for missile systems that impose novel
population of only 50 million people, decades. In the shadow of this threat, threats to our allies South Korea and
few natural resources, and effectively South Korea has invested considerably Japan.
operating as an island restricted to in defense, over 2.5 percent of its GDP. Kim Jong Un is showing that he sim-
maritime trade. It also funded over 90 percent of the ply doesn’t want diplomatic and eco-
South Korea’s hard-fought transition costs of Camp Humphreys, what is now nomic engagement on the terms of-
from authoritarian governments to vi- the largest overseas U.S. military base fered by the United States and the
brant democracy took time, it took in the world. These are just a few of international community but wants
perseverance, and it took grit, but they the ways in which South Korea re- only to deepen his country’s self-isola-
did it. It is now a democracy with a mains a model alliance partner. tion and build his weapons programs.
highly educated and active civil soci- Against the backdrop of rising ten- The United States must respond with
ety that embraces the rule of law and sions in recent weeks, we should swift- our allies. We must consider restoring
human rights and stands in stark con- ly conclude negotiations on the Special military exercises with our partners in
trast to its authoritarian neighbors in Measures burden-sharing agreement, Seoul and Tokyo, enhance missile de-
North Korea and China. which would provide strategic stability fense, and remain in close consultation
As our South Korean ally has grown on the Korean Peninsula and strength- to reassure our allies of our commit-
more prosperous and more capable, it en the U.S.-South Korea alliance. ment to defend them from any aggres-
has also taken on an outsized global re- The United States and South Korea sion or coercion. Kim Jong Un must
sponsibility. Since the Korean war, maintain a tightly-integrated com- not underestimate the resolve of the
South Korea has fought alongside the bined forces command that is unique to United States to defend our allies.
United States in all four of our major the world. This demonstrates the im- The peaceful resolution of the North
conflicts. mense trust and combined capability Korean problem also requires the inter-
Once a recipient of foreign aid, Seoul between our two militaries. This national community to finally join to-
is now a worldwide donor of aid. It has unique structure makes credible our gether in fully implementing United
become a critical pillar in upholding ability and commitment to meet those Nations sanctions. In this effort, we re-
the postwar order, playing a valuable threats at a moment’s notice. It also quire greater cooperation from Beijing.
role in the global nonproliferation re- allows us to stand shoulder to shoulder China accounts for 90 percent of North
gime, global emissions reduction, as allies and say ‘‘kachi kapshida’’ or Korea’s trade, including virtually all of
peacekeeping, cybersecurity, counter- ‘‘we go together.’’ North Korea’s exports. The most recent
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
terrorism, and postconflict stabiliza- But the alliance faces greater threats U.N. Panel of Experts report to the
tion. today than at any time in the past. North Korean Sanctions Committee
South Korea has also become a key Chinese coercion in the Yellow Sea and provided clear evidence of illicit ship-
stakeholder in various international the East China Sea, as well as mili- to-ship transfers between North Korean
organizations, including the United Na- tarization of the South China Sea, have and Chinese ships just off the Chinese
tions, World Trade Organization, G–20, all increased in recent years. As China coast. These blatant violations of sanc-
the Organization for Economic Co- has grown, it has also become more ag- tions must end now.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:06 Jun 26, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00019 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JN6.026 S25JNPT1
S3296 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 25, 2020
In 2016, I led the North Korean Sanc- South Korea. I urge my colleagues to Lankford Reed Sinema
Leahy Risch Smith
tions and Policy Enhancement Act, support the resolution. Lee Roberts Stabenow
which passed the Senate by a vote of 96 I yield the floor. Loeffler Romney Sullivan
to 0. The Trump administration has Mr. GARDNER. Mr. President, I ask Manchin Rosen Tester
the opportunity to use these authori- unanimous consent that the vote McConnell Rounds Thune
McSally Rubio Tillis
ties to build maximum leverage not scheduled for 1:30 p.m. begin now. Menendez Sasse Toomey
only with Pyongyang but also with The PRESIDING OFFICER. Is there Murkowski Schatz Udall
Beijing. If China will not act to ensure objection? Murray Schumer Van Hollen
Paul Scott (FL) Warner
its entities comply with international Without objection, it is so ordered. Perdue Scott (SC) Whitehouse
law, then perhaps pressure from the CLOTURE MOTION Peters Shaheen Wicker
U.S. Treasury and the Department of The PRESIDING OFFICER. Pursuant Portman Shelby Young
Justice will make it a priority for Bei- to rule XXII, the Chair lays before the NAYS—7
jing. Senate the pending cloture motion, Harris Murphy Wyden
I was initially encouraged by the ad- which the clerk will state. Markey Sanders
ministration’s decision in June of 2017 The bill clerk read as follows: Merkley Warren
to sanction the Chinese Bank of CLOTURE MOTION NOT VOTING—3
Dandong. This conveyed an unprece- Burr Enzi Moran
We, the undersigned Senators, in accord-
dented statement that we were serious ance with the provisions of rule XXII of the
about the maximum pressure cam- The PRESIDING OFFICER. On this
Standing Rules of the Senate, do hereby vote, the yeas are 90, the nays are 7.
paign, and it got results. However, even move to bring to a close debate on the mo-
as we saw Chinese sanctions enforce- Three-fifths of the Senators duly cho-
tion to proceed to Calendar No. 483, S. 4049,
ment wane after summits in 2018, the a bill to authorize appropriations for fiscal sen and sworn having voted in the af-
pace of designations and indictments year 2021 for military activities of the De- firmative, the motion is agreed to.
has slowed tremendously. partment of Defense, for military construc- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
The administration, with congres- tion, and for defense activities of the Depart- ator from Arkansas.
ment of Energy, to prescribe military per- WASHINGTON DC ADMISSION ACT
sional support, should now make clear
sonnel strengths for such fiscal year, and for Mr. COTTON. Mr. President, our
to any entity doing business with other purposes.
North Korea that they will not be able country faces real challenges today.
Mitch McConnell, Marsha Blackburn,
to do business with the United States Joni Ernst, John Boozman, Steve For example, anti-American mobs are
or have access to the U.S. financial Daines, Cory Gardner, Pat Roberts, roaming the streets in many cities,
system. Mike Rounds, Mike Crapo, Roger F. tearing down statues of our greatest
Last month, the U.S. Department of Wicker, Cindy Hyde-Smith, Lamar statesmen, men like Abraham Lincoln,
Justice charged 28 North Koreans and 5 Alexander, Shelley Moore Capito, Rob U.S. Grant, and George Washington,
Chinese citizens with using a web of Portman, Roy Blunt, John Barrasso, after whom this Capital City is named.
John Thune. But the Democrats aren’t doing any-
more than 250 shell companies to laun-
der over $2.5 billion in assets through The PRESIDING OFFICER. By unan- thing about that problem. Oh, no, on
the international banking system. This imous consent, the mandatory quorum the contrary, the mob is, in many
is a good sign, but individual indict- call has been waived. ways, the youth movement of the
ments have not effectively deterred The question is, Is it the sense of the Democratic Party. So they are per-
further sanctions violations. We need Senate that debate on the motion to fectly content to look the other way—
to pressure Chinese banks that serve as proceed to S. 4049, a bill to authorize or even cheer it on. I mean, have you
the illicit conduit between North Korea appropriations for fiscal year 2021 for heard Joe Biden, CHUCK SCHUMER, or
and the outside world. military activities of the Department NANCY PELOSI denounce the mob vio-
As for any prospect of engagement, of Defense, for military construction, lence we see on our streets? Me nei-
we must continue to make it clear to and for defense activities of the De- ther.
