Congressional Record, Senate Page S4205 — July 2, 2020
Summary
Page S4205 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for July 2, 2020, in interleaved columns, from remarks on the defense authorization bill. An Ohio speaker welcomes $35 million for energy efficiency at a defense intelligence center in Ohio and describes keeping a tank plant open through foreign sales. Another speaker notes Ukraine was recently designated a NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner and hopes for a unanimous consent resolution. A further speaker cites $3.8 billion as over half of current foreign military funds and quotes Susan Rice, as that speaker's argument.
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“Congressional Record, Senate Page S4205 — July 2, 2020.”
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July 2, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4205
world who rely on DLA for their equip- We provided enough funding to keep Ukraine. I was pleased to see that
ment and resources. it open partly by bringing in foreign Ukraine was very recently designated
There is also $35 million for enhanced sales, and I helped in that, to try to get as a NATO Enhanced Opportunities
energy efficiency at Wright-Patter- other countries to try to use our tank Partner, and one day I hope to welcome
son’s National Air and Space Intel- plant, which they have and still do. We them as a full member of NATO. We
ligence Center, NASIC. We are so proud also reversed years of backlogged are passing, I hope, a unanimous con-
to have NASIC in Ohio, and we are maintenance recently, and we ensured sent resolution in this body with re-
happy to see this additional invest- our workers have a safe environment in gard to this issue. We need to be sure
ment in infrastructure for NASIC. which to work. So it is doing well now. and let Ukraine know we support them.
Hopefully, the Space Command will The lines are humming. Thank good- For the past 4 years, I have worked
end up in Ohio as well. ness we kept it open. to include provisions in the NDAA, the
There is also $15 million in the bill In 2018, I had the opportunity to be Defense bill we are working on now,
for construction of a new Guard readi- the first Member of Congress to see the that help expand military assistance to
ness center in Columbus, OH, which latest model of the Stryker Dragoon Ukraine and build on the Ukraine mili-
will serve as a staging area for the vehicles. They have a 30-millimeter tary security assistance initiative.
Ohio National Guard, which is increas- turret—a cannon on top of an armored This year I was pleased that the bill
ingly being called upon to respond to vehicle. This is a wheeled armored ve- again authorizes $250 million in lethal
crises. I will have a chance to visit hicle with a turret on top of it. That 30- and nonlethal aid to Ukraine. That in-
with some of our Guard members next millimeter cannon replaced the normal cludes $125 million in lethal assistance
week in Ohio, and I look forward to it. 50-caliber machine gun. The 50-caliber that they need. That is an increase of
One of the bill’s other important ini- machine gun is effective in certain in- $75 million from last year’s budget. So
tiatives that has a big impact on my stances, but the 30-millimeter cannon we are doing even more to help allow
State is authorizing $1.4 billion to up- is much more effective in many places the Ukrainians to defend themselves.
grade and modify Abrams tanks. It au- on the battlefield, particularly in Eu- New this year, this bill includes my
thorizes about $847 million to build and rope, given the threat we face there. proposal to require the Departments of
upgrade the Stryker armored fighting So whether it is in Eastern Europe in State and Defense to develop a new
vehicles. There is also an additional the Baltic States or being multiyear strategy to support the de-
$378 million to produce 72 Stryker prepositioned in Germany for the possi- velopment of Ukraine’s military forces,
chassis to support the Army’s Maneu- bility of having to respond, this is what increasing its capability and capacity
ver Short Range Air Defense Program. our military wants, what our Army and providing a resource plan for U.S.
This is all really great news for our wants, and we have to continue to pro- security assistance.
men and women in uniform. Why? Be- vide our soldiers this Dragoon variant I had the opportunity to speak today
cause they are going to get from Lima, to General Dayton, who will be nomi-
of the Stryker so that they can deter
OH, the best equipment in the world to nated by the President to be the next
aggression from Russia and others and
be able to protect themselves and keep Ambassador to Ukraine. This is a guy
help keep our allies safe. This includes,
the peace. These Abrams and Stryker who has done a terrific job of working
by the way, Ukraine.
