Remembering Harry Reid (Cong. Rec., Jan. 4, 2022)
Summary
This is S11 of the Congressional Record, Senate, January 4, 2022, with interleaved columns of floor remarks by a Senator not identified in the text read. The speaker remembers Johnny Isakson, and under the heading Remembering Harry Reid, extends thoughts and prayers to Landra and the family of the former Senate Democratic leader. The speaker discusses the status of the DACA program in litigation and urges bipartisan work on the 80 percent of issues on which Senators agree. The speaker also says Democrats would earn a D on a 2021 report card and raises inflation and supply chains, with the views attributed to the speaker.
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“Remembering Harry Reid (Cong. Rec., Jan. 4, 2022).”
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January 4, 2022 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE S11
And I have subscribed to the wisdom brought here as a child, under certain the House of Representatives, and I
of the 80–20 rule. From what I have criteria, you will be able to stay and was honored to call him my friend.
seen, I believe the Presiding Officer you will be able to get work permits. Johnny was a tremendously effective
agrees with that as well. But it has been in litigation for the legislator and, in particular, a cham-
So instead of just focusing on the last 10 years. The last decision by a pion for veterans and a model of de-
things we can’t agree on and perhaps Federal district judge in Houston, TX, cency and graciousness. When I came
will never agree on, because we have Judge Hanen, said that basically the down to the floor to discuss his retire-
different visions for the role of the Fed- DACA and DAPA—in this case, the ment 2 years ago, I read a quote from
eral Government in our lives—that is DACA, Deferred Action for Childhood a politics professor in Georgia that I
OK. Those are the debates we have Arrivals—memorandum is unconstitu- thought really captured Johnny. I
been having since the founding of this tional and that only Congress can ad- think so still. Here is what that pro-
country, and we will have forever, as dress this. fessor had to say:
long as this great Nation lasts. And I suggest we should. I have asked As a political science professor and an ad-
But let’s not just focus on the 20 per- the chairman of the Judiciary Com- ministrator, I’m often asked by students if
cent we can’t do, which seems to be the mittee to put a bill on the floor in the good people can serve in government and
obsession of the news media and oth- Judiciary Committee that provides keep their integrity. Johnny Isakson is al-
ways the first example I come to. It’s very
ers. Let’s think more about the 80 per- some certainty in the future for these often a shocking revelation to most people—
cent we can do. Rather than waste young people, who are now young that good people can, and often do, serve in
floor time, which is coin of the realm adults, living in uncertainty. Give government for long periods, fight hard for
here—I mean, if it can’t come to the them some certainty and some comfort what they believe in, and remain true to
floor because there is no floor time, it knowing that they don’t need to fear themselves and their principles. And they
is not going to happen. So rather than deportation or some other negative don’t have to sell their souls to do it. It’s a
waste time on partisan bills that will consequence, because I believe there is great lesson, really.
ultimately go nowhere, let’s find com- a broad consensus that we ought to Mr. President, that was Johnny—a
mon ground and work on our shared give them some relief. good man, one of the best I have ever
priorities. In America you don’t hold children known. He came to Washington to
I have got one idea. How do we help responsible for the mistakes parents serve his State and his country and
families struggling to keep up with the make, and I believe that we could find served them faithfully throughout his
highest inflation in nearly four dec- a bipartisan solution to at least that life.
ades? I have lived long enough to know part. And do you know what? Maybe— My thoughts and prayers are with
when interest rates were close to 20 just maybe—by doing some things to- Johnny’s wife Dianne and with his chil-
percent and we had double-digit infla- gether, we can increase confidence dren and grandchildren.
tion. It was a miserable time in this among ourselves. REMEMBERING HARRY REID
country because people’s paychecks Yeah, we really can. We can work to- Mr. President, I also want to mention
were eaten up by inflation and they gether. We can find bipartisan solu- the loss of former Senate Democratic
couldn’t afford to buy things, like tions. We don’t have to just fight and leader Harry Reid, who also passed
houses, that they ordinarily might buy emphasize the 20 percent we can’t away this Christmas, and also extend
to increase their standard of living be- agree on. We can work on that 80 per- my thoughts and prayers to his wife
cause interest rates were so high on cent and make real progress. Landra and his family.
mortgage loans. I believe these are the types of issues 2021
Or let’s work on supply chains that that the American people sent us here Mr. President, the end of 2021 marks
have been unable to keep up with de- to solve. Forget legislation that hands the end of a year of Democratic govern-
mand. The vulnerabilities have been tax breaks to the wealthy or federal- ance, and the picture is sobering. If we
exposed by COVID–19. Again, the defi- izes America’s elections, notwith- were issuing a report card for 2021, I am
nition of intelligence, as my dad used standing the provisions of our Con- afraid Democrats would earn a ‘‘D’’ for
to say, what he called the hallmark of stitution. Let’s work together to solve ‘‘dreadful’’ or ‘‘disaster’’ or an ‘‘F’’ for
intelligence, is learning from your mis- real problems where there is an oppor- ‘‘failure’’ because 2021 was filled with
takes, not doing the same thing over tunity for us to find that 80-percent so- one Democratic-led crisis after an-
and over again, like Albert Einstein lution. other.
said, and expecting different results. So, as we welcome the start of a new Take our current inflation crisis.