Beijing and Pyongyang that the United partment of Energy, to prescribe mili- Instead, the Democrats have found
States will not negotiate with tary personnel strengths for such fiscal another pressing issue. The House is
Pyongyang at the expense of the secu- year, and for other purposes, shall be voting tomorrow on a bill to make
rity of our allies. Maintaining robust brought to a close? Washington, DC, a State. If that sounds
U.S. alliances in the Asia-Pacific, in The yeas and nays are mandatory insane, you are not alone. More than
fact, should be our No. 1 priority. That under the rule. two-thirds of the American people op-
is why last Congress I authored and The clerk will call the roll. pose DC statehood, according to a Gal-
passed the Asia Reassurance Initiative The bill clerk called the roll. lup poll last summer.
Act. ARIA outlines a long-term stra- Mr. THUNE. The following Senators By some estimates, DC statehood is
tegic framework to double down on en- are necessarily absent: the Senator less popular even than defunding the
gagement in the Indo-Pacific, to pro- from North Carolina (Mr. BURR), the police. So why are the Democrats push-
tect U.S. interests, and to uphold the Senator from Wyoming (Mr. ENZI), and ing for it? The answer is simple—
post-war order that has benefited the the Senator from Kansas (Mr. MORAN). power. The Democrats want to make
United States, its allies, and much of Further, if present and voting, the Washington a State because they want
the world over the past 70 years. Senator from Kansas (Mr. MORAN) two new Democratic Senators in per-
Maintaining peace and prosperity on would have voted ‘‘yea.’’ petuity.
the Korean Peninsula and throughout The yeas and nays resulted—yeas 90, The Democrats are angry at the
the Indo-Pacific is an effort that can nays 7, as follows: American people for refusing to give
no longer be and never could be accom- [Rollcall Vote No. 127 Leg.] them total control of the government,
plished without our allies, without our YEAS—90 for going on a decade now. So they
friends. That is what makes America Alexander Cassidy Gillibrand want to give the swamp as many Sen-
so strong. Baldwin Collins Graham ators as your State has. They want to
Today I hope my colleagues in the Barrasso Coons Grassley make Washington a State to rig the
Chamber will aid me in passing this Bennet Cornyn Hassan
Blackburn Cortez Masto Hawley
rules of our democracy and try to give
resolution commemorating those Kore- Blumenthal Cotton Heinrich the Democratic Party permanent
ans and Americans who fell in defense power.
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
Blunt Cramer Hirono
of freedom on the Korean Peninsula 70 Booker Crapo Hoeven In doing so, the Democrats are com-
Boozman Cruz Hyde-Smith
years ago. There is no greater way to Braun Daines Inhofe
mitting an act of historical vandalism
honor their sacrifice than to look back Brown Duckworth Johnson as grotesque as those committed by
on all that our two peoples have ac- Cantwell Durbin Jones Jacobin mobs roaming our streets. In
complished over the past 70 years and Capito Ernst Kaine their rush to make Washington a
Cardin Feinstein Kennedy
to continue to nurture the steadfast al- Carper Fischer King State, they disregard the clear warn-
liance between the United States and Casey Gardner Klobuchar ings of our Founding Fathers.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:06 Jun 26, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00020 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JN6.027 S25JNPT1
June 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3297
If the Democrats succeed in forcing trust Marion Berry? More importantly, maybe they are. But recognize the
through DC statehood, they will do so should we risk the safety of our Capital truth: The government of the most
only as a narrow faction that scorns on such a gamble? powerful Nation in the world wouldn’t
the history of our country and seizes Now, of course, the Democrats will have control of critical infrastructure
power against the will of the people argue that the statehood bill doesn’t necessary for its own safety, func-
who want Washington to remain what entirely eliminate Federal control of tioning, and independence in a crisis.
it has been for more than 200 years—a Washington because it preserves a Maybe that seems like a remote dan-
Federal city, our Nation’s Capital. small Federal district that encom- ger, although one should think better
The District of Columbia is unusual, passes the White House, the Capitol, after the riots earlier this month, to
though not unique, among capitals of the Supreme Court, the Library of Con- say nothing of the Civil War itself,
the world, in that it didn’t grow natu- gress, the National Mall, and a few when our seat of government faced im-
rally over the centuries but was pur- other government buildings. What a minent danger in encirclement by hos-
pose-built as the Capital of our Nation. humbling demotion from the grand tile forces. In fact, the danger was so
The Founders created Washington as a Federal city that President Wash- severe that President Lincoln wanted
Federal city so that the operations of ington and Pierre L’Enfant envisioned Washington to be enlarged, not dimin-
government would be safe and free more than 200 years ago, which they ished, and to include the area south of
from domination by the States around hoped would rival Paris in size and am- the Potomac that was retroceded to
it. bition. Virginia in 1846. He said:
James Madison wrote in Federalist 43 By contrast, look at this ridiculous The present insurrection shows, I think,
that ‘‘the indispensable necessity of map. Look at it. The Democrats pro- that the extension of this District across the
complete authority at the seat of gov- pose to turn Washington into little Potomac at the time of establishing the cap-
ernment, carries its own evidence with more than a gerrymandered govern- ital here was eminently wise, and con-
it.’’ ment theme park, surrounded on all sequently that the relinquishment of that
It is so obvious as to be self-evident. sides by a new State controlled, of portion of it which lies within the state of
course, by the Democrats. Virginia was unwise and dangerous.
Without complete control over its ter-
ritory, Madison wrote, the government The Federal Government’s safety and How much more unwise and dan-
‘‘might be insulted and its proceedings independence cannot be assured by gerous would it be to shrink the Fed-
interrupted with impunity.’’ such a laughable district. Again, look eral District even further to just a few
Hostile magistrates or an angry mob at it. It has 90 sides. A mere city block, buildings in a 90-sided map? But that is
might interfere with the people’s elect- less than 200 yards, separates the White exactly what the Democrats propose to
ed representatives or even usurp the House from the proposed boundaries of do.
government. a new State, governed at present by a Those are just the practical and pru-
Now, this was no abstract concern for politician who hates the President. The dential problems. DC statehood also
the Founders. Just 5 years before Madi- Supreme Court and several congres- presents a grave constitutional conun-
son wrote those words, several hundred sional office buildings are right at the drum. Attorneys General as diverse as
mutinous soldiers assailed the Con- edge of the map, separated from the Bobby Kennedy and Ed Meese under-
gress in Philadelphia, where it met at new Democratic State by the width of stood that the 23rd amendment to our
the time. They issued demands to Con- a single city street. In the event of Constitution forecloses the Democrats’
gress for money and wantonly pointed emergency, like the Philadelphia mu- statehood proposals. The 23rd amend-
their muskets at Independence Hall. tiny of 1783, those narrow boundaries ment, ratified in 1961, gave Washington
Pennsylvania’s Governor rejected could jeopardize the operations of the residents a meaningful vote in Presi-
Congress’s pleas for help, saying he Federal Government. dential elections. The amendment
Consider also what is not included in grants three electoral votes to, in its
would wait until the mob committed
this ridiculous new map of a new Wash- own words, ‘‘the district constituting
some actual outrages on persons or
ington, DC. The headquarters of the the seat of government of the United
property before sending in the State
Department of Homeland Security States.’’
