Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, July 22, 2020, Page E664
Summary
A page of the Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, dated July 22, 2020, at page E664. It ends a tribute to Vivian, a contributor to positive change in America, and prints a personal explanation by Mr. Luján that he mistakenly recorded his vote as Yes when he should have voted No during rollcall vote No. 148 on H.R. 6395. A Member explains support for the National Defense Authorization Act, citing provisions on the war in Yemen, new nuclear weapons testing, oversight of troops deployed within the United States, military housing, burn pits and student loan borrowers. The page ends with a list of Senate committee meetings.
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“Congressional Record, Extensions of Remarks, July 22, 2020, Page E664.”
Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-07-22-crec-2020-07-22-pt1-pge664-2-07869dd286/
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E664 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks July 22, 2020
on a study colloquium for a doctoral disserta- war and limiting executive authority to engage personnel, as well as for oversight and im-
tion writing. Rev. Vivian spent the rest of in armed conflict without Congress’s consent, provement of the Military Housing Privatization
preaching developing social change programs I strongly support this bill’s provisions to pro- Initiative (MHPI) program. The bill also in-
and being engaged in activities designed to hibit U.S. participation in the Saudi-led coali- cludes a number of provisions to support the
help make the work a better place in which to tion’s war in Yemen without congressional au- education of military dependent students,
live. Living during the same time as Rev. C.T. thorization. I also voted in strong support of an childcare services for military dependent chil-
Vivian and knowing him and his work has amendment which was adopted to prohibit dren, and maternity uniforms for pregnant
been gratifying and inspirational. President Trump’s dangerous and unneces- servicemembers. The NDAA. also continues
He was a great contributor to positive sary proposals to initiate new nuclear weap- Congress’s work to address the military’s cul-
change in America and may he rest in peace. ons testing. ture of sexual misconduct by including provi-
f Given President Trump’s ongoing and dis- sions to enhance the prevention of and re-
turbing use of force on peaceful protesters ex- sponse to incidents of sexual trauma.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION ercising their First Amendment rights—includ- Far too many of our veterans, especially
ing his use of National Guard service mem- those that served in Iraq and Afghanistan, are
HON. BEN RAY LUJÁN bers to quell peaceful protesters outside the grappling with the serious medical complica-
OF NEW MEXICO White House—I am pleased that an amend- tions linked to burn pits. While I believe Con-
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ment which I voted for, and which was adopt- gress can and must do more to care for these
ed, will add crucial oversight and transparency veterans, I am pleased that this legislation
Wednesday, July 22, 2020 takes modest steps to improve the identifica-
guardrails when a President deploys active
Mr. LUJÁN. Madam Speaker, during rollcall duty military within the United States. I am tion of and care for veterans exposed to burn
vote No. 148 on H.R. 6395, I mistakenly re- also a strong supporter of this legislation’s pits.
corded my vote as Yes when I should have provision to require federal law enforcement I am also pleased this bill includes provi-
voted No. officers deployed in response to public pro- sions to assist student loan borrowers who
f tests to visibly display their name and agency have privately held debt, providing $10,000 in
on their uniform. This requirement is especially immediate assistance to pay down the student
WILLIAM M. (MAC) THORNBERRY loan. These students received no financial re-
crucial given Trump’s appalling use of uniden-
NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZA- lief under the CARES Act. This provision will
tifiable federal agents and unmarked vehicles
TION ACT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2021 ensure the 200,000 servicemembers who owe
to detain peaceful protesters in Portland, Or-
egon. nearly $3 billion in student loan debt receive
SPEECH OF some form of student debt relief during the
I am pleased this legislation includes provi-
HON. PETER A. DeFAZIO sions to bolster our country’s COVID–19 re- pandemic.
