Congressional Record, Senate — October 1, 2020, S6011

Summary

This is page S6011 of the Congressional Record, Senate, October 1, 2020, with interleaved columns. It opens with the end of remarks, by a Senator whose name is not printed in the text read, about religious liberty and the nomination of Judge Barrett. Under Measures Placed on the Calendar, Mr. McConnell says three bills, S. 4773 on a Paycheck Protection Program Second Draw Loan, S. 4774 on support for air carrier workers and S. 4775 on emergency assistance for those affected by the 2020 coronavirus pandemic, are placed on the calendar en bloc. He then moves to proceed to S. 4675, the PROTECT Act. Under Unanimous Consent Request on H.R. 5602, Mr. Durbin describes the Domestic Terrorism Prevention Act and says the House passed it unanimously, and Mr. Blumenthal speaks in support; the views are attributed to the speakers.

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“Congressional Record, Senate — October 1, 2020, S6011.” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2020-10-01-crec-2020-10-01-pt1-pgs6011-128de2d5b3/, SHA-256 aa26c631c348986fca6d440f95f7ac41d117670a58292b79d5ded5db5078c168.

Full text

October 1, 2020 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S6011
consciences. These nuns did not manu- of the most significant issues facing There is something that we can do that
facture their lengthy legal battle for the security of our Nation. It is a ques- will show we are prepared to respond to
the fun of it. It was the secularizing tion of domestic terrorism, specifically this threat to law and order, to this
left that went on offense. the threat of violent White suprema- threat of violent White supremacists.
Churches all across America did not cists. I am the lead sponsor of the Domes-
go looking for one of this cycle’s In Tuesday’s Presidential debate, tic Terrorism Prevention Act, bipar-
Democratic Presidential contenders to moderator Chris Wallace asked Presi- tisan legislation that would address
suggest places of workshop should lose dent Trump to condemn White su- the threat of violent White suprema-
their tax exempt status if they preach premacists and rightwing militia. cists and other domestic terrorists.
or practice traditional teaching. It was President Trump refused. Instead, he Our bill would establish offices to
the secularizing left that went on of- replied—and I quote—‘‘Proud Boys, combat domestic terrorism at the De-
fense. stand back and stand by.’’ partment of Justice, the FBI, and the
If parts of the elite American left The Proud Boys, a far-right group Department of Homeland Security. It
have become this out of touch with that promotes and engages in violence, would require these offices to regularly
mainstream religious beliefs held by viewed President Trump’s words as a assess the domestic terrorism threat
millions and millions of their fellow call to action. The group’s leader Joe and focus their limited resources on
citizens, it will take more than victim Biggs said he took the President’s the most significant threats. Criti-
blaming to dig out of it. They could words as a directive to ‘‘[F] . . . them cally, they would provide training re-
start this week. They could start up.’’ sources to assist State, local, and Trib-
today. I was appalled, but not surprised, by al law enforcement in addressing the
They could commit to evaluating the President’s words. He has a long domestic terrorism threat. The House
Judge Barrett on her credentials and history of inflammatory, racist re- companion to my bill was introduced
her qualifications, and they could stop marks. Now, President Trump claims by my colleague and friend Congress-
gawking at deeply religious Americans that violence is a ‘‘left-wing problem, man BRAD SCHNEIDER of Illinois.
not a right-wing problem’’—his words. Just last week, the House of Rep-
like they have encountered extra-
Let me be clear. I join Vice President resentatives passed our bill on a unani-
terrestrial life or bought a ticket for a
Biden in condemning all violence, but mous voice vote. The Senate should
safari.
we know that White supremacists pose pass it today.
f In a few moments, staff will provide
a great threat. An unclassified May
MEASURES PLACED ON THE 2017 FBI-DHS joint intelligence bul- me with the language to ask for a
CALENDAR—S. 4773, S. 4774, S. 4775 letin found that ‘‘white supremacist unanimous consent. I am waiting so
extremism poses [a] persistent threat there is an opportunity for both sides
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, to discuss the procedure moving for-
I understand there are three bills at of lethal violence.’’ This was a finding
ward. In the meantime, several of my
