Filibuster (Cong. Rec., April 12, 2021)
Summary
Page S1860 of the Senate section of the Congressional Record for April 12, 2021, under the heading Filibuster, in interleaved columns. One speaker says the filibuster has always been more a creation of James Crow than James Madison, citing segregationists who blocked anti-lynching bills, and says S. 1, the For the People Act, would limit dark money and improve access to the ballot box, which is that speaker's view. Mr. McConnell recalls the Good Friday attack on Capitol Police and Officer Evans, criticizes Democratic infrastructure plans, and says defense spending cuts would help China. A tribute names Capitol Police Officers Brian Sicknick, Howard Liebengood and Jacob Chestnut.
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“Filibuster (Cong. Rec., April 12, 2021).”
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S1860 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE April 12, 2021
The debt that we owe Capitol Police building 2 days earlier. According to There is another myth the defenders
officers like Officer Evans can never be Ms. Mayer’s reporting, the reason the of the filibuster would like us to be-
repaid, and the same is true for Capitol special interests were frightened was lieve. They say, and Senator MCCON-
Police Officers Brian Sicknick, Howard because they could not find a way to NELL has repeated it, the filibuster has
Liebengood, Jacob Chestnut, and De- turn the American people against a nothing to do with race. History tells
tective Michael Gibson, and others who piece of legislation, S. 1, a bill known us the opposite is true. The filibuster
have been injured or lost their lives as the For the People Act. has always been more a creation of
through their service. Our gratitude for The For the People Act is a democ- James Crow than James Madison. Seg-
their sacrifice cannot be captured by racy defense bill. It would limit the in- regationists used filibusters to block
words. fluence of dark money and special in- anti-lynching bills in 1922, 1923, 1924,
This Tuesday, Officer Evans will lie terests on our politics, and it would 1935, and 1938. Segregationist Senators
in honor in the Capitol Rotunda, where improve access to the ballot box for filibustered bills to outlaw poll taxes
those whom he died to protect can pass American voters. in 1942, 1944, and 1946. Segregationist
by and pay their respects. We know that access is under attack Senators filibustered bills outlawing
Every day it is incumbent for those today. In Georgia and 30 other States, discrimination in employment, hous-
of us who work in this building to re- efforts are being made to suppress the ing, and voting in 1957, 1960, and 1964.
member this brave officer and to thank American vote. Every time segregationists used the fil-
him and the men and women of the The Koch brothers’ group spends its ibuster to block civil rights measures,
U.S. Capitol Police, who have given so money freely to insert political con- they spoke of the tactic as nearly a sa-
much to keep us safe. trol. They sent the pollsters out before
cred principle passed down by our
(Ms. HIRONO assumed the Chair.) this conference call to test every at-
Founding Fathers.
FILIBUSTER
tack they could think of against this Now, with voting rights under the
Madam President, on January 8, I bill. Nothing worked. broadest attack in more than 50 years,
Let me read you a passage from Ms.
think most Americans—most of the with hundreds of bills being introduced
Mayer’s article. It is a bit long. So bear
world, really—were still deeply shaken in State legislatures to make it harder
with me. This is based on a recording
by what happened in this building on for many Americans—especially people
of the call.
January 6, when the mob broke in. ‘‘Kyle McKenzie, the research direc- of color—to vote, we are once again
January 6 was an assault on Amer- tor for the Koch-run advocacy group facing a threat of a filibuster in a vot-
ican democracy. It was an armed insur- Stand Together, told fellow conserv- ing rights protection bill in the Senate.
rection not just against this building atives and Republican congressional History repeats itself.
but against the Constitution and the staffers on the call that he had a ‘spoil- Largely under Senator MCCONNELL’s
Government of the United States of er.’ When presented with a very neutral leadership, today’s filibuster has been
America. description of the bill, people were gen- transformed into a weapon of mass ob-
The violent mob was sent to this erally supportive,’’ McKenzie said, add- struction. In 2009, during the Great Re-
Capitol by a defeated President who ing, ‘‘The most worrisome part is con- cession, America was in a financial free
tried to cancel an American election. servatives were actually as supportive fall, our economy teetering on the edge
That mob overran and ransacked this as the general public when they heard of another depression, millions out of
Capitol, smashing windows and doors. the neutral description. In fact, he work, and homes and life savings at
They built a gallows on the Capitol warned, there is a large, very large, risk.
grounds and called for the Vice Presi- chunk of conservatives who are sup- Senator MCCONNELL said: ‘‘My No. 1
dent to be hanged for following his du- portive of these efforts.’’ priority is to make sure President
ties under the Constitution, for refus- As a result, Mayer wrote, ‘‘McKenzie Obama is a one-term President.’’ And
ing to join in the coup attempt. conceded the legislation’s opponents the No. 1 weapon he used to make good
People died that day in this building would likely have to rely on Repub- on his threat: the filibuster.
and on these grounds. Capitol Police lican Senators, where the bill is now Now America has a new President.