vehicles are the most advanced and le- Talking about Ukraine, it has been in with the Ukrainian military to mod-
thal tanks and armored vehicles on the the headlines a lot over the last several ernize the military, to ensure there is
battlefield today. more transparency, civilian control,
months. I have been to Ukraine several
Of course, this isn’t just a big win for and to be sure they are following the
times. I had the opportunity to be on
our military; it is also great for the model that will allow them to be suc-
the frontline in Ukraine at what is
Joint Systems Manufacturing Center, cessful in recruiting and in fighting
called the line of contact. Let me tell
which I call the tank plant—always against the Russian threat.
you, it is not a cold war; it is very There is a lot to like in the NDAA,
have. It is in Lima, OH, and it is the much a hot war. and I have introduced some amend-
only facility in the world that can do I know that here, on this side of the
ments that I hope will be included as
what they do. It is certainly the only Atlantic, what is happening in Ukraine
well. I will continue to advocate for
facility in the United States that has can sometimes seem like it is half a
Ohio and for the men and women who
the capacity and the highly trained world away and maybe doesn’t affect keep us safe every day.
personnel capable of producing Abrams us, but it is not far away, and it does I look forward to voting on the bill’s
tanks and Stryker armored vehicles. It affect us. It is very relevant. In a sense, passage in the Senate soon so that our
is a strategic asset for our country and it is where the modern battle is taking troops, who give so much of themselves
a source of employment for some truly place between two very different just to be able to keep us safe, have the
outstanding engineers, welders, and ideologies, one of freedom and democ- resources they need, the best equip-
other technicians. I love going to the racy and wanting to connect to the ment, and the highest level of readi-
plant and talking to them about what West, and that is modern Ukraine. ness to be able to fulfill that mission to
they do. A lot of them are veterans, That is exactly what President keep the peace and to continue to se-
and all of them believe that they are Zelensky and the Parliament there and cure our liberties.
part of the effort. others want to do. The other would be OPIOID EPIDEMIC
The Obama administration, by the the oligarchy and the corruption of Mr. President, I am here on the floor
way, 9 years ago, wanted to shutter Russia, which want to pull Ukraine today to talk about some recent trou-
this plant. They said that we wouldn’t back into their orbit. bling statistics that ought to serve as a
need tanks in the future and we should In Ohio we have a large Ukrainian call to action for every single one of us.
shut down the plant and shut down the community, particularly in Northeast Last Friday, in observance of World
line, which would have cost billions of Ohio, and they certainly have a vested Drug Day, the United Nations Office on
dollars to mothball and then try to interest in seeing that their ancestral Drugs and Crime released its annual
start it again. Thank goodness we homeland can defend itself from Rus- world report detailing the impact of
didn’t do that. We fought hard against sian aggression as it works to align drug use and trafficking across the
it. I recognized it was the wrong deci- itself more with NATO and the West world. Frankly, the report paints a
sion and fought against it every step of while promoting the platform of de- grim picture that reminds us that
the way. I remember, at the time, some mocracy, freedom, transparency, and America has a unique addiction crisis,
of the taxpayer groups were saying: Oh, free markets. especially as it relates to opioids.
my gosh, this is somehow inappro- I have met with President Zelensky The report says that in recent years
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
priate to keep funding going when the several times, and I am encouraged by the United States has lost more men,
Obama administration says it is not his commitment and his passion to women, and children to drug overdose
necessary. But it was necessary. It was keeping Ukraine on the right track, in- deaths—60,000 to 70,000 per year—than
necessary then, and, boy, it is certainly cluding fighting corruption. We have to the next 20 countries combined.
necessary now. We saved the taxpayers continue as a country to ensure that Let me say that again. The United
a lot of money by not shutting it down. elimination of corruption continues in States has lost more people to drug
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S4206 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 2, 2020
overdose deaths than the next 20 coun- Over the last couple of years, prior to Officials in Hamilton County, which
tries combined. That is unacceptable. the coronavirus, we continued to make is Cincinnati, OH, where I am from,
This sad comparison of the United steady progress—not 22 percent, but we stated there were 42 overdose deaths in
States to other countries is a reminder made steady progress in declining. We May and that at least 23 people died in
that we have to do better and we can achieved these strides, in part, thanks June. In Cuyahoga County, our State’s
do better. to legislation we passed in this Con- most populous area and the home of
Even more concerning to me is the gress—a significant commitment of Cleveland, the medical examiner’s of-
recent data we are now receiving about new resources by the Republicans and fice has reported 235 fatal drug
what is happening as a result of the Democrats on this floor and by the ad- overdoses so far in 2020 and at least 66
current coronavirus pandemic. It was ministration. The CARA Act and fatal heroin, fentanyl, and cocaine
bad enough, as the world drug report CARES Act provided local and State overdoses in May alone. Those figures,
shows, but now, during the last few governments and nonprofit groups with by the way, match the deadliest
months, during this pandemic, things additional resources to help use proven months for overdoses on record in the
have gotten worse. prevention treatment and recovery county, and that would be back in 2017.