militia. Congress ultimately had to ad- would be outside the Federal Govern-
journ and flee to New Jersey while But of course, the Democrats’ new
ment’s control, as would be the head- State would also be entitled to its own
Washington sent in troops to put down quarters of the FBI and the FCC, which
the mutiny. three electoral votes. Yet, if the 23rd
governs all communications in the amendment isn’t repealed, the rump
This mutiny was an insult, an inter- country.
ruption of the sort Madison refers to in Federal district will retain its three
The seat of government would be sep-
Federalist 43. The Founders made electoral votes. The practical effect, of
arated for the first time from its mili-
Washington, DC, independent so that course, would be to increase the
tary bases—Fort McNair in Southwest
the Federal Government would never Washington, the marine barracks in swamp’s electoral power in Presi-
again be at the mercy of a mob or a Southeast Washington, and Bolling Air dential elections.
hostile State. Force Base, across the river. Even the radical Democrats can’t ig-
The wisdom of this decision was on Washington’s roughly 200 foreign em- nore this thorny problem. Their bill
display just days ago when violent bassies would no longer be in the Fed- calls for the swift repeal of the 23rd
riots erupted near the White House, eral district but in the Democrats’ new amendment, but they would allow
setting fire to a historic church and State, giving it unusual prominence in Washington to become a State before
committing other acts of vandalism foreign affairs—precisely the kind of the amendment is repealed. But there
and destruction across the city. Those treatment the Founders hoped to avoid is no assurance that the amendment
riots were contained thanks to an im- by creating a Federal city. would actually be repealed. The Con-
pressive show of force by Federal law While the proposed Federal District stitution has only been amended on 18
enforcement officers under Federal would have access to a single power- occasions in our Nation’s history. It is
control. plant, undoubtedly it would rely on the not a walk in the park in the best of
One can only imagine how much Democrats’ new State for many basic times. Yet the Democrats want you to
worse the destruction would have been utilities—not just power but water, think they can pull off an amendment
if those Federal officers hadn’t been sewage, and telecommunications. It to alter the electoral college in the
there, if most of Washington were would also rely on the new State, as midst of a Presidential election.
under the control not of the Federal In the meantime, DC statehood,
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
well as Virginia, for access by land.
Government but of a leftwing politi- The civil servants and officers of the along with the 23rd amendment, will
cian like Muriel Bowser, who fre- Federal Government would have no lead to absurd consequences. This
quently takes the side of rioters choice but to reside in a different State small Federal district, with three elec-
against law enforcement. on which they would wholly depend for toral votes, would have virtually no
Would you trust Mayor Bowser to access to the Federal zone. residents. In fact, as far as I can tell,
keep Washington safe if she were given These may seem like minor or ob- the only residents in the district are
the powers of a Governor? Would you scure problems, and, at peaceful times, right here, in the White House.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:06 Jun 26, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00021 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JN6.030 S25JNPT1
S3298 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 25, 2020
If the House passes this bill tomor- pay taxes but not be represented in two more Democratic Senators would
row and the Senate were to approve it Congress. Washington residents, they be awfully handy to that goal. The
for the President’s signature, then say, get a raw deal. ‘‘No taxation with- Democrats also have a scheme to abol-
Donald and Melania Trump need only out representation,’’ as their license ish the electoral college so that a hand-
change their voter registration from plates proclaim. ful of massive, liberal cities can pick
Florida to Washington to get their But, of course, this is backward. As the President. They want to pack the
own—their very own—three electoral our Nation’s Capital, the District of Supreme Court so liberal activists
votes. I can’t help but think this isn’t Columbia is represented by the very never lose again at the highest Court
what NANCY PELOSI had in mind. fact of its privileged position, and it in our land.
Even putting aside these practical reaps the benefits of that privilege. For These proposals have practical and
and constitutional problems with DC every $1 that District residents pay in constitutional problems as glaring as
statehood, though, we return to a basic taxes, they get $4 back in Federal DC statehood, but the Democratic
truth: Washington is a city with all the spending. That is more than any of the Party pushes forward nevertheless be-
characteristics of a city, not a State. 50 States. cause their goal is to accumulate as
Washington doesn’t have the size or di- Nor is Washington unique in its rela- much power as possible and never re-
versity of interest of even the smallest tionship to Congress. Just like other linquish it.
of the 50 States. Territories—Puerto Rico, the U.S. Vir- This week, the mob comes for Wash-
Consider Washington’s size. At just gin Islands, American Samoa, Guam, ington—his statue, his history, and
shy of 70 square miles, DC is 18 times and the Northern Mariana Islands— now his city. We must oppose this de-
smaller than the smallest State in the Washington has a nonvoting member of structive campaign in the Senate, just
union—Rhode Island. But, of course, Congress who is empowered to intro- as it is opposed by the majority of
the Democrats say size doesn’t matter. duce legislation, advocate for it on the American people across the country.
What matters is population. Wash- House floor, and sit on committees. In I yield the floor.
ington has just over 700,000 residents— fact, Washington’s Delegate introduced The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
more than Wyoming and Vermont and the very bill that Democrats plan to ator from Maryland.
about as many as Alaska. Doesn’t this vote on tomorrow to create this ridicu- REMEMBERING THE CAPITAL GAZETTE
qualify Washington as a State? If it lous Federal district. JOURNALISTS
did, we would need a lot more States If it is a special indignity for Wash- Mr. CARDIN. Mr. President, this
because Washington is just the 20th ington residents not to have a voting Sunday, we will mark a grim anniver-
largest city in the country. If Wash- Member of Congress, is it also an indig- sary. On June 28, 2018, a 38-year-old
ington deserves to be a State at 700,000 nity for the 55,000 American Samoans? man who held a longtime grudge
residents, how much more does New Should they get two Senators as well? against the Capital Gazette newspaper
York City deserve to be its own State Once again, though, let’s not give the in Annapolis, MD, for reporting about
at 8 million residents? Perhaps Bill de Democrats any bright ideas. They al- him, made good on his sworn threats.
Blasio should trade out his title of ready want to make Puerto Rico a He entered the newspaper’s office,
mayor for Governor, all the better to State. headed to the newsroom, and delib-
battle his nemesis Andrew Cuomo on But all of my observations about the erately shot and killed five employees
equal terms. But let’s not give the practical effects and constitutional ob- of this community newspaper.
Democrats any bright ideas. stacles in the end give too much credit The Capital Gazette is the local
What about Jacksonville, FL, at to what the Democrats are really up paper of record in Annapolis. It is one
more than 900,000 residents, shouldn’t to—a naked power grab. Democrats in of the oldest continuously published
we have a State of Jackson to accom- Congress are advocating DC statehood newspapers in the United States. It
pany the new State of Washington? We against the will of the American peo- traces its roots back to the Maryland
all know that will not do. Jacksonville ple—including the will of democratic Gazette, which began publishing in
is governed by a Republican, and the voters, a majority of whom oppose DC 1727, and the Capital, which was found-
Democrats have canceled Andrew statehood. Democratic politicians are ed in 1884.
