Filibuster (Cong. Rec., March 18, 2021)

Summary

Page S1629 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for March 18, 2021, under the heading Filibuster, in interleaved columns. One speaker opposes the nomination of Attorney General Becerra, saying he targeted pro-life pregnancy centers and the Little Sisters of the Poor and supported a ban on indoor worship services, which is that speaker's view. Mr. Durbin says that whether one is for or against the filibuster, the Senate should do something, and tells the story of Diana Andino, a Dreamer, urging that the Dream Act be passed. The Senate then reaches the vote on the Becerra nomination, and Mr. Sasse asks for the yeas and nays.

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“Filibuster (Cong. Rec., March 18, 2021).” Original at www.govinfo.gov. Archived at Pandemic Darlings, https://pandemicdarlings.com/source-documents/crec-crec-2021-03-18-crec-2021-03-18-pt1-pgs1629-8875273471/, SHA-256 f3872585c936331c8a2c24cd2f6a556432c637c4f6e47eebaf9a22c356b3eeea.

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March 18, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1629
they had to advertise where these Human Services, and I say this because Becerra also targeted the California
women could go to get abortions. At- of his appalling track record dis- pro-life pregnancy centers by forcing
torney General Becerra brought the respecting the sanctity of life, bla- them to advertise abortions, in viola-
full power of the State of California tantly attacking First Amendment tion of their First Amendment rights.
against the pro-life groups. Once again, rights, and his extreme policy views. Now, he fought them all the way to the
the Supreme Court of the United Now, throughout his career, Mr. U.S. Supreme Court, and he lost.
States stepped in to stop him. Becerra has proven he has no shame But he didn’t give up. Last fall, he
Mr. Becerra also used the power of when it comes to his pro-abortion be- supported California’s ban on indoor
his office to criminally prosecute pro- liefs. As attorney general of California, worship services, also in violation of
life journalists. A pro-life activist went Becerra led a yearslong lawsuit tar- the First Amendment, and he lost
undercover to investigate Planned Par- geting the Little Sisters of the Poor. again in the Supreme Court. He doesn’t
enthood for trafficking in aborted body This order of Catholic nuns is devoted give up. Justice Gorsuch said—and this
parts. His revelations caused outrage to caring for the elderly poor. All they is a quote from Justice Gorsuch. He
across the country. Attorney General want is to be free to operate in accord- said:
Becerra charged him, the undercover ance with their religious beliefs, and I If Hollywood may host a studio audience or
reporter, with 15 felony counts. think we can all understand that. But film a singing competition while not a single
This was too much even for Attorney Becerra sued the Federal Government soul may enter California’s churches, syna-
General Becerra’s liberal hometown to force the nuns—and we are talking gogues, and mosques, something has gone se-
newspaper. The Los Angeles Times about the Little Sisters of the Poor—to riously awry.
said: provide access to birth control and I agree with Justice Gorsuch in that
It’s disturbingly aggressive for Becerra to abortion-inducing drugs, completely observation.
apply this criminal statute to people who disrespecting their religious beliefs. Becerra also wants to decriminalize
were trying to influence a contested issue of During his confirmation hearings, illegal immigration, saying:
public policy, regardless of how sound or multiple Senators asked Mr. Becerra They are not criminals. They haven’t com-
popular that policy may be. about his lawsuit, and he said: mitted a crime against someone.
So Attorney General Becerra is a I’ve never sued any affiliation of nuns. Should he be confirmed to be the
radical liberal on a whole host of [M]y actions have always been directed at HHS Secretary, he would be positioned
issues. As attorney general of Cali- the Federal agencies.
to give illegal immigrants access to his
fornia, he sued the Trump administra- But I think it is pretty misleading programs.
tion over 120 different times. That is because he may have sued the Federal So, lastly, I just want to send a mes-
quite a few. This includes filing nine Government, but his actions certainly sage to the pro-life movement, to peo-