Officer Brian Sicknick, whom I men- under debate, to use what they called Senator MCCONNELL wasn’t able to fili-
tioned earlier, suffered fatal injuries ‘under the dome’ strategies’’—legisla- buster President Biden’s American
trying to hold back the insurrectionist tive maneuvers such as the filibuster— Rescue Plan because we used reconcili-
mob sent by the President. Two more to stop the bill, because turning public ation. All 50 Democratic Senators, plus
officers who fought to save the Capitol opinion against it would be incredibly the Vice President, were prepared to
died by suicide in the days that fol- difficult. vote and break the tie. Not one single
lowed. More than 140 police officers S. 1, the For the People Act, is a bill Republican Senator would vote for
suffered serious injuries. Many of them to stop billionaires from buying elec- President Biden’s rescue plan.
are still recovering. tions. You can see why Charles Koch, Today, America is getting shots in
But the insurrection at the Capitol, who has grown accustomed to using his the arm, and people are getting checks
the attack on American democracy, wealth to influence elections and domi- in their pockets because we passed that
wasn’t what alarmed the dark-money nate the national agenda, wouldn’t like bill despite the intransigence of the
special interests that came together that kind of a bill. And you can see other side of the aisle. We are begin-
for an all-hands-on-deck conference why he and others, members of the ning—just beginning—to break the
call just 2 days later, on January 8. dark-money power elite, would be back of this pandemic. There are still
The conference call was organized by alarmed that all the spin-doctoring hotspots and worrisome reports, but we
a group with the innocuous name that money can buy can’t turn people are beginning to break its back, and we
‘‘Stand Together’’—the group that is against the bill. It can’t even turn con- are helping the millions of Americans
run by the Koch brothers’ organization, servatives against the bill. who are hurting financially because of
well known to anyone who follows What is a poor billionaire to do? the pandemic shutdown.
American politics. Among the partici- Well, they said it right there on the Now the Senate is ready to start
pants on this private conference call conference call. They can’t debate the work on the next chapter of our na-
was an adviser to the minority leader, bill because they don’t have a winning tional economic recovery. President
Senator MCCONNELL. argument. Senator MCCONNELL is just Biden’s American Jobs Plan is a bold
We know these things because a re- going to have to kill it ‘‘under the plan to invest in climate change, job
cording of the conference call found its creation, and create the good jobs and
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
dome.’’ Senator MCCONNELL is going to
way to Jane Mayer, an investigative have to filibuster it. the industries of the future here in
reporter for The New Yorker magazine, One of the myths that defenders of America—not overseas, not in China,
who has written a book on the Koch the filibuster like to use is that it en- but here in America. That is President
brothers and dark money in politics. courages debate and compromise. In re- Biden’s goal.
What alarmed the dark-money spe- ality, today’s phone-it-in, remote con- It would rebuild our roads, bridges,
cial interests on that conference call trol filibuster is used to make sure de- rails, ports, airports, and water sys-
was not the violent insurrection in this bate never even starts. tems. I learned during the break that,
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April 12, 2021 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S1861
until 1986, the city of Chicago man- faithful protector of the Capitol, was change. They are embarking on an Or-
dated in its plumbing code that the killed. wellian campaign to convince every-
service line from the water main to the Investigators are still assessing what body that any government policy what-
home be made of lead—lead. We know drove the perpetrator to attempt this soever can be labeled ‘‘infrastructure.’’
lead is dangerous to everyone, cer- attack on the Capitol and whether do- Liberals just have to believe in it hard
tainly to children, and yet we have 23 mestic, violent extremism played a enough.
percent of the lead service lines in role. He appears to have been cap- These Trojan horse tactics have be-
America in Chicago and the sur- tivated by the Nation of Islam—a rac- come a pattern. Many of our Demo-
rounding area. That is a public health ist, anti-Semitic, extreme group under cratic colleagues are trying to rewrite
hazard. Some may not think that is in- the openly hateful leader, Louis 50 States’ election laws from here in
frastructure, but if you can’t deliver Farrakhan. Washington and mount a partisan
safe drinking water to America, what His attack injured Officer Ken Shav- takeover of the Federal Election Com-
else is important? er, and it stole away the life of Officer mission but call the whole mess a ‘‘vot-
We need to rebuild our 5G broadband Evans from his children Logan and ing rights bill.’’
internet and expand it, renewable en- Abigail, his mother Janice, his entire The White House’s claims about
ergy, and advanced research and tech- family, and all of his friends and col- State election regulations keep getting
nology. We need to create millions of leagues decades too soon. disproven by fact checkers. But even
jobs and to lay the foundation for Officer Evans was famous within the so, some of the wealthiest and most
Senate for his friendly spirit and easy powerful institutions in our country
American economic prosperity for dec-
manner. He was the first face that have bowed down to the fake nar-
ades to come.
Last night, on 60 Minutes, Chairman many would see on the way to work ratives and decided to amplify the
here in the Capitol every day. His par- misstatements themselves.
