Congressional Record — Senate, S4350 (July 21, 2020)

Summary

Page S4350 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for July 21, 2020, in interleaved columns. S. 4233 would establish a payment program for timber harvesting and hauling businesses that lost markets and revenues due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and goes to the Committee on Agriculture. Mr. Markey, Ms. Warren and Mr. Carper are added as cosponsors of amendment No. 2252 to S. 4049, and Mr. Merkley is added to amendment No. 1702. A Georgia speaker credits Brian Kemp and Attorney General Chris Carr, and Mr. Durbin asks that the text of a bill be printed in the RECORD.

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“Congressional Record — Senate, S4350 (July 21, 2020).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-07-21-crec-2020-07-21-pt1-pgs4350-2-07d8b55895/, SHA-256 4125fe86c77b3541b5a81db2af1aab361f4dff51dc3a66d96ea11c4abd163725.

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S4350 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE July 21, 2020
the Department of Energy, to prescribe (Mr. MARKEY), the Senator from Massa- S. 4233. A bill to establish a payment
military personnel strengths for such chusetts (Ms. WARREN) and the Senator program for unexpected loss of markets
fiscal year, and for other purposes. from Delaware (Mr. CARPER) were and revenues to timber harvesting and
AMENDMENT NO. 1702 added as cosponsors of amendment No. timber hauling businesses due to the
At the request of Mr. CARDIN, the 2252 proposed to S. 4049, an original bill COVID–19 pandemic, and for other pur-
name of the Senator from Oregon (Mr. to authorize appropriations for fiscal poses; to the Committee on Agri-
MERKLEY) was added as a cosponsor of year 2021 for military activities of the culture, Nutrition, and Forestry.
amendment No. 1702 intended to be pro- Department of Defense, for military Ms. COLLINS. Mr. President, I rise
posed to S. 4049, an original bill to au- construction, and for defense activities to introduce a bill with my colleague,
thorize appropriations for fiscal year of the Department of Energy, to pre- Senator SMITH that will help the hard-
2021 for military activities of the De- scribe military personnel strengths for working loggers across this Nation
partment of Defense, for military con- such fiscal year, and for other pur- whose operations have suffered serious
struction, and for defense activities of poses. losses directly due to the pandemic. In
the Department of Energy, to prescribe AMENDMENT NO. 2455 Maine alone, logging has a roughly $650
military personnel strengths for such At the request of Ms. CORTEZ MASTO, million annual economic impact, and is
fiscal year, and for other purposes. the name of the Senator from Maine the backbone of the forest products
AMENDMENT NO. 1729 (Mr. KING) was added as a cosponsor of economy. The industry is made up of
At the request of Mr. GARDNER, his amendment No. 2455 intended to be pro- countless multi-generational family
name was added as a cosponsor of posed to S. 4049, an original bill to au- businesses, whose survival is being se-
amendment No. 1729 proposed to S. thorize appropriations for fiscal year riously threatened.
4049, an original bill to authorize ap- 2021 for military activities of the De- In Maine and in many places across
propriations for fiscal year 2021 for partment of Defense, for military con- the Country, the logging industry first
military activities of the Department struction, and for defense activities of felt the effects of COVID–19 in January
of Defense, for military construction, the Department of Energy, to prescribe as exports to foreign markets were sig-
and for defense activities of the De- military personnel strengths for such nificantly limited if not eliminated en-
partment of Energy, to prescribe mili- fiscal year, and for other purposes. tirely. Declines in demand for paper
tary personnel strengths for such fiscal AMENDMENT NO. 2457 products and other wood fiber based
year, and for other purposes. At the request of Mr. MERKLEY, the products caused by the COVID–19 pan-
AMENDMENT NO. 1972
names of the Senator from Michigan demic have prompted shutdowns, slow-
(Ms. STABENOW), the Senator from downs, and closures across the globe.
At the request of Mr. TESTER, the
Pennsylvania (Mr. CASEY), the Senator As a result, Maine has seen declining