lawsuits on the very last day of Presi- were directed at the nuns. ple in Oklahoma and Americans all
dent Trump’s administration—the very And that is not his only assault on around the country who really believe
last day, nine more lawsuits added to life. Mr. Becerra also fought against
in the sanctity of life. We are not going
the pile. the Trump administration’s title X
to give up in trying to block this nomi-
He sued to try to stop President rule in court. We all remember this.
nation, and we will do everything we
Trump from building the wall on the This is where he ensured that Federal
can to stop the confirmation of Xavier
southern border. He sued the Trump tax dollars would only go toward fam-
Becerra.
administration to try to stop fracking ily planning clinics that don’t offer
I yield the floor.
on Federal lands in California. This is abortions. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
just the tip of the iceberg. The list goes And, during the pandemic, Becerra
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
on and on. When you look at the has been an aggressive advocate of ex-
clerk will call the roll.
record, it is clear: Xavier Becerra is panding access to chemical abortions,
The legislative clerk proceeded to
out of touch with the views of the thereby providing abortions by mail
call the roll.
American people. that are done at home and without the Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, I ask
President Biden has chosen an ex- supervision of a medical provider. And unanimous consent that the order for
tremely liberal Cabinet. He was forced all abortions, in my view—and I know
the quorum call be rescinded.
to withdraw his nominee for Budget Di- a lot of people don’t agree with this, The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
rector. His Vice President has been the but I think all abortions are bad. But objection, it is so ordered.
least bipartisan, in terms of a Senator increasing unsupervised access to
FILIBUSTER
of record, of any Senator in 2019. And chemical abortions, which are four
times more likely to cause problems Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, earlier
now Attorney General Becerra seems
and complications for the mother than today, my friend from South Dakota,
to be the most liberal of them all.
Frankly, his selection, I think, surgical abortions, shows that Mr. the Republican Senator JOHN THUNE,
shocked a lot of people across the coun- Becerra’s concern isn’t about health; it came to the floor and discussed the fili-
try. During this pandemic, we need a is about his pro-abortion agenda. buster. It has been a topic of discussion
leader for the Department of Health We shouldn’t be surprised. During his not only this week but even before. I
and Human Services who brings us to- time in Congress, Mr. Becerra voted hope that Senator THUNE will concede
gether as a nation. Instead, the Presi- against multiple pro-life bills, includ- that whether you are for the filibuster
dent has chosen a nominee with no ing the partial-birth abortion ban, and or against the filibuster, we should cer-
public health experience and an ex- that was one that was sponsored on tainly be dedicated to the proposition
tremely partisan record, so I urge my both sides. It was a bipartisan bill. It that the U.S. Senate should be a delib-
colleagues to reject this unqualified, banned the horrific procedure in which erative body that actually considers
incredibly liberal nominee. a baby is partially delivered and then amendments and legislation on the
Thank you. painfully destroyed. floor.
I yield the floor. But Becerra isn’t just radical in his Now, what I just said sounds very
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen- support for abortion. He also goes after routine and normal. It is radical when
ator from Oklahoma. the First Amendment rights of individ- you look at the record of the U.S. Sen-
Mr. INHOFE. Mr. President, Presi- uals who disagree with him. I am sure ate. Last year, under the Republican
dent Biden has a lot of duties and obli- everyone here remembers the shock- leadership of Senator MCCONNELL, we
gations and a lot on his plate right ing, heart-wrenching evidence col- had 29 amendments on the floor the en-
now. The important thing that we are lected by two undercover journalists in tire year—29. That was really an im-
involved in, that we are all concerned 2015 that showed Planned Parenthood’s provement over the previous year, 30