Jackson. pushing for this radically unpopular Two years later, the senseless loss of
Washington also doesn’t have the di- idea not because it is a sound idea but life remains so personal to so many
versity of interest and financial inde- because they are angry that they don’t people in Annapolis and around the
pendence that Madison explained were win every election under the current State. You need to understand that the
necessary for a well-functioning State. rules, and so they want to change the Capital Gazette is as much a part of
Yes, Wyoming is smaller than Wash- rules. the fabric of Annapolis as the State
ington by population, but it has 3 If you doubt this whole endeavor is government that it covers better than
times as many workers in mining, log- about power, consider that the Demo- anyone in the business. Today, it still
ging, and construction, and 10 times as crats could just as easily call for retro- carries out that mission better than
many workers in manufacturing. In ceding the District of Columbia to anyone else, with an added priority of
other words, Wyoming is a well-round- Maryland. This would give Washington covering the gun violence that con-
ed, working-class State. A new State of residents the voting power in Congress tinues to plague this country and ef-
Washington would not be. that is supposedly at the heart of this forts to reduce gun violence and in-
What about Alaska? It provides more matter—a voting Member in the House, crease public safety.
than 60 percent the Nation’s seafood, probably of its own, and representation As I did 2 years ago, I want to take a
and its vital geography protects the en- in the Senate. There is even historical moment to mourn those we lost and to
tire Nation with missile defense sys- precedent for retrocession, unlike turn- thank the first responders who ap-
tems and enables us to check Russian ing the Federal District into a State. peared on the scene literally 60 seconds
and Chinese ambitions in the Arctic. But retrocession wouldn’t give the after the 9–1–1 call. On this day 2 years
But what vital industries would the Democrats their real aim—two Demo- ago, Anne Arundel County police offi-
new State of Washington represent— cratic Senators in perpetuity to cers happened to be down the street
lobbying, bureaucracy? Give me a rubberstamp the swamp’s agenda. So from the offices when the shooting
break. By far, the largest group of you will not hear them talk about started. Their location and fast re-
workers in the city are bureaucrats that. sponse most definitely saved lives.
and other white collar professionals. Also consider the Democrats’ other According to Anne Arundel Police
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
This State would be nothing more than big idea as of late. You will see that Chief Timothy Altomare, within 2 min-
an appendage of the Federal Govern- startling them. Earlier this week, the utes, the Anne Arundel County Police
ment, not separate from the govern- junior Senator from Delaware ex- Department, the Annapolis Police De-
ment, as the State ought to be. pressed his openness to ending the leg- partment, and the Anne Arundel Sher-
Faced with these insuperable facts, islative filibuster in the Senate, even iff’s Office rushed into the offices and
the Democrats will retreat to the claim though he wrote the letter demanding into the newsroom and apprehended
that it is not fair for Washington to that we preserve the filibuster. Having the gunman.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:06 Jun 26, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JN6.031 S25JNPT1
June 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3299
State and Federal law enforcement their mission as journalists. During show the scope of the problem. So far,
personnel from the Federal Bureau of and after the attack, staff continued to in 2020, there have been 107 journalists
Investigation and the Bureau of Alco- report by tweet, sharing information to attacked and 36 arrested in the United
hol, Tobacco Firearms, and Explosives those outside, taking photos and docu- States.
and many other agencies quickly ar- menting information as they would Instead of attacking the free press,
rived to support local officials in their any other crime scene. Despite their we need to be honoring it. Toward that
efforts to clear the building and me- grief, shock, anger, and mourning, the end, I have introduced a bill, S. 1969, to
ticulously investigate the scene. surviving staff—with the help of their establish the fallen journalists memo-
I want to thank, again, Chief sister publication the Baltimore Sun, rial here in Washington, DC. I am
Altomare and every one of those law Capital Gazette alum, and other re- pleased that the Natural Resources
enforcement officers who did their job porters who wanted to lend a hand to Committee ordered the bill to be re-
and contributed to the emergency re- fellow journalists—put out a paper the ported favorably by voice vote. The
sponse. I want to acknowledge, again, next morning, as they have done every changes the committee made reflected
the victims. day since. input from stakeholders, including the
Gerald Fischman, 61, was an editor The staff fittingly left the editorial National Park Service, which supports
with more than 25 years of service with page blank the day after the shooting, the bill.
the Capital Gazette, well known at the but for these few words: The legislation is bipartisan, non-
newspaper and throughout the commu- Today, we are speechless. This page is in- controversial, and does not impose any
nity for his brilliant mind and writing. tentionally left blank to commemorate the additional costs on taxpayers. The me-
Most often, it was his voice and his victims of Thursday’s shootings at our of- morial will serve as a fitting tribute to
insightfulness that came through on fice. the Capital Gazette staff and to all
the editorial pages of the Capital Ga- The staff promised that on Saturday, journalists who have died in the line of
zette. the page would ‘‘return to its steady duty and to our Nation’s commitment
Rick Hutzell, the Capital Gazette’s purpose of offering our readers in- to the free press.
editor, described Fischman as ‘‘some- formed opinion about the world around My hope is that we will all agree that
one whose life was committed to pro- them, that they may be better citi- building a new memorial to honor the
tecting our community by telling hard zens.’’ And they carried that out. fallen victims is appropriate and
truths.’’ Our Constitution, which establishes should be done and should be passed.
Rob Hiaasen, 59, was a columnist, the rule of law in this country, grants As Walter Cronkite remarked, ‘‘Free-
editor, teacher, and storyteller who us certain rights and responsibilities. dom of the press is not just important
brought compassion and humor to his Freedom of the press, central to the to democracy, it is democracy.’’
community-focused reporting. Rob was very First Amendment of the Constitu- I suggest the absence of a quorum.
a coach and a mentor to many. Accord- tion, has often been under attack, figu- The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
ing to the former Baltimore Sun col- ratively speaking, since our Nation’s clerk will call the roll.
umnist Susan Reimer, he was ‘‘so founding. Today, those attacks have The senior assistant legislative clerk
happy working with young journalists. become more frequent, and they are proceeded to call the roll.
. . . He wanted to create a newsroom not just figurative anymore. They are Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, I ask
where everyone was growing.’’ physical. These attacks are spurred on unanimous consent that the order for
John McNamara, age 56, was a skilled by dangerous rhetoric that has created the quorum call be rescinded.
writer and avid sports fan. He com- an open season on the media for doing The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
bined these passions in his 24-year ca- its job—asking questions that need to objection, it is so ordered.
reer as a sports reporter at the Capital be asked, investigating stories that THE JUSTICE ACT
Gazette. Former Capital Gazette sports need to be investigated, and bringing Mr. CORNYN. Mr. President, the
editor Gerry Jackson, when remem- needy transparency to the halls of Senate was prepared yesterday to an-
bering ‘‘Mac,’’ said: power, whether they are in Annapolis, swer the call of millions of Americans
He could write. He could edit. He could de- Washington, DC, or anywhere in this to take action on police reform. The
sign pages. He was just a jack of all trades country. senseless and tragic death of Houston
and a fantastic person. In 2018, after the shooting at the Cap- native George Floyd galvanized people
Rebecca Smith, age 34, was a newly ital Gazette, the United States was, for of all races and ethnicities to speak out
hired sales assistant known for her the first time, added to the list of ‘‘the against the injustices that persist in
kindness, compassion, and love for her most deadly countries for journalists’’ our criminal justice system and to de-
family. A friend of her fiance described in an annual report by the group Re- mand action. We tried to take that re-
‘‘Becca’’ as ‘‘the absolute most beau- porters Without Borders. sponsibility seriously.
tiful person’’ with the ‘‘biggest heart’’ President Trump’s rhetoric—calling Senator TIM SCOTT, our colleague
and called her death ‘‘a great loss to the media ‘‘a stain on America’’ and from South Carolina, led the effort to
this world.’’ the ‘‘enemy of the American people’’— draft a bill that would improve polic-
Wendi Winters, age 65, was a talented certainly has been harmful. I have said ing practices around the country. That
writer, who built her career as a public this before and I will keep saying it: bill, the JUSTICE Act, addressed choke
relations professional and journalist, The President’s language is dangerous. holds and no-knock warrants—two
well known for her profound reporting It has gone beyond the pale, and he practices which have, for good reason,
on the lives and achievements of people needs to stop it. been brought into question by recent
within the community. She was a As Jason Rezaian wrote in the Wash- events. This legislation would have en-
‘‘proud Navy Mom’’ and Navy daugh- ington Post after the Capital Gazette sured that the best trained officers on
ter. Wendi saved lives during the at- shooting, Donald Trump ‘‘didn’t create our police forces would be using body
tack. She confronted and distracted the problem of hostility to journalists, cameras—reporting critical data—and
the gunman, throwing whatever she but he exploits and exacerbates it.’’ being held accountable for crossing
could find around her at him. He went on to say: redlines.