name of the Senator from Arizona (Ms.
from New Mexico (Mr. UDALL), the Sen- demand for wood from mills across the
SINEMA) was added as a cosponsor of
ator from New Hampshire (Mrs. SHA- board, and low prices and quotas driven
amendment No. 1972 intended to be pro-
HEEN), the Senator from Virginia (Mr. by that lack of demand. And while tim-
posed to S. 4049, an original bill to au-
KAINE), the Senator from Minnesota ber prices have remained relatively
thorize appropriations for fiscal year
(Ms. SMITH), the Senator from New stable, mills have drastically reduced
2021 for military activities of the De-
York (Mr. SCHUMER), the Senator from their processing capacity—resulting in
partment of Defense, for military con-
California (Mrs. FEINSTEIN), the Sen- a ripple effect that has hit loggers and
struction, and for defense activities of ator from Maryland (Mr. CARDIN), the
the Department of Energy, to prescribe timber hauling companies hard.
Senator from Rhode Island (Mr. WHITE- The Professional Logging Contrac-
military personnel strengths for such HOUSE), the Senator from Vermont (Mr. tors of Maine projects at least a 20 per-
fiscal year, and for other purposes. LEAHY), the Senator from Montana cent reduction in the annual harvest,
AMENDMENT NO. 2174
(Mr. TESTER), the Senator from Hawaii which would threaten more than 600
At the request of Mr. TILLIS, the (Mr. SCHATZ), the Senator from Nevada jobs and represent the potential loss of
name of the Senator from Connecticut (Ms. CORTEZ MASTO), the Senator from $86 million in economic activity in my
(Mr. BLUMENTHAL) was added as a co- Virginia (Mr. WARNER), the Senator State. The explosion of a pulp digester
sponsor of amendment No. 2174 in- from New Jersey (Mr. MENENDEZ), the earlier this year at a mill in Jay, cou-
tended to be proposed to S. 4049, an Senator from Nevada (Ms. ROSEN) and pled with the recent shutdown of a
original bill to authorize appropria- the Senator from New Hampshire (Ms. paper machine at another mill in
tions for fiscal year 2021 for military HASSAN) were added as cosponsors of Westbrook, have compounded the harm
activities of the Department of De- amendment No. 2457 intended to be pro- imposed by the pandemic.
fense, for military construction, and posed to S. 4049, an original bill to au- Although the industry is certainly
for defense activities of the Depart- thorize appropriations for fiscal year not alone in its struggles during this
ment of Energy, to prescribe military 2021 for military activities of the De- time, it faces unique challenges, in-
personnel strengths for such fiscal partment of Defense, for military con- cluding high capital costs relative to
year, and for other purposes. struction, and for defense activities of payroll and the fact that payroll costs
AMENDMENT NO. 2244 the Department of Energy, to prescribe do not reflect the amounts paid to
At the request of Mr. CORNYN, the military personnel strengths for such independent contractors. And unlike
name of the Senator from Texas (Mr. fiscal year, and for other purposes. some of our farmers who have been
CRUZ) was added as a cosponsor of AMENDMENT NO. 2477 able to access direct payments from
amendment No. 2244 proposed to S. At the request of Mr. LEE, the name USDA and our fishermen who were al-
4049, an original bill to authorize ap- of the Senator from Vermont (Mr. located relief funding in the CARES
propriations for fiscal year 2021 for LEAHY) was added as a cosponsor of Act, our forestry professionals have
military activities of the Department amendment No. 2477 intended to be pro- not been provided targeted assistance.
of Defense, for military construction, posed to S. 4049, an original bill to au- The legislation we are introducing
and for defense activities of the De- thorize appropriations for fiscal year today would direct the Secretary of
partment of Energy, to prescribe mili- 2021 for military activities of the De- Agriculture to provide financial assist-
tary personnel strengths for such fiscal partment of Defense, for military con- ance to loggers and timber hauling
year, and for other purposes. struction, and for defense activities of businesses that have experienced at
AMENDMENT NO. 2252 the Department of Energy, to prescribe least a 10 percent loss in revenues from
At the request of Mr. SCHATZ, the January 2020 through July 2020 as com-