There is also a humanitarian crisis year, I hope the Democratic leader, When Democrats took office last Janu-
on the border that has led to the high- Senator SCHUMER, and our colleagues ary, inflation was well within an ac-
est number of annual apprehensions on across the aisle will look at the 50–50 ceptable range or what is known as the
record. Senate with a fresh perspective. We do target inflation rate. It might have
I am not confident our colleagues on have an opportunity to deliver big wins stayed there had Democrats not de-
the other side actually believe in en- to the American people this year, and I cided they needed to pass a massive
forcing our immigration laws, but hope the Senate majority leader, who government spending spree under the
maybe I am wrong. Maybe there are sets the agenda on the floor, will allow guise of COVID relief mere weeks after
some areas that we could work on. The that to happen. Congress had already passed a major
Senator from Arizona, Senator SINEMA, I yield the floor. COVID bill.
and I, and HENRY CUELLAR, a Democrat I suggest the absence of a quorum. That is right. In December of 2020,
from Laredo, and TONY GONZALES, a The PRESIDING OFFICER (Mr. Congress passed its fifth bipartisan
Republican from Texas, we have PADILLA). The clerk will call the roll. COVID relief bill, a nearly $1 trillion
worked on the Bipartisan Border Solu- The legislative clerk proceeded to piece of legislation that met essen-
tions Act, and we would love to be able call the roll. tially all current, pressing COVID
to work with our colleagues across the Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, I ask needs. But the ink was barely dry on
aisle to find some way to address the unanimous consent that the order for the page before Democrats decided that
uncontrolled access that people who the quorum call be rescinded. they needed to take advantage of the
have no reasonable grounds for asylum The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without COVID situation to pass another bill—
are getting and coming into our coun- objection, it is so ordered. this time, a hyperpartisan $1.9 trillion
try and then fading into the great REMEMBERING JOHNNY ISAKSON piece of legislation packed with unnec-
American landscape. Mr. THUNE. Mr. President, before I essary government spending and pay-
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There are other things I would like begin, I want to express my deep sor- offs to Democratic interest groups.
to do in the immigration space, things row at the death of former Senator That unnecessary government spend-
like the Deferred Action for Childhood Johnny Isakson. I served with Johnny ing, of course, had serious con-
Arrivals. Ten years ago, President for a long time, not just here in the sequences.
Obama issued an Executive memo- Senate, where we came in together as The definition of ‘‘inflation’’ is too
randum saying that if you were freshman Members in 2005, but also in many dollars chasing too few goods and
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S12 CONGRESSIONAL RECORD — SENATE January 4, 2022
services, and that is exactly the situa- an even more grim fate. The President ance at this critical time, and security
tion Democrats created. They sent too also left behind hundreds of American assistance must also be backed by
many Federal dollars into the econ- citizens, and the latest report suggests strong sanctions to deter any further
omy, and the economy overheated as a that some of them may still be trying Russian advances.
result. to find a way out of the country. Unfortunately, President Biden has
Since Democrats passed their so- Meanwhile, the President, who was already given Russia a pass on one of
called American Rescue Plan, inflation supposed to restore our standing on the Vladimir Putin’s top priorities: the
has gone up and up again. In Novem- world stage, left our allies wondering if Nord Stream 2 Pipeline. I have spoken
ber, inflation hit its highest level in our word could be relied on. before about the European security
nearly 40 years—40 years—and Amer- Most of all, the President’s disas- risk and economic harm to Ukraine
ican families are dealing with the con- trous withdrawal has left our country that will be caused by Nord Stream 2.
sequences: spikes in food prices, rent in a more precarious national security Yet President Biden has not enforced
prices, utility prices, used car and position. Afghanistan is well on its way sanctions related to the pipeline—man-
truck prices, propane, kerosene, and to once again becoming a terrorist datory sanctions, I might add—that are
firewood prices, and the list goes on. haven. But, as with our border crisis, required by law.