As the newspaper noted: That’s true, too, of the leaders in other We thought our colleagues across the
Wendi died protecting her friends, but also countries who routinely call reporters en- aisle would have taken this matter se-
in defense of her newsroom from a mur- emies of the state, terrorists and national se- riously as well. They drafted their own
derous assault. Wendi died protecting free- curity threats. And we must be vigilant to version of a reform bill. While there
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
dom of the press. standing up to these empty accusations. were differences between the two pro-
My heartfelt condolences and prayers In the United States, physical at- posals, there was a lot of overlap. In
go out to the families of these five tacks on media have grown so trouble- fact, there was more these two bills
wonderful people. some that the Committee to Protect had in common than was different.
The surviving staff members also de- Journalists, an independent nonprofit Both bills, for example, focused on
serve our continued prayers and praise that promotes freedoms globally, actu- training, transparency, and account-
for their resilience and dedication to ally started a U.S. freedom tracker to ability.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:06 Jun 26, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00023 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JN6.033 S25JNPT1
S3300 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 25, 2020
I had hoped that would have meant listen to the millions of Americans who its markup and voted overwhelmingly
that we would have been in a good want to see us working together. They to send this bill to the Senate floor.
place when it came to trying to rec- want to see action, not cynical polit- As we begin consideration of the de-
oncile the remaining differences. After ical gestures. fense authorization bill, I want to
all, the Democratic leader had been S. 4049 thank all of the men and women who
urging the majority leader to put a po- Mr. President, turning to another serve in our U.S. military and ensure
lice reform bill on the floor by July 4, matter, I am glad the Senate has now them that we will do everything we can
and that is exactly what we did. Leader moved to consider another critical to support them and ensure they are
MCCONNELL made clear that this would piece of legislation—the National De- empowered and mission-ready.
be an open debate and that there would fense Authorization Act. I yield the floor.
be amendments and an opportunity for The NDAA, as it is called, represents The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
our Democratic colleagues to work one of the most basic duties of the Fed- ator from Vermont.
with us in order to make the bill bet- eral Government, and that is to pro- Mr. SANDERS. Mr. President, if
vide for the common defense. The Na- there was ever a moment in American
ter. Ultimately, if they had decided to
tional Defense Authorization Act is history to fundamentally alter our na-
get on the bill, as the Presiding Officer
how we ensure that critical Depart- tional priorities, now is the time.
knows, there would have been 60-vote Whether it is fighting against sys-
thresholds on the back end that would ment of Defense programs are contin-
ued, that American servicemembers temic racism and police brutality,
have given them leverage to have made transforming our energy system away
sure that the debate would have been are paid, and that our national defense
is modernized to keep pace with the from fossil fuel, ending a cruel and dys-
fulsome and fair. But that simply functional healthcare system, or ad-
wasn’t enough for our friends across rapidly evolving threat landscape.
All of us have understood the impor- dressing the grotesque levels of income
the aisle. and wealth inequality in our country,
When it came time to take a purely tance of passing the NDAA each year,
which is why, for the last 59 years, we now is the time for change—real
procedural vote to begin debate, they change.
blocked it. They refused to engage in have done it without delay.
I hope Members of this body are com- When we talk about real change, it is
any meaningful or productive way. incredible to me the degree to which
So after promising the American peo- mitted to continuing that tradition be-
cause as our Nation battles on so many Congress continues to ignore our bloat-
ple that they were going to act to re- ed $740 billion defense budget, which
form America’s police departments, different fronts, we cannot afford to let
military readiness lapse. has gone up by over $100 billion since
they were given the opportunity, but Trump has been in office.
they broke their promise. One of my top priorities is to make
sure our men and women in uniform Year after year, Democrats and Re-
As Senator SCOTT said yesterday, it publicans—who disagree on almost ev-
wasn’t what was being offered but who have the support they need and the
training they need on and off the bat- erything—come together with minimal
offered it. Our colleagues on the other debate to support an exploding Pen-
side of the aisle find themselves too po- tlefield.
The defense authorization bill builds tagon budget, which is now higher than
litically conflicted to work on a bipar- the next 11 countries combined—now
on the progress we have made to imple-
tisan basis to enact meaningful re- higher than the next 11 countries com-
ment the national defense strategy and
forms, so they have chosen to take the bined—and which represents more than
ensure that our military is prepared to
low road of obstruction. They have half of our discretionary spending.
counter the threats we face today and
shown they can’t be bothered to pass a those that will inevitably come tomor- Incredibly, after adjusting for infla-
bill that would help families like the row. It goes a long way to maintain our tion, we are now spending more on the
Floyds who have lost their loved ones technological advantage, to modernize military than we did during the height
in a senseless and completely prevent- our weapons, to build resilience, and to of the Cold War, when we faced a major
able way. They proved yesterday that strengthen our alliances. adversary in the Soviet Union, or dur-
this was a purely political calcula- America’s 2.1 million servicemembers ing the wars in Vietnam and Korea.
tion—very sad. have made a commitment that few are This extraordinary level of military
Both Democrats and Republicans willing to make and joined the ranks of spending comes at a time when the De-
have said repeatedly over the last few America’s heroes who have defended partment of Defense is the only agency
weeks that the status quo was not sus- our country throughout our history. of our Federal Government that has
tainable and that it is time to change. Roughly 225,000 of them call Texas not been able to pass an independent
As I said, both parties drafted bills, but home, in places like Fort Hood, Fort audit, when defense contractors are
it is pretty clear there was only one Bliss, Lackland Air Force Base, Naval making enormous profits, while paying
party interested in making a law. Air Station Corpus Christi, and Elling- their CEOs exorbitant compensation
Unless you can get enough votes to ton Field, just to name a few. Those packages, and when the so-called War
pass a Republican-led Senate, a Demo- Texans—those Americans—carry out on Terror will end up costing us some
cratic-led House, and get the signature missions that are crucial to our na- $6 trillion.
of a President, those reforms won’t tional security, protecting us from in- I believe this is a moment in history
change the behavior of a single officer. creasingly complex threats. where it would be a very good idea for
If those solutions only live on the page We have a responsibility to provide all of my colleagues and the American
of a bill or within the borders of a press our troops with the training, equip- people to remember what former Re-
release, they are not going to accom- ment, and resources they need so they publican President Dwight D. Eisen-
plish anything. can complete their critical missions hower said in 1953. As we all recall, Ei-
So I understand that our Democratic and hopefully return home safely. senhower was a four-star general who
colleagues weren’t happy starting with After all, these men and women are led the Allied Forces to victory in Eu-
the JUSTICE Act, but the temper tan- much more than dedicated and tal- rope during World War II. He knew
trum we witnessed yesterday isn’t ented servicemembers; they are our something about war and defense
moving us one step closer to achieving sons and daughters, our parents, our spending. Eisenhower said, and I
the results they claim they want, spouses, and our family members. quote—and this is a profound state-
which is change. While we are providing them the re- ment we should never forget—Eisen-
The majority leader has indicated sources they need to succeed, we need hower said:
that this body will have another oppor- Every gun that is made, every warship
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
to support those military families.
tunity to vote on whether to begin de- This legislation includes a 3-percent launched, every rocket signifies, in the final
bating this legislation. Again, this pay raise for our troops, additional sense, a theft from those who hunger and are
wasn’t about the final bill; this was not fed, those who are cold and are not
support for the family members, such
clothed.
about beginning the process of deter- as military spouse employment oppor- This world in arms is not spending money
mining what that bill would look like. tunities, and childcare. alone, it is spending the sweat of its labor-
So I hope our colleagues across the Earlier this month, the Senate ers, the genius of its scientists, the hopes of
aisle will reconsider. I hope they will Armed Services Committee completed its children.