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military personnel strengths for such
names of the Senator from Delaware fiscal year, and for other purposes. pared to the same timeframe last year.
(Mr. COONS), the Senator from Vermont f The amount would be equal to 10 per-
(Mr. LEAHY), the Senator from New cent of 2019 gross revenues and could
York (Mrs. GILLIBRAND), the Senator STATEMENTS ON INTRODUCED only be used for operating expenses, in-
from California (Mrs. FEINSTEIN), the BILLS AND JOINT RESOLUTIONS cluding payroll. I am grateful for the
Senator from New Mexico (Mr. HEIN- By Ms. COLLINS (for herself and American Logging Council’s support of
RICH), the Senator from Massachusetts Ms. SMITH): our legislation, and urge my colleagues

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July 21, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S4351
to join in this effort to support one of ment. Additionally, we should forgive Georgia has led the way on confronting
our country’s core economic drivers. at least $10,000 of debt for each student gang violence, passing legislation that
Loggers and forestry industry profes- loan borrower to help speed the recov- gives prosecutors the tools they need
sionals were rightfully deemed essen- ery and reduce the drag of the roughly to disrupt and dismantle these terrible
tial workers during this public health $1.6 trillion in outstanding student gang networks.
crisis, and we must ensure that they loan debt on economic prospects for Today, I am introducing the Crack-
receive the support necessary to over 40 million Americans. Going for- ing Down on Gangs and Deporting
emerge from this downturn. ward, we must reduce the need for stu- Criminals Act to apply Georgia’s anti-
dent loan borrowing by expanding gang, pro-community measures across
By Mr. REED (for himself, Ms. need-based grants, such as the Pell our country. This legislation, based on
MURKOWSKI, Mr. JONES, and Mr. Grant, and ensuring that states and in- the Georgia law that Attorney General
TILLIS): stitutions do their part to lower the Carr has called ‘‘one of the strongest
S. 4237. A bill to extend zero interest cost to students and families. statutes in the Nation,’’ aims to deter
rate benefits and payment suspension We should work together to build on and punish criminals who set out to de-
to all Federal student loan borrowers, the important steps Congress took to stroy lives and communities. This in-
and for other purposes; to the Com- provide relief to student loan bor- cludes violent crimes like the murders
mittee on Health, Education, Labor, rowers in the CARES Act. However, we of Janina, Christopher, and Nicholas.
and Pensions. need to ensure that all Federal student In addition to violence, gangs run
Mr. REED. Mr. President, today, loan borrowers have access to this re- elaborate drug operations. One recent
along with Senator MURKOWSKI, we are lief. I hope that my colleagues will join bust in Pickens County last month re-
introducing legislation to provide re- us in cosponsoring the Student Loan sulted in the arrest of nearly 50 indi-
lief to all Federal student loan bor- Fairness Act and pushing for its inclu- viduals. Law enforcement confiscated
rowers during this public health and sion in the next COVID–19 relief pack- nearly $2 million worth of meth-
economic crisis. The bipartisan Stu- age. amphetamine from a drug ring run by
dent Loan Fairness Act, which is also three gangs.
cosponsored by Senators MURKOWSKI, By Mrs. LOEFFLER (for herself, They deal in the abhorrent world of
JONES, and TILLIS, will correct an in- Mrs. BLACKBURN, and Mr. COT- human trafficking. A study in San
equity in the CARES Act that left out TON): Diego County found that an astounding
millions of Federal student loan bor- S. 4238. A bill to amend title 18, 85 percent of those involved in human
rowers from benefits to ease the burden United States Code, relating to crimi- trafficking were actively involved in
of repayment as we continue to fight nal street gangs, and for other pur- gangs.
COVID–19. poses; to the Committee on the Judici- Current Federal gang statute has
The CARES Act benefits are re- ary. three strict criteria that are difficult
stricted to borrowers of student loans Mrs. LOEFFLER. Mr. President, this for prosecutors to meet in order to hold
that are held by the Federal govern- spring, 14-year-old Janina Valenzuela someone accountable for their partici-
ment. This leaves out the borrowers was riding a bike with a friend in Mari- pation in a street gang. The legislation
whose Federal Family Education Loans etta, GA, when she was killed as part I am introducing today will make it