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about, are the nominees, who they are, involvement in selling the body parts percent better than the previous year—
what the process is, and what leverage of aborted babies. Becerra has chosen 22 amendments. What that says to
do we in the minority have to impact to prosecute the journalists rather those who may not be familiar with
that. than take the action to protect babies Senate procedure is that the floor is
I think that Xavier Becerra is not fit and investigate the evidence of this be- empty and no one is here because we
to be our Secretary of Health and havior. aren’t taking up legislation. Why?

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S1630 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE March 18, 2021
So far this year, we have done three lieve it is the only honest answer to How many times have we said in the
things in the Senate: the impeachment what we face in America today. I will last year: Thank God for people just
trial; the reconciliation bill, the Amer- do my best to do everything I can. like this woman, who risks her life as
ican Rescue Plan by President Biden; There is no excuse for inaction. This a doctor for COVID–19 patients. Our
and nominations. What do those three broken immigration system needs to be brothers and sisters, our family mem-
things have in common? None of them, addressed on a bipartisan basis, and an bers, people whom we love are kept
not one of them can be stopped by a fil- answer is long overdue for Dreamers in alive because Diana is skilled enough
ibuster. Why aren’t we taking up other this country. I have told you who they and brave enough to go into their
legislation? Because looming over us is are. rooms and try to save their lives.
a supermajority requirement of 60 When President Obama created We think so much of Diana that we
votes to get anything done. DACA for them, some 800,000 came for- have to debate in the Senate whether
What I have said to my friends on the ward, registered with the government, she should be a citizen of the United
Republican side of the aisle is, show me and received legal status to work and States. There is no debate, as far as I
that we can make the Senate function. freedom from fear of deportation be- am concerned. She is exactly the kind
If we can show that with the filibuster, cause of DACA. of person we need in America’s future.
so be it. If we can show it by changing President Trump eliminated the pro- Send her back to Ecuador? No. Let her
the filibuster, so be it. But let’s do gram. The battle ensued in court. The stay in her home country of America.
something. Supreme Court said that Trump did it Make the Dream Act a reality. Make
We were elected to do things. We wrong, and we are now in the middle it the law of the land. Don’t let a fili-
were elected to pass an infrastructure ground. buster stop it again. When we receive
bill for America. It has been years President Biden supports DACA. He the Dream and Promise Act from the
since we have done that. We were elect- has made it clear that it is open for House of Representatives, we will have
ed to deal with issues that are funda- new people to apply. Yet we don’t have an opportunity to see if 10 Republican
mental to this country. What about all the final law. Senators can join us in an effort to fi-
We are dealing with Executive orders
the student loan debt in this country? nally pass it—I hope more.
when it comes to this important issue.
Are we going to do anything about it, As I said at the outset, I support
That is why I have decided to come to
say anything about it? Nothing is com- comprehensive immigration reform. I
this floor and to continue to raise the
ing to the floor, is it? There are so want to try to sit down and have a con-
issues of the people who are involved
many issues that we should be taking versation about the farm labor bill,
and to introduce my 129th Dreamer
up that we are not taking up because of about those who are here in temporary
story on the floor of the U.S. Senate,
the looming specter of the filibuster. protected status, about essential work-
which I have done for years.
That is a reality. Diana Andino. She was born in Ecua- ers like Diana who ought to be given a
Let me bring that reality close to dor. She came to the United States chance to become citizens in this coun-
home. Twenty years ago, I introduced when she was 11 years old. She grew up try. That is what the debate is all
the DREAM Act. I said if you were in Houston, TX. She was quite a stu- about.
brought to America as an infant, tod- dent. She graduated in the top 10 per- This empty floor, with no conversa-
dler, child, young person—your family cent of her high school class and went tion among Senators, is testimony to
brought you here, you grew up here, on to earn a bachelor’s degree with the fact that this is an aspiration—an
you went to school here, and you honors from the University of Houston, aspiration that we can overcome the
pledged allegiance to that flag in your in biology with a minor in chemistry. filibuster, pass the Dream Act and
classroom every single day—at some She wrote me a letter, and here is more and do it soon. Lives depend on
point in your life, you ought to have what she said about her dream of be- it. Futures depend on it. The dreams of
the opportunity to earn your way to be coming a physician: America are at stake.
a legal person in America, a citizen in I found my calling in medicine after volun- I yield the floor.
America. I don’t think that is a radical teering at a local county hospital while I was I suggest the absence of a quorum.
idea. In fact, the overwhelming major- in college. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
ity of Americans support the idea. Here is what she said about the dif- clerk will call the roll.
So, DURBIN, let me ask you a ques- ference that DACA made in her life: The bill clerk proceeded to call the
tion. It has been 20 years. You are sup- I graduated from college in 2011, and my roll.
posed to be a legislator. Why haven’t dream of becoming a physician was trun- Mr. SASSE. I ask unanimous consent
you passed this, something that simple cated by my lack of citizenship status. How- that the order for the quorum call be
and that direct? I haven’t made it a ever, DACA came in place a year later. I was rescinded.
law of the land because of one thing: able to apply to school and was accepted at The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
the filibuster. The filibuster. Five the Loyola University Stritch School of objection, it is so ordered.
Medicine in Chicago. The Senator from Nebraska.
times I have brought this measure to
the floor of the U.S. Senate and have Let me just say, hats off to Loyola Mr. SASSE. I ask unanimous consent
been stopped by the filibuster; a major- and their medical school. They have for the RECORD to note that the junior
ity vote every time but never the led the Nation in accepting wonderful Senator from New Jersey is very dra-
magic 60, the magic supermajority. students just like Diana. They were the matic in the Chair.
So do I have a problem with the fili- first in the Nation to accept DACA ap- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Abso-
buster? Yes, I do. I challenge those who plicants. More than 30 have since at- lutely, without objection.
are defending it to show me it can tended their medical school, and many Actually, I note one objection from
work, to show me we can create bipar- of them are practicing in underserved the junior Senator from New Jersey.
tisan votes on the floor, actually de- areas. Mr. SASSE. I ask unanimous consent
bate on the floor, amendments on the Diana graduated from Loyola Med- to begin the vote now.
floor, legislation on the floor. That is ical School and now is a third-year The PRESIDING OFFICER. I am
not too much to ask. I think that is resident at Loyola University Medical sorry I might have seen an objection
why we were elected. Center. She treats COVID–19 patients from the Senator.
I come today to address this issue be- with serious complications, such as No, there is no objection.
cause the House is expected to vote on stroke or major bleeding. Without objection, it is so ordered.
the Dream and Promise Act and Farm Here is what she said about the VOTE ON BECERRA NOMINATION
Workforce Modernization Act. If the COVID–19 pandemic: Under the previous order, all

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It’s been a challenging year not only phys- postcloture time has expired.
Senate is able to join the House in
ically but mentally. Patients with COVID–19
passing these bills, we would be able to developed multiple neurological complica-
The question is, Will the Senate ad-
make significant immigration legisla- tions that we have encountered and continue vise and consent to the Becerra nomi-
tion progress. to learn about. As a neurology resident, I’ve nation?
But I want to add that I support com- learned to be flexible as there are so many Mr. SASSE. I ask for the yeas and
prehensive immigration reform. I be- unknowns we encountered almost daily. nays.

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