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:06 Jun 26, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JN6.034 S25JNPT1
June 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3301
Dwight D. Eisenhower. we want to invest in childcare and intents and purposes, these companies
What Eisenhower said was pro- healthcare for the American people are governmental agencies. They are
foundly true 67 years ago, and it is pro- who need it the most? receiving over 90 percent of their rev-
foundly true today. When we take a close look at the De- enue from the Federal Government.
If the horrific pandemic we are now fense Department budget—I am sorry Yes, they are private corporations, but
experiencing has taught us anything, it to say that I don’t think we are doing they are essentially subsidiaries of the
is that national security is not just that here in the Senate—it is inter- Federal Government. Yet, despite re-
building bombs, missiles, jet fighters, esting to note that Congress has appro- ceiving over 90 percent of their funding
tanks, submarines, nuclear warheads, priated so much money for the Defense from the taxpayers of this country,
and other weapons of mass destruction; Department that the Pentagon lit- they are paying their CEOs over 100
national security also means doing ev- erally does not know what to do with times more than the Secretary of De-
erything we can to improve the lives of it. Children go hungry in America, peo- fense makes. And the Secretary of De-
our people, many of whom have been ple sleep out on the streets, young peo- fense does just fine, but the CEOs, on
abandoned by our government decade ple can’t afford to go to college, but government revenue of the major de-
after decade. the Defense Department literally does fense companies, earn 100 times more
In order to begin the process of trans- not know what to do with all of the than the Secretary of Defense. It is
forming our national priorities, I have money Congress throws at it. not, therefore, very surprising to learn
filed an amendment to the National According to the Government Ac- that we have a revolving door where
Defense Authorization Act with Sen- countability Office—the GAO—between our generals and admirals and other of-
ator MARKEY of Massachusetts to re- 2013 and 2018, the Pentagon returned ficials in the military leave govern-
duce the military budget by 10 percent more than $80 billion in funding back ment service and then end up on the
and to use the $74 billion in savings to to the Treasury. They couldn’t spend boards of directors of these major de-
invest in distressed communities all the money that they had. fense companies.
across our country—communities that In my view, the time is long overdue Moreover, as the GAO has told us,
have been ravaged by extreme poverty, for us to take a hard look not only at there are massive, massive cost over-
mass incarceration, deindustriali- the size of the Pentagon budget but at runs in the Defense Department’s ac-
zation, and decades of neglect. the enormous amount of waste, cost quisition budget that the U.S. Congress
At a time when more Americans have overruns, fraud, and at the financial must address. According to the GAO,
died from the coronavirus than were mismanagement that has plagued the the Pentagon’s $1.8 trillion acquisition
killed fighting in World War I; when Department of Defense for decades. portfolio currently suffers from more
over 30 million Americans have lost Let’s be clear. About half of the Pen- than $628 billion in cost overruns, with
their jobs in recent months—30 million; tagon’s budget goes directly into the much of the costs taking place after
when tens of millions of Americans are hands of private contractors, not our production.
in danger of being evicted from their troops. And I think I share the view In other words, they tell the govern-
apartments or their homes because with every Member of the Senate that ment—they tell the DOD that they will
they no longer have adequate income; we must protect our troops. I don’t produce a weapons system for X dol-
when education in America—from want troops and their families on food lars. It doesn’t mean much because the
childcare to graduate school—is in des- stamps. I don’t want to see our mili- total amount ends up being Y after
perate need of reform; when half a mil- tary living in inadequate housing or they get the contract.
lion Americans are homeless tonight; lacking childcare for their kids. We The GAO tells us also that ‘‘many
and when close to 100 million of our must make sure that our men and DOD programs fall short of costs,
people are either uninsured or under- women in the Armed Forces have as schedule and performance expecta-
insured, now is the time to invest in good a quality of life as we can provide. tions, meaning the DOD pays more
our people—in jobs, education, housing, But let’s again not forget that about than anticipated, can buy less than ex-
healthcare here at home—not more half of the Pentagon’s budget goes di- pected, and in some cases delivers less
military spending for an already bloat- rectly into the hands of private con- capability to the warfighter.’’
ed military budget. Now is the time to tractors, not the troops. The Commission on Wartime Con-
get our priorities right. Over the past two decades, virtually tracting in Iraq and Afghanistan con-
Under this amendment, distressed every major defense contractor in the cluded in 2011, and $31 to $60 billion in
communities in every State in our United States has paid millions of dol- Iraq and Afghanistan has been lost to
country would be able to use this $74 lars in fines and settlements for mis- fraud and waste—$31 to $60 billion. Sep-
billion in funding to create jobs by conduct and fraud, all while making arately, in 2015, the Special Inspector
building affordable housing desperately huge profits on those government con- General for Afghanistan Reconstruc-
needed in our country, by investing in tracts. tion reported that the Pentagon could
schools when school budgets all over Since 1995, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, not account for $45 billion in funding
America are in desperate shape, invest- and United Technology—some of the for reconstruction projects. It just got
ing in childcare facilities, community major defense contractors in America— lost. A few bucks here, a few bucks
health centers, public hospitals, librar- have paid over $3 billion in fines or re- there? No, $45 billion of taxpayer
ies, sustainable energy projects, and lated settlements for fraud or mis- money was lost and cannot be ac-
clean drinking water facilities. conduct—over $3 billion in fines or re- counted for. More recently, an audit
These communities will also receive lated settlements for fraud or mis- conducted by Ernst & Young for the
Federal funding to hire more public conduct. Yet those three companies re- Defense Logistics Agency found that
school teachers, provide nutritious ceived around $1 trillion in defense the DOD could not properly account for
meals to our children, and offer free contracts over the past two decades some $800 million in construction
tuition at public colleges, universities, alone. projects. That is what happens when
or trade schools. I find it interesting that the very you have a huge agency that is truly
Mr. President, at this pivotal mo- same defense contractors that have unaccountable.