This bill includes necessary provisions that
OF OREGON sponse, including granting important funding
for the Maritime Security Program (MSP) to help to address PFAS and PFOA contamina-
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
tion on military bases that pose a public health
enable MSP carriers to keep their ships fully
Monday, July 20, 2020 threat to our military members and Americans
crewed despite the lack of cargo as a result of
Mr. DEFAZIO. Mr. Speaker, I will vote in living near installations. It requires the DOD to
COVID–19. To further increase our country’s
support of H.R. 6395, the William M. (Mac) make public vital information about the level of
pandemic preparedness and response, this
Thornberry National Defense Authorization Act PFAS contaminates in drinking water and
legislation establishes a Pandemic Prepared-
(NDAA) for Fiscal Year (FY) 2021. Make no groundwater at these sites. Although more can
ness and Resilience National Security Fund
mistake: I have opposed NDAA legislation in always be done to protect our environment,
and provides additional funding to the Depart-
previous years, and I still have concerns about the bill makes an effort to fund climate change
ment of Defense’s (DOD’s) Cooperative
a number of provisions included in this year’s research initiatives and includes several public
Threat Reduction Program to focus on detect-
legislation, but this year’s Democratic-led leg- lands bills that will help to preserve and pro-
ing and confronting biological threats. I also tect parts of America’s wilderness for genera-
islation also contains numerous policy prior- strongly support an amendment—which I co-
ities that I strongly support. tions to come. It also makes strides toward
sponsored—to ensure the president finally protecting our most spectacular natural treas-
First, this legislation grants our men and uses the Defense Production Act to its full ex-
women in uniform a well-deserved pay raise of ures, like ensuring the area around the Grand
tent in order to meet our country’s most critical Canyon will not be polluted or scarred by min-
3 percent. This is the very least we can do for needs to combat COVID–19, including secur-
those who continue to make extraordinary ing.
ing vital personal protective equipment, testing While I strongly support many provisions in
sacrifices for our country. supplies, and more for our frontline healthcare this year’s NDAA, I believe this legislation
As Chair of the Transportation and Infra- workers and citizens in Oregon and across the should have included additional provisions to
structure Committee, I fought to successfully country. rein in our bloated and wasteful defense
include vital provisions important to Oregon Furthermore, this legislation accelerates the spending, take back Congress’s constitutional
coastal communities. This includes the Mari- closure of the Guantanamo Bay detention fa- war powers authority, and more.
time Transportation System Emergency Relief cility by lifting a restriction on transfer of cur- I believe this legislation could have made
Act, which authorizes the Maritime Administra- rent detainees. This unnecessary prison—esti- responsible cuts to our defense budget without
tion to provide financial assistance to stabilize mated to be the most expensive in the world— jeopardizing the safety of our troops or under-
and ensure the reliable functioning of the U.S. costs approximately $540 million each year to mining our national security. For years, Con-
Maritime Transportation System in the event house 40 prisoners and has been used as a gress has continued to increase the Penta-
of a national emergency or disaster, as well as top recruiting tool by terrorists. This prison has gon’s budget despite overwhelming evidence
the Elijah E. Cummings Coast Guard Author- been a black eye for the U.S., eroding rela- of its waste and abuse of taxpayer money.
ization Act of 2020, legislation to authorize tionships with our allies, undermining U.S. That’s why I supported an amendment to re-
funds for, reinforce, and support the United missions abroad, and putting U.S. troops and sponsibly reduce the Pentagon budget while
States Coast Guard. citizens at risk of retaliation. retaining exceptions to protect service mem-
Given the Transportation and Infrastructure While Congress must do much more to bers, civilian employees, and the vital Defense
Committee’s jurisdiction over the Federal Avia- achieve racial justice in this country, H.R. Health Program from this reduction.