Inflation is so bad that despite wage the dangers of our current Afghanistan Per an agreement made prior to the
growth in 2021, Americans saw a de situation barely seem to register on Christmas break, the Senate will soon
facto pay cut. the President’s radar. have a vote on these sanctions, and the
You would think that the economic I could go on and talk about how the message to Russia and President Putin
pain Americans are experiencing would President, who promised to be a Presi- must be clear: Don’t interfere with the
be giving Democrats pause, but in fact, dent for all Americans, has instead aspirations of Ukraine, and let Ukraine
despite massive inflation, Democrats been a President for the far-left wing of determine its future by the will of its
have been trying to double down on the the Democratic Party. I could talk people.
reckless spending strategy that helped about how congressional Democrats, This is not a case of the United
cause so much inflation in the first despite holding a razor-thin majority States and NATO looking to push east;
place. Fortunately, they have so far in Congress, have governed in a relent- this is a former Soviet state seeking to
been unable to summon a majority in lessly partisan and extreme manner, cast off Russia’s grip, assert its sov-
the Senate to support their latest reck- attempting to force through far-left ereignty, and, of its own accord, align
less spending plan, but their unconcern legislation, including a Federal take- itself with the ideals of freedom and
with the dangerous economic con- over of election law and perhaps the embrace peace and prosperity as a free
sequences of their proposed new spend- most radical abortion legislation ever and independent nation.
ing spree is deeply troubling. considered in Congress. I could talk The United States should stand with
I wish I could say that our inflation about how Democrats are even now Ukraine and against Russia’s aggres-
crisis was the only Democratic disaster plotting to overturn a decades-old Sen- sion.
to come out of 2021, but that wouldn’t ate rule in an attempt to force their I yield the floor.
be true. Democrats have also presided partisan priorities through the Senate. I suggest the absence of a quorum.
over a massive crisis at our southern But I will stop this discussion here. The PRESIDING OFFICER. The
border—a crisis that Democrats are ap- Thanks to Democrats’ disasters, 2021 clerk will call the roll.
parently completely content to ignore. was a very rough year for the country. The legislative clerk proceeded to
The illegal migration across our south- I would love to think that Democratic call the roll.
ern border picked up in the wake of the governance in 2022 would be better, Mr. LUJÁN. Mr. President, I ask
President’s inauguration and reached that Democrats would get serious unanimous consent that the order for
stratospheric levels in 2021. about inflation, abandon their plans for the quorum call be rescinded.
The crisis shows no signs of abating. another reckless spending spree, ad- The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without
In November, the latest month for dress our border crisis, and commit to objection, it is so ordered.
which we have statistics, Customs and bipartisanship, but given the way
f
Border Protection encountered 173,620 things have been going, I am not get-
people attempting to cross our south- ting my hopes up. RECESS
ern border illegally. That is well over UKRAINE
Mr. LUJÁN. Mr. President, I ask
double the number who tried to cross Mr. President, before I close, I want unanimous consent that the Senate re-
illegally in November of 2020 and more to take a moment to comment on the cess until 2:15 p.m. to allow for the
than four times the number who at- situation in Ukraine. weekly caucus meetings.
tempted to cross in November of 2019. Tensions remain dangerously high as
There being no objection, the Senate,
But you would never know it from lis- Russia has amassed a reported 100,000
at 11:58 a.m., recessed until 2:15 p.m.
tening to the President or congres- troops on Ukraine’s border. This, of
and reassembled when called to order
sional Democrats. It has become very course, is just the latest aggressive
by the Presiding Officer (Mr.
clear that the President doesn’t care move by Russia, which already ille-
BLUMENTHAL).
about what is happening at our south- gally annexed Crimea in 2014 and has
ern border despite the very real secu- been supporting separatist forces in the f
rity and humanitarian crisis that this Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. EXECUTIVE CALENDAR—Continued
massive wave of illegal immigration It may have been overlooked during
represents. the busy holiday season, but I would The PRESIDING OFFICER. The Sen-
But our ongoing inflation and border like to note for the record a bipartisan, ator from Hawaii.
disasters still don’t represent the total bicameral virtual meeting that oc- ANNIVERSARY OF JANUARY 6
of Democrats’ 2021 failures. There was curred on the morning of Christmas Mr. SCHATZ. Mr. President, a year
also the President’s disastrous with- Eve with Ukrainian President ago, there was an attempted overthrow
drawal from Afghanistan. Zelensky. I participated in this meet- of American democracy right here in
The President’s arbitrary, chaotic ing, which enabled us to discuss the this building. You know, we spend so
withdrawal was a real low point for our current security situation directly much time here arguing about things
country. Thirteen of our military men with President Zelensky. that are unknowable—about the fu-
and women died in a terrorist attack We discussed the importance of the ture, about our ideology, about opin-
during the evacuation of Kabul. We more than $21⁄2 billion in security as- ions—that we have become accustomed
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abandoned thousands of individuals sistance the United States has provided to treating floor speeches in the Senate
who had worked with us in Afghanistan since 2014, including $300 million in the as not primarily about facts.
and whom we had promised to protect. latest National Defense Authorization But I was here. And by ‘‘I was here,’’
They are bracing for life under the bru- Act. But given the urgency of the situ- I don’t mean I was here in the Capitol.
tal control of the Taliban, if they ation, the Biden administration must I mean, I was right here at this desk.
haven’t been forced into hiding or met consider additional emergency assist- And so no one needs to characterize it
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