The Overdose Detection Mapping Ap- programs effectively. Remember, we talked about how the
plication Program is a collaborative I was the author of the CARA legisla- deaths are going up year after year,
Federal organization that tracks over- tion. We spent 4 years putting it to- and 2017 was the peak, and then they
dose data from more than 3,300 emer- gether, with national folks coming in went down in 2018. Well, this year al-
gency agencies. According to data that from all over the country helping us, ready, in Cleveland, we are back up to
has been obtained by the Washington and we put together something that where we were in 2017. The Columbus
Post, fatal and nonfatal overdoses were made sense and that was actually coroner’s office has had to move to a
18 percent higher in March of this year working. space three times larger than its old of-
as compared to March of 2019. They are We have also ensured that our first fice to accommodate the increases in
29 percent higher this April compared responders on the frontlines of this cri- overdoses and overdose deaths. We are
to a year ago and 42 percent higher this sis had the resources they need, includ- not alone in this uptick. According to
May than they were a year ago, in 2019. ing the miracle drug Naloxone, which the Center for Optimal Living, 30
These are overdoses that are being reverses the effects of an overdose.
tracked through EMS, ambulance, hos- States have seen an increase in over-
This kind of continued support was
pitals, and emergency rooms. This is dose deaths during this pandemic.
critical for our communities making The Federal response to the
really concerning. the progress we have made in com-
One of the findings of this U.N. re- coronavirus pandemic has included cer-
bating the disease of addiction, and I tain measures to ensure those suffering
port was that the most dangerous class have been proud to help lead the effort
of drugs worldwide were opioids, in- from addiction can continue to get the
at the Federal level, although at the
cluding prescription pain killers, her- care they need, and I am glad we were
State level and local level everybody
oin, and the synthetic opioids like able to provide some provisions both in
has kicked in, including so many vol-
fentanyl. These drugs were the cause of the CARES legislation that was passed
unteers and so many families, and it
about two-thirds of the overdose deaths about a month ago but also the other
has made a difference.
in the world in recent years, according But these new reports show that now legislation we passed around that time.
to the U.N. We have done a number of things to
we are going the other way. We have a
The recent data shows that fentanyl cut redtape and the regulatory relief to
long way to go in this fight against the
use, in particular, has gone up in the expand telehealth and telehealth op-
addiction crisis in America, and I am
United States during this pandemic, es- tions specifically for opioid treatment,
afraid we are in danger now of taking a
pecially when it is laced with other as well as increasing the number of al-
step backward.
drugs, such as heroin, meth, and co- Thanks to the coronavirus, our lives ternate delivery methods for patients
caine. As many of my colleagues know, have changed in so many ways. Many quarantined at home so they can main-
one of my top priorities in Congress individuals who have lost their jobs tain their access to opioid treatment
over the last several years has been to have had to radically change the way providers. These reforms have been
combat this opioid addiction crisis that they work. Unfortunately, the disrup- helpful in offering a lifeline for those
has hit communities in my home State tions have extended to this field of ad- working hard to stay sober and clean,
of Ohio so hard. This new information diction treatment as well. and, in some instances, according to
about the resurgence of addiction is As States have begun to order a sus- addiction and mental health leaders
particularly discouraging because in pension of elective procedures—this from across the State, these reforms
recent years we have made great happened back in March and April— have even allowed addiction specialists
progress. We had actually, finally, people were not able to get elective to reach new patients who were hesi-
after years and years of increased over- procedures in hospitals, and there was tant to come into the doctor’s office in
dose deaths every single year—finally, a shift toward more telehealth to help the first place, sometimes due to the
in the last few years, we had begun to preserve the personal protection gear, stigma that attaches to addiction.