the desk due for a second reading, en by the lead law enforcement agencies
colleagues have asked to come to the
bloc. of the Trump administration. They
floor and address the issue. I would
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The lead- went on to say that White suprema-
yield to them for comment or question,
er is correct. cists were responsible for more homi-
through the Chair, with the hopes that
The clerk will read the bills by title cides from 2000 to 2016 than any other
when the procedural language arrives, I
for the second time. domestic extremist movement. The di-
might be able to make the unanimous
The senior assistant legislative clerk rector of the FBI, Christopher Wray, in
consent request.
read as follows: response to a question I posed in the The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
A bill (S. 4773) to establish the Paycheck Senate Judiciary Committee last year, ator from Connecticut.
Protection Program Second Draw Loan, and said that the majority of domestic ter- Mr. BLUMENTHAL. Madam Presi-
for other purposes. rorism arrests involved White suprema- dent, we are here today on probably
A bill (S. 4774) to provide support for air cists. one of the most serious national secu-
carrier workers, and for other purposes. Now, for years, I have urged the rity issues that we will confront. I say
A bill (S. 4775) to provide continued emer- Trump administration to respond to
gency assistance, educational support, and that as a member of the Armed Serv-
the ongoing threat of violent White su- ices Committee, having received a vari-
health care response for individuals, fami-
lies, and businesses affected by the 2020
premacists and other far-rightwing ex- ety of classified briefings on threats to
coronavirus pandemic. tremists. Instead, they have repeatedly this country. Some of them regarding
downplayed this very lethal and real ongoing foreign interference in our
Mr. MCCONNELL. In order to place
threat. election are truly chilling. But the
the bills on the calendar under the pro- Attorney General Barr has never re-
visions of rule XIV, I would object to threat to our national security from
sponded to the multiple letters I have White supremacists, now operating so
further proceedings, en bloc. sent, asking what the Department of
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Objec- openly that the Director of the FBI has
Justice was doing to combat White su- said they are one of the paramount
tion being heard, the measures will be premacist violence.
placed on the calendar, en bloc. threats and an ongoing security threat
Unfortunately, as we have learned to our Nation, demands that there
f from former Trump administration of- should be action now.
PROTECT ACT—MOTION TO ficials themselves, the Trump adminis- The bill that my colleague Senator
PROCEED tration has downplayed the threat of DURBIN is offering passed unanimously
violent White supremacists. POLITICO by the House of Representatives within
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, recently reported that a draft home- recent days. Let me repeat. It passed
I move to proceed to Calendar No. 554, land threat assessment report from unanimously by the House of Rep-
S. 4675. DHS was edited to weaken language on resentatives. It reflects the real and ur-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The the threat posed by violent White su- gent danger of this threat.
clerk will report the motion to pro- premacists. And a DHS whistleblower The President has refused to de-
ceed. alleged that DHS officials, including nounce White supremacists. The Presi-
The senior assistant legislative clerk Ken Cuccinelli, requested the modifica- dent has told one of the most promi-
read as follows: tion of the report to make the threat of nent of those groups to stand by. That
Motion to proceed to S. 4675, a bill to White supremacists ‘‘appear less se- failure—an abject failure on the part of

SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
amend the Health Insurance Portability and vere’’ and add information on violent the Commander in Chief—to respond to
Accountability Act.
leftwing groups. an ongoing security threat demands
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The as- It is not enough to just stand here this action now. We must stand up for
sistant Democratic leader. and condemn the President’s remarks the integrity of our elections, the secu-
UNANIMOUS CONSENT REQUEST—H.R. 5602 at the infamous debate. The American rity of our Nation, and the funda-
Mr. DURBIN. Madam President, I people sent us to Congress to act. mental freedoms that we prize as
come to the floor today to speak to one There is something we can do now. American people.

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