ment in American history, we have to been found guilty or reached settle- I believe in a strong military, but we
rethink our Nation’s priorities, and we ments for fraud are also paying their cannot keep giving more money to the
have to make a fundamental decision CEOs excessive compensation pack- Pentagon than it needs when millions
about who we are as a people. ages. Last year, the CEOs of Lockheed of children in our country are food in-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
Do we really want to spend billions Martin and Northrop Grumman both secure, when 140 million Americans
more on endless wars in the Middle made over $20 million in total com- cannot afford the basic necessities of
East, or do we want to provide good- pensation, while 90 percent of the com- life without going into debt, throwing
paying jobs to millions of unemployed pany’s revenue came from defense con- billions after billions into the Pen-
Americans at home as we rebuild our tracts. In other words, these compa- tagon and a few blocks away from here,
communities? Do we want to spend nies—and it is important to note, and in the Nation’s Capital, people are
more money on nuclear weapons, or do we don’t talk about this often—for all sleeping out in the streets, children
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:24 Jun 26, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JN6.036 S25JNPT1
S3302 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE June 25, 2020
can’t find a decent education, and and well-being of our communities capita than any State in the country.
young people can’t afford to go to col- throughout Alaska, throughout Amer- By his father and mother and probably,
lege. ica, but is not always recognized and I am sure, a bunch of his siblings, he
In 1967, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., certainly not recognized enough. was taught discipline and respect and
warned us that ‘‘a nation that con- Our Alaskan of the week, Fairbanks the importance of giving back to his
tinues year after year to spend more police officer Daniel Welborn, is one of community.
money on military defense than on pro- those people. He recently retired from Dan graduated from West Valley
grams of social uplift is approaching the Fairbanks Police Force after 26 High in Fairbanks and then went on to
spiritual death.’’ years—more than a quarter of a cen- the University of Alaska at Fair-
Let me repeat that. tury—and is one of those everyday he- banks—UAF, as we call it. As a stu-
Dr. King said that ‘‘a nation that roes who we think are important to dent, he began working with the cam-
continues year after year to spend highlight as an Alaskan of the Week pus police, which piqued his interest in
more money on military defense than and as an American helping his fellow law enforcement as a career and led
on programs of social uplift is ap- Americans and Alaskans. him—he put himself through the law
proaching spiritual death.’’ Before I get into Officer Welborn’s enforcement academy in Alaska.
The time is long overdue for the U.S. story, let me tell you a little bit about Eventually, newly married and con-
Senate to listen to what Dr. King said. what is going on in Alaska right now. sidering starting a family, Dan got a
At a time when, in the richest country The weather has been glorious in many job at the Fairbanks Police Depart-
in the history of the world, half of our areas—sunny in a lot of places, rainy in ment, and that is the job he has kept
people are struggling paycheck-to-pay- others. We have a very big State. The for 26 years, and he has done it very
check; when over 40 million Americans summer solstice is just a few days be- well. He has done nearly every job
are living in poverty; and when over hind us. That is the longest day of the there is to do on the force. Traffic
500,000 Americans are homeless, to year and a huge day in Alaska—mid- duty, patrol, oversight of investiga-
quote Dr. King, we are approaching night Sun, energy. It is great being in tions, homicides, sexual assaults,
spiritual death. Alaska right now. fraud, forgery, computer and internet
At a time when we have the highest Most of the State has opened up with crimes—you name it, Dan’s done it. He
rate of childhood poverty of almost precautions, of course, in place, given helped build a property crimes unit in
every major country on Earth and the pandemic. More and more people Fairbanks.
when millions of Americans are in dan- are getting out. The salmon are cer- He wrote dozens and dozens of grants
ger of going hungry, we are approach- tainly running, beginning to run up our to help the department get the equip-
ing spiritual death. rivers. The bears are fully woke— ment it needed so they can keep up
At a time when over 60,000 Americans maybe not woke in that sense, but they with the times.
die unnecessarily every year because are awake. His awards are extensive. I was look-
they can’t afford to go to a doctor I was home last week in Fairbanks ing at his record. It is very impres-
when they need to go to a doctor and celebrating the amazing life of my sive—Officer of the Year, numerous
when one out of five Americans cannot mother-in-law, Mary Jane Fate, whom service awards and ribbons.
afford the prescription drugs their doc- our family put to rest. She was one of His community service is also exten-
tors prescribe, yes, we are approaching the most revered Alaskan leaders and sive beyond just being a police officer—
spiritual death. elders who recently passed away, and serving on the board of Mothers
Now, at this moment of unprece- we had a beautiful, moving ceremony, Against Drunk Driving, starting a
dented national crisis, it is time to talking about this trailblazing woman. project called Operation Glow in Fair-
rethink what we value as a society and I can’t wait to get back home—get banks, which helps keep kids safe on
to fundamentally transform our na- back home to Fairbanks in particular, Halloween when they are out trick-or-
tional priorities. The status quo is no the Golden Heart City, where Officer treating.
longer good enough. Now, at this mo- Welborn has spent his entire career In 2016, Officer Welborn was pro-
ment of national crises, a growing pan- protecting and defending. moted to deputy chief of police where,
demic and economic meltdown, the de- As you know, much attention has again, he excelled. He is known
mand to end systemic racism and po- been spent on our Nation’s police throughout the State for his solid deci-
lice brutality, and an unstable Presi- forces in recent weeks, but there hasn’t sionmaking, his even temperament,
dent, it is time for us to truly focus on been nearly enough attention, in my and for the good way that he has with
what we value as a society and to fun- view, drawn to what it actually means people. He is judicious and stern when
damentally transform our national pri- to be a police officer—not an easy job— needed, but always kind, considerate,
orities. Cutting the military budget by and to be a good police officer—a criti- and respectful, which is what we want
10 percent and investing that money in cally important job—which the vast in our police force.
human needs is a modest way to begin majority of police officers—certainly Service also runs in Dan’s family. I
that process. in Alaska but I would say across Amer- love this part of his life. His brother
With that, I yield the floor. ica—are, good police officers who put Doug is also a Fairbanks police officer,
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- their lives on the line every day for us, and his son Brett was sworn in as a
ator from Alaska. and Alaskans and Americans should be Fairbanks police officer on May 20, a
TRIBUTE TO DANIEL WELBORN grateful that they do that. month ago. Wow. That is a family of
Mr. SULLIVAN. Mr. President, it is As I have said many times before at service.
Thursday, and it is that time of the police memorial ceremonies back What he tells his son Brett is this:
week that I like to come down to the home, every job in our country, every It’s important that you understand defen-
Senate floor and talk about somebody job in my State is important, but there sive tactics. [This is not always easy work.]
who is doing something great in my is something special, noble, even sa- But the most important thing is your people
State, someone I get to brag about, a cred about a job that entails protecting skills. You need to be able to sympathize
[empathize] with people, and take charge if
special Alaskan, somebody we refer to others and being willing to put your you need to. And if you need to take charge
as our Alaskan of the Week. life on the line to keep your fellow citi- and you get someone under control, you
Sometimes this person has made big zens safe. must treat them with professionalism and
headlines back home, maybe even So let me talk about a good police of- respect. It’s a hard thing to remember [some-
across the country, and throughout the ficer, one of many in my State. Dan
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
times], but it’s the most critical thing to re-
State, people know them. But often- Welborn and his large Catholic family member.
times—and one of the reasons we start- of seven brothers and sisters moved to That is Officer Welborn. That is sage
ed this whole series many years ago— Fairbanks in 1988. Dan’s father was in wisdom.