tion Administration (FAA), I am proud that this 6395 takes first steps to move closer to this In particular, I have always opposed the
legislation makes a long-overdue correction to goal. I am pleased that H.R. 6395 takes the DOD’s Overseas Contingency Operations
ensure that the more than 45,000 FAA em- long-overdue action of requiring the DOD to (OCO) account, a fiscally irresponsible fund
ployees, as well as VA and other federal civil- change the names of all military bases and in- that is not counted in the budget, recklessly
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with REMARKS
ian employees who were inexcusably left out frastructure named for Confederate individuals adds to our mounting debt, and has no con-
of last year’s bill, receive twelve weeks of paid within one year, prohibits display of the Con- gressional/oversight. OCO is a Pentagon slush
parental leave. I am also pleased that this leg- federate flag on DOD installations, and adds fund that gives a blank check to fund endless
islation prohibits the Department of Defense diversity requirements for DOD military and ci- wars that Congress hasn’t authorized. I will
from excluding any civilian employees from vilian personnel. continue fighting to finally eliminate this irre-
their collective bargaining rights. This legislation includes hundreds-of-millions sponsible fund.
As a long-time advocate for strengthening in funding for the construction of additional I have long supported a financial audit of
Congress’s constitutional authority to declare housing and barracks for training and enlisted the Pentagon. Unlike every other federal
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July 22, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — Extensions of Remarks E665
agency, the DOD has yet to pass a financial PERSONAL EXPLANATION ply chain during the COVID–19 pan-
audit. For two years in a row, the Pentagon demic.
SD–215
has spectacularly failed full audits, both of HON. MARTHA ROBY 2:30 p.m.
which highlighted numerous examples of OF ALABAMA Committee on Armed Services
waste and abuse. It is ridiculous to provide the
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES To hold hearings to examine the nomina-
Pentagon a massive spending increase—as tions of Lieutenant General D.
this bill does—when the Pentagon cannot Wednesday, July 22, 2020
VanHerck, USAF, to be general and
even account for how it spends taxpayer Mrs. ROBY. Madam Speaker, I was unable Commander, United States Northern
money. That’s why I offered an amendment to to vote on Monday, July 20 due to a family Command/Commander, North Amer-
require and incentivize each DOD component medical emergency. Had I been present I ican Aerospace Defense Command, and
to pass an audit by FY25. Unfortunately, my would have voted as follows: ‘‘nay’’ on rollcall General James H. Dickinson, USA, to
amendment did not receive a vote. No. 153; ‘‘nay’’ on rollcall No. 154; ‘‘nay’’ on be general and Commander, United
Along with Yemen, I believe this legislation rollcall No. 155; and ‘‘yea’’ on rollcall No. 156. States Space Command.
should have included more provisions to take SD–106
f Committee on Homeland Security and
back Congress’s constitutional war powers au-
thority. That’s why I cosponsored an amend- SENATE COMMITTEE MEETINGS Governmental Affairs
Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and
ment to prevent the president from using un- Title IV of Senate Resolution 4, Federal Management
authorized force against Iran and voted in sup- agreed to by the Senate of February 4, To hold hearings to examine modernizing
port of an amendment to accelerate with- 1977, calls for establishment of a sys- telework, focusing on a review of pri-
drawal of U.S. troops from Afghanistan. I also tem for a computerized schedule of all vate sector telework policies during
believe this legislation should have repealed meetings and hearings of Senate com- the COVID–19 pandemic.
the long-outdated 2001 and 2002 authoriza- mittees, subcommittees, joint commit- VTC
tions for the use of military force (AUMFs), as tees, and committees of conference. Joint Economic Committee
well as prohibited funding for the deployment This title requires all such committees To hold hearings to examine reducing
of dangerous low-yield nuclear weapons. How- to notify the Office of the Senate Daily uncertainty and restoring confidence
ever, I am encouraged that this year’s House Digest—designated by the Rules Com- during the Coronavirus recession.
Defense Appropriations bill repeals both the VTC
mittee—of the time, place and purpose
2001 and 2002 AUMFs and prevents use of of the meetings, when scheduled and JULY 29
funds for any unauthorized use of force any cancellations or changes in the
against Iran. 10 a.m.
meetings as they occur.