Jerome Powell spoke and was inter-
So, look, I am as strong a supporter
viewed. It was a most encouraging re- ticular post often meant he was lit-
of the First Amendment and free
port. He really believes we are right on erally the first line of defense of the
speech as anyone in this body. I have
the cusp of moving this Nation for- Congress—the interface between these been for many years. If people want to
ward—dramatic increase in economic grounds and the outside world. We participate in debates through political
growth in this country. Isn’t it about could not have had a kinder and more speech, that is certainly their constitu-
time? Don’t we want a President who likeable ambassador at this juncture or tional right, even if they fall for
will invest in America to make that a more faithful protector to keep us disinformation. But it is one thing to
happen? safe. act like free speakers within a debate;
Senator MCCONNELL has already said It will be with tremendous grief, but it is very different to try to short-cir-
he opposes President Biden’s American tremendous gratitude, that we will cuit the debate, to shut down the de-
Jobs Plan. Will our colleagues on the welcome Officer Evans to the Capitol bate through economic bullying of
other side of the aisle really filibuster for a final time tomorrow where he will American citizens.
this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for lie in honor in the Rotunda. BORDER SECURITY
America to lead the global economy of I think I speak for the entire Senate Madam President, the last 2 weeks
the 21st century? Will they really fili- when I salute all of our U.S. Capitol also brought more troubling signs from
buster America’s ability to compete Police officers for the heroism, cour- our southern border. Last month closed
and win against China in the competi- age, and resilience they displayed the with Customs and Border Patrol re-
tion for jobs and industries of the fu- Friday before last and which they dis- porting the highest total for migrant
ture? I hope not. play every single day. The Senate and apprehensions in nearly two decades.
We are all sent to the Senate with a the Nation are profoundly grateful for But while Republican Senators trav-
job, to fix the problems, not paralyze your selfless service. eled to the border, met with officials,
Congress. Despite what the dark money BIDEN ADMINISTRATION and learned about the reality on the
special interests might want, we should Madam President, now, on a com- ground, the administration has pre-
aim higher than killing good solutions pletely different matter, the Senate re- ferred to inaccurately blame this re-
with the filibuster. Let’s talk, let’s turns today from its State work period. cent spike on their predecessors.
meet, and let’s reason things out. Let’s We got to meet with constituents in BUDGET PROPOSAL
negotiate, and let’s pass laws that pro- our home States and hear firsthand Madam President, finally—finally—
tect America’s democracy and our eco- about their most pressing concerns. last week, the White House rolled out a
nomic prosperity. Unfortunately, back here in Wash- new budget proposal. I have been a sup-
On January 6, hundreds of police offi- ington, Democrats continue to roll out porter of Secretary Blinken and other
cers risked their lives to protect de- new reasons for the American people to officials’ tough talk with the People’s
mocracy. Don’t we owe them, for their worry. The week before last, the Biden Republic of China. With Putin again
courage and sacrifice, the respect of administration unveiled their latest massing forces on Ukraine’s border, ad-
doing the work of democracy? misleadingly titled legislation. This ministration officials have been right—
I yield the floor. time, under the supposed veil of ‘‘infra- right—to warn against further Russian
I suggest the absence of a quorum. structure,’’ the White House has aggression.
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The lumped together a motley assortment This budget outline was going to be
clerk will call the roll. of the left’s priciest priorities. one of the first real tests to see if the
The legislative clerk proceeded to This plan would impose one of the administration was prepared to walk
call the roll. biggest tax hikes in a generation when the walk and put sufficient funding to-
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, workers need an economic recovery. It ward our military and strategic com-
I ask unanimous consent that the order would gut right-to-work protections petition with China and Russia, both of
for the quorum call be rescinded. for blue-collar workers. It would throw which have invested heavily in mili-
The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without hundreds of billions at the far left’s tary capabilities that threaten our
objection, it is so ordered. green fads. They even want to include forces. Unfortunately, for all the rhet-
RECOGNITION OF THE MINORITY LEADER a special State and local tax provision oric, the President has asked Congress
The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Re- designed to overwhelmingly benefit to break from the positive trajectory of
publican leader is recognized. wealthy residents of blue States. Less the last 4 years and instead cut defense
HONORING OFFICER WILLIAM F. EVANS than 6 percent of this proposal goes to
SSpencer on DSK126QN23PROD with SENATE
spending after inflation.
Mr. MCCONNELL. Madam President, roads and bridges. It is not remotely That is going backward on national
on Good Friday, the U.S. Capitol Police targeted toward what Americans think defense. This would undermine recent
were subjected to another violent at- they are getting when politicians cam- bipartisan progress, put the moderniza-
tack. Once again, our uniformed heroes paign on infrastructure. tion of American forces in jeopardy,
wound up in harm’s way, and Officer But instead of coming up with a bet- and help China toward their goal of
Billy Evans, a friend and favorite of ter bill, Democrats have decided it is overtaking the United States as the
many here on the Senate side and a the English language that has to world’s preeminent superpower.
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