see a reversal of that, and here we the PPEs, for frontline workers. Many These aren’t perfect solutions, of
have, during this pandemic, the oppo- patients and caregivers who relied on course, because the numbers show that
site happening. face-to-face interaction and around- addictions are actually up, but ulti-
In 2017, Ohio’s opioid overdose death the-clock care to be able to stay the mately, they have been helpful. We are
rate was almost three times the na- course on recovery from drug addiction going to have to find a way to get a
tional average. We were one of the top and from mental health issues have handle on this coronavirus pandemic in
three States in the country in terms of lost vital access to care. I think that is a way that we can resume these tradi-
overdose deaths. Nearly a dozen Ohio- one of the reasons we see this uptick. tional in-person addiction treatment
ans are dying from these drugs every Some have fallen off their treatment services that have helped so many re-
day, surpassing car crashes as our plans, and some have relapsed. cover from this debilitating disease.
country’s top killer among young peo- Unfortunately, this is happening We are going to have to ensure that we
ple and, for Ohio overall, the State’s right now as we talk. If we combine can get away from some of this isola-
No. 1 killer. But that next year, in 2018, that with the feelings of isolation so tion and sense of disparity that people
we were one of the leaders in turning many people feel being quarantined or feel.
the tide with a 22-percent reduction in being isolated, the feeling of frustra- One thing we do know is, the benefits
1 year in overdose deaths. That was the tion, the feeling of despair many Amer- of telehealth for treating addiction are
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
same year, by the way, when national icans have felt with these dual real, and I think we should act now in
overdose deaths also declined for the healthcare and economic crises, you this next COVID–19 bill that we are
first time since 1990. Think about that. have a perfect storm for the resurgence talking about passing next month or
From 1990 to 2018, it increased every in opioid deaths. That is exactly what maybe even later this month. That leg-
year, and finally we saw a reduction. In has happened in Ohio and around the islation, in my view, should include
Ohio it was a significant reduction. country. provisions that allow providers to have
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July 2, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4207
the flexibility to continue to offer al- indirect casualties. Not only must Con- It is a big commitment, especially at
ternative forms of care via telehealth gress ensure our addiction health serv- a time when we are struggling to in-
to people when this pandemic is over so ices have the resources they need to vest in supporting our workers, our
the providers can readily adapt in the adapt to this new reality, but we also businesses, and our economy here at
event that another pandemic or an- have to redouble our efforts to slow the home during this global pandemic.
other disaster forces us to shift spread of the coronavirus so we don’t While it is a sizable commitment, it
healthcare services back to virtual lose ground on this addiction crisis just is one I have supported because Israel
care. We need to continue telehealth as we were making progress and that is a close ally and friend that lives in
now and provide the reimbursement we don’t keep more Americans from a very dangerous and volatile part of
but also ensure that it is going to be achieving their God-given potential. the world. It is surrounded on many
there for the future because it is work- PROTESTS fronts with enemies who would like to
ing. Mr. President, I hadn’t planned to destroy it, including Iran, Hamas, and
I am committed to working with my talk about this, but I was watching the Hezbollah.
colleagues on bipartisan solutions to floor earlier today when there was a Moreover, Israel and the United
the challenges we talked about today. heated discussion on the Senate floor States have a variety of shared inter-
Yesterday, I introduced legislation about the chaos and violence we have ests. Most importantly, in my view,
called the Telehealth Response for E- seen on the streets in many of our the United States has an enduring obli-
prescribing Addiction Treatment Serv- great cities. gation to support a secure homeland
ices Act, or TREATS Act, to make per- The peaceful demonstrations, which for the Jewish people after the horrors
manent a number of temporary waivers developed really spontaneously after of the Holocaust.
for telehealth services and bolster tele- the tragic death of George Floyd and Under normal circumstances, I would
health options for addiction treatment other injustices, delivered a powerful not even come to the Senate floor
services. Specifically, the bill is going message about the need to address ra- today. I have consistently supported
to do a couple of things. cial disparities and about the need for the security assistance, and I still do.