(FFEL) are still held by commercial of an initiation into an MS–13 gang. In easier for Federal prosecutors to seek
and State agency lenders, and those 2016, Christopher Dean was brutally harsh sentences for gang activity. It
with Perkins Loans that are adminis- murdered by gang members in Atlanta. will facilitate the removal of criminal
tered by institutions of higher edu- The D.A. called it ‘‘the most horrific gang members who are in our country
cation. In fact, nearly 6 million bor- illegally, and it would create a na-
death’’ in recent history. His murder
rowers were left out under the FFEL tional gang database, making it easier
left two children without a father. In
Program and another 1.9 million under to eradicate these gang networks.
2010, 11-year-old Nicholas Sheffey was We need to take action now to take
the Perkins Loan Program. This dis- shot and killed sleeping in his bed dur- violent gang members off of our
parate treatment by loan type is as ing a drive-by shooting in Chamblee, streets. Across the country, violence is
confusing as it is unfair. GA. These are just three of the too skyrocketing in our cities, while radi-
In April, a broad group of more than many lives that have been lost, trag- cals call to defund and abolish the po-
two dozen organizations representing ically cut short due to senseless gang lice. The troubling decline in support
educators, borrower advocates, vet- violence. for law enforcement, coupled with the
erans, lenders, guaranty agencies, and In Georgia, there are over 71,000 effects of the pandemic and recent un-
student loan servicers implored Con- known gang members representing a rest, threatens the further spread of
gress to remedy this inequity. They variety of gangs, including the gang violence across communities in
wrote, ‘‘A Federal loan borrower—re- Ghostface Gangsters, an all-White gang America.
gardless of the origination of that loan, in Georgia; the Gangster Disciples, The Cracking Down on Gangs and De-
be it Part B, D, E, commercial, or gov- which formed in Chicago and quickly porting Criminals Act will help keep
ernment-held—should receive equal, spread to Georgia; and the Aryan our communities safe and support law
immediate, and critical support in this Brotherhood, a White supremacy gang. enforcement in their work to root out
unprecedented time . . . Already, bor- Nationwide, there are more than 1.4 gang activity. No family should have
rowers are confused as to why their million members and 33,000 gangs to go through what Janina, Chris-
Federal loans are treated differently across the U.S. According to the most topher, and Nicholas did. Parents
than others.’’ recent National Gang Report, half of should be able to send their children
The Student Loan Fairness Act will law enforcement officials reported that outdoors and off to school without wor-
extend the CARES Act relief to these gang-related violence has increased in rying that they won’t make it home,
borrowers by covering the cost of inter- each of their jurisdictions. Thankfully, and children shouldn’t fear that their
est and suspending monthly payments President Trump and Georgia leaders parents won’t return home. It is time
for the period of March 13 through Sep- have taken strong action to address that we hold gang members account-
tember 30, 2020, and suspending all in- the rising tide of gang violence and to able for their vile and evil actions and
voluntary collection, such as adminis- end the cycles of violence that they keep the American public safe.
trative wage garnishment or offsets cause.
from tax refunds, for this period. For the first time ever, the Depart-

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By Mr. DURBIN:
This legislation is one component of ment of Justice has brought terrorism S. 4242. A bill to establish programs
what should be a comprehensive pack- charges against a member of the MS–13 related to prevention of prescription
age of student loan debt relief. As the gang, taking action against their lead- opioid misuse, and for other purposes;
crisis continues, we should extend the er and 21 other gang members. to the Committee on Finance.
repayment relief until health and eco- Under the leadership of Georgia Gov- Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask
nomic conditions improve sufficiently ernor Brian Kemp and Attorney Gen- unanimous consent that the text of the
for borrowers to be able to begin repay- eral Chris Carr, my home State of bill be printed in the RECORD.

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