this is a person who has worked more the Army, which, of course, draws a lot Now, I hear that Dan will be moving
behind the scenes day in, day out, year of people to the Golden Heart City of to St. Louis to be close to his beloved
in, year out, doing the kind of public Fairbanks and to the great State of baseball team, the Cardinals. He will
service that is so vital to the health Alaska. We have more veterans per miss the community, his job, and his
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:24 Jun 26, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00026 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JN6.037 S25JNPT1
June 25, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S3303
family. By the way, his sister Patty ate proceed to executive session and RYAN S. RHODES
wrote this great letter to me, which I the Committee on Commerce be dis- LUIS J. RODRIGUEZ
read all about his community service. charged from further consideration of RICHARD M. SCOTT
Boy, Dan, your sister thinks you are MICHAEL R. SINCLAIR
PN1674; that the Senate proceed to its
JENNIFER A. STOCKWELL
amazing. We hope that you will come consideration; that the nomination be JOHN M. STONE
back. Actually, we are pretty confident confirmed, the motion to reconsider be TODD C. TROUP
you are going to come back to Alaska considered made and laid upon the DANIEL R. URSINO
because we want you to come back. table with no intervening action or de- DANIEL R. WARREN
You are not done serving our commu- bate, and that the President be imme- CHARLES E. WEBB
nity. diately notified of the Senate’s action MOLLY A. WIKE
We know this: Officer Welborn will and that the Senate then resume legis- ERIN E. WILLIAMS
certainly be missed, and he will miss lative session. WILLIAM C. WOITYRA
being a patrol officer. He loved work- The nomination considered and con- CHRISTOPHER G. WOLFE
ing the traffic beat because of all the MARC A. ZLOMEK
firmed is as follows:
people he got to meet and all the times PN1674—COAST GUARD
f
he got to help people on the road. Of The following named officers for appoint- LEGISLATIVE SESSION
course, there are things about the job ment in the United States Coast Guard to
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
he won’t miss. I am not sure this is the grade indicated under Title 14 U.S.C.,
sec. 2121(e): ate will now resume legislative session.
talked about enough, images that will
likely stick with him and images that, To be captain f
unfortunately, haunt many police offi- ERIN N. ADLER MORNING BUSINESS
cers across the country because the BRADFORD E. APITZ f
fact of the matter is, people can be dif- WILLIAM L. ARRITT
ficult. People can be brutal to each MATTHEW J. BAER CORONAVIRUS
other, domestic violence and child JONATHAN BATES Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, we are
KRISTI L. BERNSTEIN
abuse. The police see it all. It is not MARC BRANDT
now several months into a global pan-
easy, and he has witnessed way too VERONICA A. BRECHT demic that has caused terrible human
much of that brutality, and he has pro- JASON A. BRENNELL and economic suffering.
tected Fairbanks’ citizens from a lot of RANDALL E. BROWN Here in the United States alone,
it. JONATHAN A. CARTER more than 2.3 million Americans have
Here is what he also knows: Mostly, MICHAEL A. CILENTI been infected, and more than 120,000
the vast majority of people are good, DANIEL H. COST have died.
and that is so important to remember. CHRISTOPHER F. COUTU That is more Americans killed in the
Alaskans are good people. Americans THOMAS D. CRANE
Korean, Vietnam, Afghanistan, and
are good people. He has witnessed that, PATRICK A. CULVER
THOMAS C. DARCY Iraq wars combined and more than
too, and he has contributed to that CARMEN S. DEGEORGE those killed in one of our most deadly
goodness. KELLY K. DENNING wars, World War I.
He recently told a story about a time JOSE E. DIAZ I recently spoke with Melinda Gates
at the department that will stay with KEITH M. DONOHUE about the foundation she and her hus-
him. He talked about attending a wed- ERIC D. DREY band Bill established and its efforts re-
ding at a hotel. There was a man there DAVID M. DUBAY garding the coronavirus pandemic.
setting tables and working at the JEFFREY T. ELDRIDGE
Bill warned years ago to prepare for
hotel. He looked at Officer Welborn and BRIAN C. ERICKSON
SEAN C. FAHEY just this kind of pandemic, including
said, ‘‘Officer, can I talk to you for a directly with Donald Trump just before
JOSHUA W. FANT
minute?’’ He said, ‘‘Sure.’’ This man taking office.
AMY E. FLORENTINO
went up to Officer Welborn and said: BENJAMIN M. GOLIGHTLY Not surprisingly, their foundation
Officer, you probably don’t remember me, JEFFREY R. GRAHAM has provided millions to global efforts
but you arrested me years ago for a DUI. [I JASON B. GUNNING
was having problems then, and] I’ve turned
to find a vaccine and treatment for the
MATTHEW W. HAMMOND coronavirus.
my life around since then. All these years SEAN P. HANNIGAN
later, Officer Welborn, I still remember how One such event was an EU-hosted vir-
JOHN HENRY
well you treated me. EDWARD J. HERNAEZ tual conference in May with many of
Think about that. Those are the kind WESLEY H. HESTER our key allies that raised more than $8
of good memories that will stay with TEDD B. HUTLEY billion to be spent over 2 years to fur-
Dan too. So, thank you, Officer MICHAEL S. JACKSON ther promising vaccine and treatment
Welborn, for all you have done for our ANDREW S. JOCA efforts.
community and the great city of Fair- ERIC J. JONES The EU and Norway each gave $1 bil-
WARREN D. JUDGE lion; the French, Germans, and Brits
banks. Thanks for your service to Alas- DANIEL P. KEANE
ka and to America. Thanks for pro- combined also gave nearly $1 billion;
BRAD W. KELLY
tecting us and for setting the example DIRK L. KRAUSE the Canadians pledged $850 million; the
with respect. BRIAN C. KRAUTLER Swiss $400 million, and the Dutch, $200
We wish you all the happiness in re- MARK I. KUPERMAN million. Japan and others also made
tirement. We really want you to come MICHAEL R. LACHOWICZ sizeable pledges.
back to Alaska, so don’t stay in St. TAYLOR Q. LAM The Gates Foundation gave $125 mil-
Louis too long. The Cardinals aren’t LEANNE M. LUSK lion, with Melinda wisely telling the
even that good of a baseball team. BENJAMIN J. MAULE gathering, ‘‘This virus doesn’t care
LEON MCCLAIN JR.
Congratulations on being our Alas- what nationality you are . . . As long
EUGENE D. MCGUINNESS
kan of the Week. ZEITA MERCHANT as the virus is somewhere, it’s every-
I yield the floor. JOSEPH E. MEUSE where.’’
(Mr. SULLIVAN assumed the Chair.) JOSHUA P. MILLER And what was the contribution of the
The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. MATTHEW J. MOORLAG United States? Nothing.
SCOTT of Florida). The majority leader. STEPHANIE A. MORRISON The U.S. Government under Presi-
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
f MAURICE D. MURPHY dent Trump didn’t participate in this
BRYAN C. PAPE shared effort that could help save
EXECUTIVE SESSION JOSE PEREZ
f American lives.
SHANNON M. PITTS
ROBERT H. POTTER JR. But that is not all. On this 40th anni-
EXECUTIVE CALENDAR versary of the World Health Organiza-
SCOTT B. POWERS
Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I CLINTON J. PRINDLE tion’s historic achievement to eradi-
ask unanimous consent that the Sen- ARTHUR L. RAY cate smallpox, President Trump also
VerDate Sep 11 2014 04:24 Jun 26, 2020 Jkt 099060 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 4624 Sfmt 0634 E:\CR\FM\G25JN6.039 S25JNPT1
File and source
- File
- CREC_crec-2020-06-25_crec-2020-06-25-pt1-pgs3290.pdf
- Size
- 305,894 bytes
- SHA-256
- 336e7feacf2b2c6b0c286488e9bf5f3d03770a35371a242c7cdf0eb5a20be559
- Original
- www.govinfo.gov