First, it will allow for a patient to be police reforms. So why am I here today?
prescribed lower scheduled drugs like The right to demonstrate peacefully I am here because while I remain
Suboxone or buprenorphine through must be protected, but the looting, the strongly committed to the security of
telehealth on their first visit. Current desecration of monuments, the arson, Israel and providing security assist-
law requires you go to an in-person and the destruction of property, includ- ance, I am also strongly opposed to
visit when needing any controlled sub- ing small businesses in some of these Prime Minister Netanyahu’s declared
stances, but this has been a deterrent communities of color—it breaks my intention to unilaterally annex parts of
to patients in crisis and in urgent need heart to see some of these small busi- the West Bank starting this month.
of treatments from schedule III or IV ness owners talk about what they are The unilateral annexation of parts of
drugs. going through; the injuries to our law the West Bank would totally under-
Our bill is important. By the way, it enforcement officers who are just doing mine what has been, at least until the
also limits abusive practices by lim- their jobs, doing what they are asked Trump administration, bipartisan
iting telehealth visits to those who to do in a professional way; and, of American policy in support of a two-
have both audio and video capabilities course, the self-appointed statue de- state solution that would ensure the
to be able to interact with the treat- stroyers we have seen. This lawless- security and the rights of both Israelis
ment providers to reduce fraud and ness, in too many instances, must not and Palestinians.
abuse when it is your first visit. It be tolerated. Those who have exploited Under the leadership of President
would also prohibit prescribing sched- the situation and the peaceful dem- Harry Truman, the United States
ule II drugs like opioids that are more onstrations to foment this violence are championed the establishment of the
prone to being abused through these undermining the cause of the peaceful State of Israel as a homeland for the
telehealth visits. So we have provisions marchers and further dividing an al- Jewish people, and that remains a
in there to avoid abuse, but it is impor- ready polarized country. steadfast American commitment. But
tant to continue this telehealth when I yield the floor. the right to a secure homeland for the
the other options aren’t there. I suggest the absence of a quorum. Jewish people does not include the
Second, our bill would allow for The PRESIDING OFFICER. The right to unilaterally annex territories
Medicare to bill for audio-only or tele- clerk will call the roll. on the West Bank and deny the Pales-
phone telehealth visits if it is not the The legislative clerk proceeded to tinian people a viable state and home-
patient’s first visit. In-person visits or call the roll. land of their own.
telehealth visits with video compo- Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I So I will say it again: The United
nents are important, and I think it is ask unanimous consent that the order States should support and continue to
important to have that on the first for the quorum call be rescinded. support the legitimate security needs
visit because they can allow for more The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without of Israel, but we also need to stand up
robust checkups and evaluations. objection, it is so ordered. for a just two-state solution to the
Due to distance or access to S. 4049 Israeli-Palestinian conflict and for the
broadband, these types of appoint- Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. President, I rule of law and international order
ments aren’t always possible. We still come to the floor today to discuss what that the United States has championed
need to focus on safety and robust I believe is an important and con- ever since the end of World War II.
treatment options, but in order to bal- sequential matter at this moment: the Now, as I said before, the bill before
ance the needs of patients, we have way ahead for U.S. relations with our us would codify and extend the memo-
proposed to allow our Nation’s seniors friend and partner, Israel. randum of understanding between the
to use phones for subsequent behav- The pending legislation before us in- United States and Israel on security
ioral health visits when they do not cludes a plan to codify and extend a assistance signed on September 14,
have access to the internet. multiyear commitment of American 2016. You can be sure that that memo-
There is no question that the great- security assistance to Israel. Specifi- randum of understanding for security
est priority facing our country at this cally, it would codify a memorandum assistance never contemplated Israel’s
moment is this unprecedented of understanding reached during the annexing parts of the West Bank.
coronavirus pandemic, but this new Obama administration to provide $38 In fact, the opposite is true. Part of
U.N. report and the rising number of billion over 10 years in security assist- the American rationale for providing
dlhill on DSK120RN23PROD with SENATE
overdoses in Ohio and around the coun- ance to Israel. That is $3.8 billion a Israel with robust military assistance
try show that there is even more at year. That is a significant promise. In has been to give Israel the confidence
stake here than we realize. We know of fact, on an annual basis, that $3.8 bil- to seek a secure peace based on a two-
the direct impacts of the coronavirus lion represents over half of current state solution.
pandemic, but losing ground on addic- U.S. foreign military funds around the Here is what National Security Advi-
tion and behavioral health is one of the world. sor Susan Rice said in the Treaty
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