I am also disappointed that several amend- Committee on Banking, Housing, and
As an additional procedure along Urban Affairs
ments I supported were not made in order, in- with the computerization of this infor- To hold hearings to examine the Con-
cluding amendments to add several diseases mation, the Office of the Senate Daily sumer Financial Protection Bureau’s
to the VA’s list of presumptive diseases con- Digest will prepare this information for semi-annual report to Congress.
nected to Agent Orange, to curb the Penta- printing in the Extensions of Remarks WEBEX
gon’s 1033 program that transfers surplus mili- section of the CONGRESSIONAL RECORD Committee on Commerce, Science, and
tary equipment to local law enforcement agen- on Monday and Wednesday of each Transportation
cies, to block the Trump administration’s cruel week. To hold hearings to examine building a
ban on transgender individuals serving in the Meetings scheduled for Thursday, stronger and more resilient seafood
military, and my amendment to abolish the July 23, 2020 may be found in the Daily sector.
military draft. I also believe this legislation Digest of today’s RECORD. SR–253
could have done far more to prevent the presi- Committee on Environment and Public
dent from raiding billions more in funding for Works
MEETINGS SCHEDULED To hold hearings to examine lessons
his unnecessary, ineffective border wall.
JULY 28 learned from remote working during
The bottom line is that fiscal responsibility
10 a.m. COVID–19, focusing on if the govern-
and accountability at the DOD would allow for ment can maximize use of leased space.
Committee on Commerce, Science, and
taxpayer funds to be better spent supporting Transportation SD–106
the needs of our troops, meeting our obliga- Subcommittee on Communications, Tech- Committee on the Judiciary
tions to veterans, and ensuring our legitimate nology, Innovation, and the Internet To hold hearings to examine certain
defense needs are prioritized while also bol- To hold hearings to examine the PACT pending nominations.
stering long-underfunded domestic priorities. I Act and Section 230, focusing on the SD–226
strongly encourage the Senate to keep the impact of the law that helped create 10:15 a.m.
strong House NDAA provisions and not water the internet and an examination of Committee on Finance
the bill down. proposed reforms for today’s online To hold hearings to examine WTO re-
world. form, focusing on making global rules
f SD–106 work for global challenges.
PERSONAL EXPLANATION Committee on Energy and Natural Re- SD–215
sources 2:30 p.m.
To hold hearings to examine the develop- Committee on Indian Affairs
HON. HARLEY ROUDA ment and deployment of large-scale To hold an oversight hearing to examine
OF CALIFORNIA carbon dioxide management tech- preparing to head back to class, focus-
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES nologies in the United States, includ- ing on how to safely reopen Bureau of
ing technological and natural carbon Indian Education schools.
Wednesday, July 22, 2020 removal, carbon utilization, and carbon SD–628
Mr. ROUDA. Madam Speaker, at the advice storage. 3 p.m.
of the Office of the Attending Physician, I SD–366 Committee on Veterans’ Affairs
Committee on Homeland Security and
voted on agreeing to Amendment No. 29 of- To hold hearings to examine VA tele-
Governmental Affairs
fered by Rep. TAKANO printed in H. Rept. 116– health during and beyond COVID–19,
To hold an oversight hearing to examine
457, on the Motion to Recommit with Instruc- focusing on challenges and opportuni-
COVID–19 financial relief packages.
tions to H.R. 6395, and passage of H.R. 6395 ties in rural America.
VTC
SD–G50
by proxy pursuant to section 3(c) of House Committee on the Judiciary
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with REMARKS
Resolution 965 and in accordance with regula- Subcommittee on Intellectual Property
To hold hearings to examine how the JULY 30
tion C.6. Due to this recommendation, I was
DMCA contemplates limitations and 9:30 a.m.
unable to vote on agreeing to Amendment No.
exceptions like fair use. Committee on Armed Services
11 offered by Rep. Dean printed in H. Rept, To hold hearings to examine the nomina-
SD–226
116–457. Had I been present or been per- 10:15 a.m. tion of Anthony J. Tata, of Virginia, to
mitted to vote by the Office of the Clerk or the Committee on Finance be Under Secretary of Defense for Pol-
Office of the Attending Physician, I would have To hold hearings to examine protecting icy.
voted yea on rollcall No. 149. the reliability of the U.S. medical sup- SD–G50
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